Pallavi Khandelwal: Making Cool and quirky underwears at the ‘The Boxer Store’

Pallavi Khandelwal graduated from Nottingham University 2009. With a post graduate degree in finance and investments, she came back to India to work. An expert at finance and a creative person at heart, she started working at FabIndia to see if she could combine fashion with finance.

I was never motivated with the idea of becoming an entrepreneur at that time

The job did not turn out very well and Pallavi had to quit in exactly 2 months. “It was that time in my life when I started exploring the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur,” she says. She launched The Boxer Store in September 2010, to introduce Quirky and Funky Boxer shorts for Men, a concept which was extremely new to the Ecommerce industry.

With no professional experience in fashion, Pallavi went ahead to build the brand from scratch. Her parents not only supported her, but also discussed everything with her. “From kinky designs to marketing ideas, my mom and dad were there to help me with everything.

My parents always believed in what I was doing and not because that is something what a parent needs to do but because they understood what an entrepreneur needs.

With a swarm of unconventional and humorous designs, they target people between 18 to 35 years of age. Pallavi believes that the experience of being an entrepreneur is very different, especially for women in our country. “When I started up, Boxer shorts was not something people were really searching for online. I question my thoughts sometimes,” says the founder.

Being an entrepreneur means that you fully embrace ambiguity and are comfortable with the fact that the road ahead is going not going to be full of rainbows and sunshine.

“My father is a part partner at TBS. He loves the company and moreover he loves the passion with which I work on it,” says Pallavi happily. Like a lot of start-ups, TBS had its ups and downs with Finances. The journey has shaped Pallavi in many ways. “I have been able to recognise my mistakes and failures which  has guided me to a right path to success. Be it a business or profession, problems are just waiting for you at every corner of the road. But being an entrepreneur, its more about handling it on your own and moving on,” she adds.

Entrepreneurship teaches one to be patient and consistent with work. Through the years, Pallavi has lead the online store and created a fan following of her products. They also have opened up a store in Shahpur Jat where they sell the products for men and women both.

As a message for future entrepreneurs, she quotes Marianne Williamson “We are all meant to shine and It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

Website Link : www.theboxerstore.in