Meet: Karen Desai
Founder of: LUKH
Tell us about your business:
LUKH is an online rental service dedicated to making South Asian fashion and culture accessible in the US.
What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out?
Be intentional with your customers. If customers have a great experience with your brand, they will support you. Find the little personal ways to go above and beyond.
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?
I wish I would have created a process that enabled my team and I to listen, test and learn. My advice is to build an MVP, continuously gather feedback and run hypothesis tests to determine if your solution really fits a need or if it needs to be iterated.
Name the biggest overall lesson you've learned in running a business?
It's critical to have a purpose you’re passionate about. Running your own business is challenging, time-consuming, and hectic. There's no such thing as work life balance, or a separate personal and professional life. The passion for what you do needs to be there to keep you going.
Does your culture influence your choices and decisions? If yes, how?
The ability to provide access to the South Asian culture was the inspiration for the creation of LUKH. As the US becomes more diverse and multi-cultural, I believe it's important to share our heritage, educate on culture, and embrace the fashion. It's up to us to preserve our roots, but also make our culture inclusive and open to anyone - regardless of their background.
How do you balance your workload? What does self-care look like for you?
I always ensure I make time for my husband, family, dog, and friends. My people are what keep me grounded, and I wouldn't be where I am without them. My self-care is quality time spent with the people I care about the most.
Discover more:
lukhstudio.com
@lukhstudio
