The one-time bank manager, Kuldeep Kalsi, 55, dug into his passion for plants to set up Yuccabe Planters, which produces outsized pots.
What was the inspiration for starting Yuccabe Planters?
I’ve always been an avid gardener and was especially interested in bonsai. When I decided to create bigger bonsai, the planters proved inadequate. So I began experimenting with different types of materials to make my own planters before putting them up in the market. This is how Yuccabe (yu-ka-bay) Planters was born.
How much investment did you need to start the business?
The search for the right material— I tried cement and terracotta, before zeroing in on a resin compound—required investment. Then I had large planters built and exhibited at a lifestyle show at Pragati Maidan in Delhi, in 2003. This cost me about Rs 5 lakh, but it was worth the investment as I got orders from some architects.
Was it difficult to get funding?
The initial investment came from my savings, but when I wanted to scale up, I had to borrow from friends.
What is your USP? Who are your main clients?
The biggest problem with large planters is that it’s difficult to ferry them because they are heavy. So I ensured that mine were lightweight and unbreakable, with a polished look. My clients are mostly urban developers, hotels, corporate offices, etc. We recently bagged an order from GMR Infrastructure for the international airport in Delhi.
Is it a vocation or a full-time occupation?
When I started Yuccabe Planters, I was working as a chief manager in a PSU bank and could only put in time during weekends. Then the company began to grow, and in 2007, I decided to leave the job to devote all my attention to it.
How much do the planters cost? How many of these do you sell on an average?
The price starts from Rs 1,150 and can go up to Rs 65,000 for a sixfoot-high planter. The number of planters we sell varies from project to project. For instance, during our first big project for the Select City Walk mall at Saket in Delhi, which we completed in May 2007, we delivered more than 400 planters.
What are your future plans?
I’m working on producing one of the biggest planters in India and am also planning to open an exclusive outlet for the containers. Another objective is to become a ‘specialised plant grower’, someone who offers consultation on plants and sells them as well.
