An alumnus of NID and IIM Bangalore, Niharika is a sustainability-focused retail entrepreneur running her own relationship clothing line called Bonorganik, which within just a few years of launch has become the preferred choice for many couples and parents for comfortable, stylish, and eco-friendly clothing. One of the largest destinations of twinning apparel in India, famous globally, Bonorganik is a perfect example of a new-age retail business that is environmentally conscious and dedicated to the larger good of the society rather than just driving economic growth.
Niharika had established Bonorganik in 2012 with her husband Puneet as an organic baby and kidswear brand. However, their foray into the relationship clothing segment was an eureka moment that followed a challenging encounter at an exhibition.
The couple was participating in various exhibitions across the country to promote the brand and on one such occasion, all the stock went sold out just before the exhibition. Anxious founder Niharika Verma was also, re-furnishing her house and occurred to visit a home furnishing shop where they showed her swatches of fabrics and assured to send the stitched drapes at home.
That idea clicked her, and after one sleepless night, she made one pair of Dad and Son Shirts and compiled all the stock fabrics in a swatch book for the customers to choose from. Today BonOrganik is on its way to becoming the world’s only brand that sells clothing for all relationships.
Served over 2 million customers so far, have more than 6 lakh followers on social media BonOrganik impact on the environment and Retail ecosystem has been noteworthy. The brand and the founders have been at the forefront of driving a change in the retail sector globally with their honest and earnest attempts.
THE GROWING BUSINESS
When Niharika had started the journey of Bonorganik, she had minimal resources, one computer to manage the backend but great zeal and confidence to achieve something big with her idea. The lady toiled hard, worked day and night, supported by her husband and business partner, to come up with one of the world’s finest retail brands.
She built Bonorganik into a thriving business employing more than 300 people. A crusader of women’s rights and believer in equal opportunities, today, 70 percent of the workforce at her place is women.
A socially conscious entrepreneur, Niharika also extended great efforts to help the community during the ongoing COVID crisis too as she pivoted her entire efforts to manufacture PPE Kits and Masks and made them available for more than 5 lakh front liners within a span of a month. She also raised money through crowdfunding platforms to donate more 1.5 lakh masks to the slums of Bangalore.
Her work in the space of Sustainability, Ecommerce innovation and retail has been acknowledged by many national and international platforms. sShe was also amongst 14 women entrepreneurs selected by SonderConnect to represent India at the Blackbox, Silicon Valley.
She has also won many awards for her excpetional work, including Top Retail Minds in Asia 2018, 2019, 2020 by Asia Retail Congress and shopping awards; Women Achiever of the Year 2018 award by GWFM & Jain University, Bangalore; Indian Achiever Award 2018 by Indian Achievers Forum, Women in Leadership 2018 honor by World Women Leadership Congress & Award; Most Influential Brand Listing 2019 by the Economic Times & Asia Retail Congress and Shopping Awards.
