Founded by Tejal Pimpley, MeTime Café and B You Dance Academy are two upcoming startups in the heart of Andheri. MeTime Café is a small and quaint cafe that offers an irresistible menu at reasonable pricing. It was launched on 14th February 2019. This beautiful space allows you to connect to yourself or spend time with your loved ones in the most relaxed environment. B You Dance Academy is a dance studio that allows talent from across India to showcase their skills. It was launched on 7th July 2019. Metime Café & BYou has 2 founders – Tejal Pimpley & Paarth Dave. Tejal is born in a family of businessmen, but little did she know that her interest would branch out from a pile of books and march towards entrepreneurial dreams. At the age of 20 years she started her entrepreneurial journey. She currently heads CISB (CIS Bureaus Facility Services Pvt. Ltd), a leading and renowned provider of security and facility management solutions and is the director of many other companies such as Green Eco Environment & Energy Pvt Ltd, Mudra Power And Cables Limited, Rein Chemicals & Agro Products, and Shree Samarth Caterers. We are publishing an interview with Ms. Tejal:
Q.: What is the problem you are trying to solve?
Ans: Personally, all my startups have a common link – their names all mean to connect to oneself i.e. MeTime & B You. It is extremely important to be make time for yourself and accept yourself for what you are. Acceptance is the key. I live with these principles and hence all my startups are named on these basis.
Through MeTime Café, we really felt that there was a lack of spaces in Mumbai that offered reasonably priced food and drink items that were not only priced well but also tasted great. We wanted to introduce a concept in Versova, one of the prime locations in Mumbai, wherein people could spare some time for their own self through their hectic schedules. At MeTime Café we also allow our customers to engage in board games and groove to some new age songs.
Through B You, our aim was to recognize and introduce talent to a platform wherein they could exhibit themselves. Being passionate about dancing, I wanted to bring to everyone to a common stage to enjoy and have some fun.
Q.: Can you share with us any insights that led you to believe that this is a big enough problem?
Ans: I had done a lot of research of cafes in and around my house. Each time we stepped out, my friends and family found all restaurants either too fancy and expensive or the food was not great. Coffee shops were not preferred. Hence, we realized that there was a need for a space close to home, in the heart of the city that would provide solutions to us.
When it came to B You, there were various dance studios but nothing that made us feel the sense of comfort and fun they offered. We didn’t just want to introduce regular classes or workshops, but wanted people to feel that sense of freedom and comfort, helping one to liberate themselves through our platform. We wanted to give a chance to all talents out there who are looking for a platform.
Q.: What is your USP?
Ans: For Metime Café, the USP would be our price points and its unique offerings. We have some exceptional dishes at reasonable pricing which is not found anywhere in the city.
For B You, the USP would be its interiors and the services they offer.
Q.: What were your assumptions when you entered the market, learning that you have? Who in your mind is your ideal customer? Do you have at least one of them signed up?
Ans: The assumption that we entered the market with both the properties was that the demand of the market was high. For us, the ideal customer is a person who understands the unique offerings of our customers and helps us sustain the same. Yes, we have many such people who have signed up with us.
Q.: What has been your biggest failure as an entrepreneur and what did you learn from it??
Ans: The biggest failure for me as an entrepreneur was when I had missed a great opportunity due to small mistakes. The biggest learning for me would be to take things as they come, in a positive stride and never give up.
Q.8: How are you pricing the Product? What is the logic behind it? What is the model you are following – Free / Freemium / Premium etc. ? Explain your thought process.
Ans: The pricing at both our properties is reasonable. I think we are following more of a freemium model of pricing. We understand that customers are looking for something great but not at exorbitant pricing. Hence, we did not wish to price our services very steep.
Q.9: How did you get your first customer?
Ans: For MeTime Café, it was a walk in. In addition, our family and friends were aware of our launch. The same applied to B You as well.
Q.: Is there any interesting success story? If yes, please write about it?
Ans: Yes, there have been a few successful stories. When I started my job profile, I merely used to handle accounts of a single region. As time passed and as I gained enough knowledge, I started amending changes in the existing system of my Company. For example : I introduced Digital Payment System for each and every employee in CIS Bureaus Facility Services Pvt. Ltd. to make sure that each employee from any region in India got his / her salary in full in their respective bank accounts, negating any middle man involvement. This move was appreciated from the top brass of the organization, giving me the confidence booster, I needed.
Q.: What is the big picture of your startup? Is this Product/service leading to something bigger? If so, how?
Ans: In the long run, I would like to have franchisees of MeTime Café and for B You. It would be ideal if we manage to get in investors so they can help us run the business.
Q.: Since inception, give us a sense of the value of business done by your venture?
Ans: Sure.
Metime Café, since its launch on 14th February till date which counts to eight months have a turnover of Rs 35,00,000 to Rs 38,00,000.
- Total Visitors visited in café till date counts to 3,300 to 3,400.
- Total Visitors registered under Loyalty programme stands at 1459 till date.
BYou Dance Academy, since its launch on 8th July till date counts to an turnover of Rs 20,00,000.
- Total Visitors visited BYou Studio has been roughly around 28,000 to 29,500.
- Total Visitors who have visited Byou and have been following the same on Instagram has been 84,200 in total at present.
- Total Enrollment for Weekly Dance Classes has been tentatively around 510 members at present.
Q.: What would be your goal to accomplish in the next six months?
Ans: Our ultimate goal in the next six months would be to maximize visibility, double our profits and attract new customers. Hopefully, we will have another branch or franchise very soon.
Q.: What message do you want to convey to fellow entrepreneurs?
Ans: Success is important, but hard work and perseverance go hand in hand. It is crucial to manage stress at work and maintain a work -life balance. Never neglect your personal goals while climbing the ladder of success. It is extremely difficult, but is a must. Always be focused, work hard and there is no way you will not achieve success and fame.
Social media URLs:
- https://www.instagram.com/byou.in
- https://instagram.com/metimecafemumbai
- https://www.facebook.com/metimecafemumbai/
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Thanks Tejal. Best wishes.
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