Roposo, a Gurgaon headquartered fashion social network - that gives its users a chance to share their style stories via blogs, video links, and infographics to inspire and get inspired - is now a case study on the reputed Harvard Business Publishing platform. The study focuses on how the fashion social network has matured from being a discovery platform to an ultimate lifestyle social network for Indian consumers.
Chirantan Chatterjee, former faculty at IIM-B and faculty member at Indian School of Business, has co-authored the case study with Reechal Vardhan, Product Manager at Roposo and IIM-B alumnus. In the synopsis of the study, titled ‘On innovation and entrepreneurship in growing Asian digital markets’, the authors have stated that niche social networking platforms like Roposo bring social media and online shopping together by allowing its users to not only look at stories or videos posted by people but also to buy similar looking clothes or accessories, as per their preference.
The case study also looks at how Roposo germinated from the founding team's prior venture Giveter that provided the team unique insights on consumer behaviour, product development, dynamic capabilities, and network economies. This case study takes it forward to a point where in the last few quarters, with social-selling as a paradigm being explored by the likes of Facebook and WhatsApp, Roposo tries to reinvent itself - considering whether to enter the social selling space or to strategically focus on further deepening its base on pure play social networking.
With 3.5 million users, over 2 million screen views per day, 3,00,000 posts a month and over 200+ celebrities, designers and stylists using the platform, Roposo has established itself as one-of- its-kind fashion and lifestyle social network of India. A brand of Relevant E-solutions headquartered in Gurgaon, Roposo is the brainchild of three IIT Delhi alumni, Mayank Bhangadia, Avinash Saxena and Kaushal Shubhank.
Speaking on it, Mayank Bhangadia, CEO and Co-founder at Roposo, said, “Being featured as a case study among the growing list of Harvard cases on modern Indian entrepreneurship and innovation is a proud moment for us. We are delighted that MBA students at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions will learn from our brand journey. This case study is ideal for MBA students around the world who are keen to understand digital innovation and entrepreneurship in growing Asian markets, as the study highlights the process of entrepreneurial pivoting, dynamic capabilities, strategic focus, and life-cycle management amidst industry evolution.”
Adding to this, Reechal Vardhan, Product Manager at Roposo, said, "Roposo has had an incredible journey so far and I am extremely happy to share it's story with the world, along with Professor Chatterjee. Being an MBA myself, I can appreciate the value a case-study like this could add to classroom discussions - through which students will get an insight to innovation in the Indian start-up landscape and the strategic decisions that we have to take in our day-to-day operations."
According to Professor Chatterjee, Faculty Member at Indian School of Business, "Roposo proved to be an ideal case to examine the challenges and opportunities for home-grown social platforms in entrepreneurial pivoting, building dynamic capabilities, and maintaining strategic focus when there is a US Facebook, a Chinese Weibo, or Japanese Mixi."
With a heavy focus on personalisation and tie-ups with over 5,000 brands and10,000 SMBs, Roposo connects with users across India through its constant innovations and other exciting activities. The average ticket size of Roposo has grown to INR 1,500, and the user base has grown to 3.5 million in 2017 from 2 million in 2016. The fashion social network connects local boutiques and SMBs with users, further enhancing affinity and the propensity to purchase from the platform, and is well on its way to achieving profit in the coming years.
[Top Image - Dean Shu Ptogography]
Chirantan Chatterjee, former faculty at IIM-B and faculty member at Indian School of Business, has co-authored the case study with Reechal Vardhan, Product Manager at Roposo and IIM-B alumnus. In the synopsis of the study, titled ‘On innovation and entrepreneurship in growing Asian digital markets’, the authors have stated that niche social networking platforms like Roposo bring social media and online shopping together by allowing its users to not only look at stories or videos posted by people but also to buy similar looking clothes or accessories, as per their preference.
The case study also looks at how Roposo germinated from the founding team's prior venture Giveter that provided the team unique insights on consumer behaviour, product development, dynamic capabilities, and network economies. This case study takes it forward to a point where in the last few quarters, with social-selling as a paradigm being explored by the likes of Facebook and WhatsApp, Roposo tries to reinvent itself - considering whether to enter the social selling space or to strategically focus on further deepening its base on pure play social networking.
With 3.5 million users, over 2 million screen views per day, 3,00,000 posts a month and over 200+ celebrities, designers and stylists using the platform, Roposo has established itself as one-of- its-kind fashion and lifestyle social network of India. A brand of Relevant E-solutions headquartered in Gurgaon, Roposo is the brainchild of three IIT Delhi alumni, Mayank Bhangadia, Avinash Saxena and Kaushal Shubhank.
Speaking on it, Mayank Bhangadia, CEO and Co-founder at Roposo, said, “Being featured as a case study among the growing list of Harvard cases on modern Indian entrepreneurship and innovation is a proud moment for us. We are delighted that MBA students at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions will learn from our brand journey. This case study is ideal for MBA students around the world who are keen to understand digital innovation and entrepreneurship in growing Asian markets, as the study highlights the process of entrepreneurial pivoting, dynamic capabilities, strategic focus, and life-cycle management amidst industry evolution.”
Adding to this, Reechal Vardhan, Product Manager at Roposo, said, "Roposo has had an incredible journey so far and I am extremely happy to share it's story with the world, along with Professor Chatterjee. Being an MBA myself, I can appreciate the value a case-study like this could add to classroom discussions - through which students will get an insight to innovation in the Indian start-up landscape and the strategic decisions that we have to take in our day-to-day operations."
According to Professor Chatterjee, Faculty Member at Indian School of Business, "Roposo proved to be an ideal case to examine the challenges and opportunities for home-grown social platforms in entrepreneurial pivoting, building dynamic capabilities, and maintaining strategic focus when there is a US Facebook, a Chinese Weibo, or Japanese Mixi."
With a heavy focus on personalisation and tie-ups with over 5,000 brands and10,000 SMBs, Roposo connects with users across India through its constant innovations and other exciting activities. The average ticket size of Roposo has grown to INR 1,500, and the user base has grown to 3.5 million in 2017 from 2 million in 2016. The fashion social network connects local boutiques and SMBs with users, further enhancing affinity and the propensity to purchase from the platform, and is well on its way to achieving profit in the coming years.
[Top Image - Dean Shu Ptogography]
Roposo team[/caption]
Roposo team[/caption]
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