Event planners often cater for big events but the party planning for a small affair is usually done by the host over a stressful few days. Often, the host is too busy with logistics to enjoy the party itself.

Entrepreneur Vinod Batus, based in Mumbai, saw an opportunity in providing event management services to people who are hosting parties or events on a small scale. Pump Up The House, as the company is known, only started earlier this year but has obtained financing and clientele in that time. Vinod hopes to make his company one of the best party planning organisations in the region in the coming years.

In conversation with GlobalLinker (GL) Vinod Batus (VB) shares the story of his enterprise and his plans for the future.

GL: Tell us about your business.

VB: I am a freelance digital designer by profession who founded Pump Up The House (PUTH) earlier this year. I was at a house party when the idea struck me that I should develop a platform that makes it easy for small groups to plan an event without much hassle. Indoor parties make guests feel comfortable and you don’t have to worry about intrusions or the music being turned down off at 1 a.m.

We understand that throwing a party can be stressful and that’s where we make a difference. Pump Up The House makes party planning hassle-free and convenient. With just a few clicks, users can book for services such as food, beverages, bartenders, cleaners and servers. With just 3 days advance booking, we can cater to any sort of event & occasion - such as corporate events, birthday parties, house parties, cocktail parties, festive celebrations and much more. We organise events for as little as 10 people to as many as 100 people.  

To take the party experience to the next level, we even offer full stacked bar packages that are developed for different needs. A basic package consists of a bartender, soft drinks, juices, an ice box & disposable glasses.

We’re not just a food & beverage service provider but a lot besides. We want to revolutionise the way people party by offering various services, giving them ideas on various aspects such as home decorations, cocktails, drinks, safe partying and much more. All our staff are professionally trained so that you don’t stress about anything going wrong.

GL: What are the challenges you have faced in establishing your business?

VB: Our challenges were:

• Lack of industry experience - Being an industry outsider with zero knowledge and experience was the biggest drawback to start. At the beginning it seemed very difficult to find the right partners who could help us execute this concept. Finally after 3 months we were able to find the right partners for our business.
• Financial constraints -This is a complete self-funded business and it was difficult to manage funding at various stages.
• Constant need for mental strength – Along with risk, setting up any business requires you to have patience and be mentally strong and I was fortunate that my family kept me motivated through the tough times.

GL: Do you believe that the ‘ease of doing business’ in India has improved?

VB: Yes, substantially. If all the paper work is in place it can take only a week to get things rolling. We were also very impressed with Razorpay (our payment gateway partner).

GL: What is the USP of your business?

VB: Our services and offerings make us different from others. The food industry seems to be growing phenomenally; one can order food with a tap of a button. But if a small group wants to party at home they are left with no choice, but to order food from the nearby restaurant. For just a little more, we offer them a pub sort of experience at home, wherein along with food they can also hire a food & beverage server, bartender to make & serve drinks or a cleaner to clean the post party mess. We even provide disposable cutlery.

There are few who are specialised in catering to smaller segments. We offer everything under one roof to make sure the user does not have to go to multiple service providers looking out for something.

GL: What role do you feel GlobalLinker plays in connecting & assisting SMEs?

VB: Networking is key for any business; it can create a plethora of opportunities and that’s where GlobalLinker comes into its own. It helps you connect with various SMEs and businesses of your interest, share ideas & receive mentorship. For a company like us it’s an ideal platform that enables us to find like-minded people, vendors and partners. 

GL: What is your big business dream?

VB: We are newly launched and every success would be a big success for us. Our focus right now is to create a sustainable business, establish ourselves as a leader in the market and generate considerable amount of customer base and revenues. Having said that, I aspire to seeing PUTH as one of the best party planning websites in its segment. We want to be a one-stop shop for any party or events. As we grow, we plan to add more services in future that will cater to many other requirements. 

GL: What is your message to aspiring entrepreneurs?

VB: Stick to your dreams and stay positive. There will be a lot of hurdles; you’ll receive a lot of criticism and negative feedback as well. Keep your family in the loop as their moral support can help you stay positive and they are the best placed to give honest feedback. As Carrie Highman said, “My best piece of advice is to find a couple of wise cheerleaders who can stand by you and remind you that you can do it.” 

Also, before releasing the final product to the end user, always test a beta version among a group of friends. That way you can actually have a quality product.

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