D.D. Karel of N. M. Karel & Sons Pvt. Ltd. is at the helm of his 75-year family-owned business that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Karel remarks that preparations for IIJS Premiere begin six months prior to offer a vast variety of lines tailored to today’s new-age consumer.
Tell us briefly about your company.
We are designers and manufacturers of gold jewellery, specializing in plain gold, studded, and meenakari lines. Our family-owned business, which has evolved through several generations, was established by my late father around 1949-50. In 1991, he passed on the baton to us. We take pride in our 75-year legacy in this industry.
We serve jewellery businesses all over the country, creating different styles combining a blend of traditional crafts with techniques. We have a modern manufacturing set up, located in a reputable industrial area of Delhi, and we take pride in operating in a responsible manner.
Tell us about your preparations for IIJS Premiere.
We generally start preparing for a show like IIJS Premiere at least six months in advance. While the process of designing and development of ideas happens all year-round, working on special designs typically starts about six months ahead of the show. Every piece we create is unique, as we strive to mix techniques with crafts, use of colours, and gemstones. With the advent of CAD and 3D printing, there have been revolutionary changes in jewellery production, and we also have embraced this technology while integrating traditional crafts. Over the past 10 years, we have conducted extensive research in 3D printing, and our products are a culmination of these efforts.
What are your expectations from the show.
To present beautiful products to our customers and delight them with the inventory on offer.
Which are the strong regions domestically and which are your top export markets?
The South is always the strongest, but again, we have customers from the East, West and North as well. We have been exporting to the USA and Singapore.
Tell us about your views on how the cut on gold duty will impact the future outlook of the industry.
The Union Government has taken a bold step this year, and I hope that it will take bolder steps next year. Reduced tariffs provide a booster dose for exports, as numerous regulations surrounding tariffs aim to curb smuggling and cross-border trade. If duties are further reduced, India could well become the largest distribution centre in Asia.
I have been a strong advocate of negligible or zero Customs tariffs on gold.
On another note, I believe that gold consumption may remain stable, regardless of whether duties are raised to 50% or reduced to 0%, because nothing can change the love Indian women have for gold.
In the current business environment, what significance does IIJS Premiere hold for your company?
IIJS Premiere or the IIJS has emerged as a strong sourcing brand over the years, and for manufacturers like us, being associated or partnering with a brand like this offers us a tremendous platform, which has fantastic growth potential.
What according to you are the current market trends domestically? What are the consumer preferences and price points that are popular?
I see more and more customers opting for lightweight, sleeker and stylish pieces, which offer value and fashion satisfaction. The “PAN Limit” price point has become a buzzword, and looking at the inflationary trends, I hope that the Government raises the limit.