Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?
Hello, my name is Sunil Aggarwal, and I am the founder of VecRas, a digital design company that started in 2007 to create exclusive digital graphics. At VecRas, we have expertise in designing Vector and Raster graphic templates created using software like Illustrator and Photoshop. Owing to the best quality and reliable support system, we have established global dominance in creating precise Vinyl Ready Vector Cut File Templates for Skins and Smart PSD Mockups for different mobile cases as well as skins of various devices.
Apart from Cut files and SmartPSDs, we make Creative Graphics and How Videos to support our customers all around the globe. We also sell our digital products and services at other top marketplaces like Creative Market, Graphic River, FontBundle, Etsy, etc.
As we specialise in creating mobile case mockups of all kinds, we also provide Custom Services for Mockup Creation, with all exclusive rights, as per the needs of our clients.I searched on the web and found gadget skin business is booming, and only a few companies are selling that. Still, to start such a business, people need digital templates to cut the skin, which was unavailable online, so I decided to provide that.
I chose this business as there were very few companies providing such services, i.e. low competition, and there was a high demand for gadget skins in the market, which meant a very high derived demand for digital templates too, particularly on the web. So from here, this idea ignited, and thus started, I started providing services such as creating cut file templates, SmartPSDs, custom logos, and creative designs. Special attention is paid to after-sale services for the customers.
What's your personal history and the inspiration for your business?
I started very early to provide financial support to my family. At 19, I started learning digital work & got my first job very soon. After nine years of job experience in various printing & packing agencies, I established my first independent design & print studio, VecRas, in 2007.
Later, I became interested in digital design templates & shifted my entire focus towards their creation & I soon founded the company VecRas Creations Pvt. Ltd in 2015. Since then, VecRas has continued to expand. I also gained inspiration for this work while providing services to many overseas clients during my career.
Describe the process of launching your remote business
I started this company alone, but later, my nephew, Mr Akarsh Goel, joined me. Initially, I juggled a few different ideas as there was a high competition out there in this field; then I searched on the web and found gadget skin business is booming and very few companies are selling that, but to start that business, people need digital templates to cut the skin which was not available on the web so I decided to provide that. I chose this business as there were very few companies providing such services, i.e. low competition, and there was a high demand for gadget skins in the market which meant that there was a very high derived demand for the digital templates that too on the web. So from here, this idea ignited, and thus started providing services such as creating cut file templates, SmartPSDs, custom logos, and creative designs. Special attention is paid to after-sale services for the customers.
We started selling digital downloadable templates, and the demand for these files is as high as one needs to protect their expensive gadgets, and for creating its skin, a template was required. Fortunately for us, the business has always been remote.
The company’s launching was based on organic search, and no online promotions or advertisements were made; it was only promoted through emails we received by providing free files on our website. The results were very fast, and it took very few months for the customers to reach us. The response was overwhelming, and the services had a lasting impact on them, converting them from one-time customers to recurring ones. The initial investment required was low, so it was the bootstrap company, and there arose no need for borrowing loans. All this business required was much more time, patience, and workforce to reach the accuracy level than money. This was the most important lesson I learned in the initial years: accuracy is the most important for such kind of work and should be the main goal.
Today, Akarsh is the head of operations at VecRas, and I have involved myself in a completely different initiative – Satopradhan Vision (a brand of VecRas), for a higher cause. It is a Specialised Satvic Store that provides all the necessary resources to help you embrace a Satvic Lifestyle. Everything you get here is Organic, Vegan, Natural & Earth-Friendly. It is an expression of pure love ignited by spiritual wisdom to serve humanity, fellow creatures and Mother Nature. I am working on it from scratch once again!
What has worked to attract customers and earn their loyalty?
The main thing that has attracted customers was our product range’s quality. The products and services got so accurate with time and practice that they kept attracting more customers. We initially added a few free sample files on our website so clients could check the quality; the customers would come directly to our website, download free files first and then pay for the other files.
Be an expert in using software with high creativity, precision, and patience, which are the main requirements. Skills are more important than any monetary investment
Any company which needs vinyl skins for wrapping various devices would need cutting files like CDR/SVG/PLT provided by us as a guide for their cutting machine. The service of after-sales support was also provided in the form of helping customers in opening and using their cut files and sending them the formats which were compatible with their software like CDR, EPS, DXF, PLT and SVG file formats which are supported by almost all the cutting machine software and the precautions and suggestions related to using of the file are also provided.
The most important quality of VecRas that has attracted most customers has been our love to support and guide them in using our products by providing them with proper video tutorials on skin applications on various devices using vector cut files, using our mockups and much more.
Knowing what you know now, are there things you would have done differently when first starting out?
The most important thing I have learned is to work on the accuracy and quality of the products and services you are selling, as without the accuracy, there is no benefit to selling them. Secondly, a lot of hard work and soft skills like precision and patience are required to attain accuracy.
Technically learn how to accurately paste the skin on the device, understand products better, and use a cutter for templates. Business tools such as Shopify have been used, and third-party apps like SendOwl for digital file delivery securely and other apps for credit-based downloading. Various software like Illustrator and Photoshop. Graphtec cutter is also used in creating precise cut file templates for skins. These digital products are sold at top marketplaces like Creative Market, Graphic River, Font Bundle, Etsy, etc.
What has been the best part of starting a remote business?
The best part has been that it enables more agility & flexibility in a business. It helps meet the needs of both the business and the employees. Apart from this, it helped reduce the working capital, as we were not tied to working from an office so it helped reduce certain expenses.
What platform/tools do you use for your business?
We started off building our website using Magento, and as I mentioned earlier quickly realized this was a mistake. We decided to use BigCommerce next instead of Shopify because of some B2B features we wanted. This worked very very well for us.
As we’ve grown we have recently launched a website built on Gatsby and Dato CMS using Stripe checkout. This is more of a full custom stack that allows us to get incredible load speeds and full customization and internationalization. But I wouldn’t recommend it for starters.
Honestly, I would suggest you use Shopify and keep it as standard as possible to speed up launching because that’s when the real learning happens.
What have been the most influential books, networking groups, podcasts, or other resources you've found?
No particular books or podcasts were referred to; all the knowledge was based on an organic search through Google and Youtube and learning about them online with learning video platforms like Linkedin Learning (formerly lynda.com).
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to build a remote business of their dreams?
My advice is that one should be an expert in using software with high creativity, precision, and patience, which are the main requirements. Skills are more important than a monetary investment. One may face a challenge, such as arranging the device for testing, so various strategies should be designed to face such challenges.
Are there any positions or internships you're hiring for now?
We’re not actively hiring at this very moment (Feb 2023)
Where can we go to learn more?
Website: Vecras.com/about
