Abstract: From the historic bylanes of Sasaram in Bihar, Flipkart seller Pankaj Pratap sowed the seeds of a dream far beyond the family farm. Pankaj chose a different career direction, from mastering the complexities of the Mandarin language to navigating the challenges of logistics during a pandemic. His leap from a secure corporate role into the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship was no small feat. With ingenuity and determination, he used early challenges to improve his business approach, eventually building a thriving footwear business. Read Pankaj’s story of becoming a self-made Flipkart seller who unites ethnic styles with technology to fulfil his aspirations.
In the historic lanes of Sasaram, Bihar, Pankaj Pratap’s childhood was shaped more by the rhythmic energy of the marketplace than the quiet of the fields. Though his family’s heritage was rooted in the region’s farming traditions, Pankaj’s education began at his father’s side, learning the delicate art of the sale. “While my parents used to take care of the farms, I never learnt much about it,” he recalls. “My mother handled most of the work with my father’s support, and I helped him sell the produce in the market.”
As he reached adulthood, Pankaj felt the weight of the traditional script that limited his future to a handful of predictable professions. “At that time, there were limited options I could pursue in Bihar. I could either study engineering or pursue medicine. We were not aware of other possibilities.” That changed when a cousin, a professor at Sikkim Central University, opened a door to an entirely different world: the study of Mandarin. Soon, Pankaj moved across the country to master the language, eventually earning his post-graduation from Visva Bharati University in Kolkata. “I learnt everything—from reading and writing to speaking and even translating the language,” he says.
This specialized skill set earned him a corporate role as a senior analyst at an MNC, but the hum of the marketplace he knew as a boy never quite left him. “I stepped away from this corporate role to pursue entrepreneurship,” adds Pankaj. “My first entry into business was as a logistics vendor, where I handled tracking, operations, and deliveries.” This helped him understand how supply chains work in India. “In the beginning, I worked as a third-party vendor. The work went well during the pandemic, but after four years I decided to move on because of constant rate negotiations,” he explains further.
Returning to his roots, Pankaj looked at the familiar streets of Sasaram with the eyes of a strategist. Guided by a relative with 23 years of experience in the garment trade, he identified a gap in the market near the railway station, a bustling hub for wedding shoppers. He decided to launch a footwear business. “My relative suggested that I start selling ethnic footwear. That’s how I entered the business. I try to offer everything under one roof—from sneakers and casual wear to festive footwear.” To ensure variety, he began sourcing through distributors who brought in craftsmanship from the hubs of Delhi and Agra.
In a community where e-commerce was still a foreign concept, Pankaj was a pioneer. “In the beginning, I faced challenges after onboarding. At that time, no one used to sell online here, and I was still learning the ropes of it,” he admits. “With the help of Flipkart’s seller support team, I found my footing, scaling to a steady flow of 15 to 20 orders a day” he adds. Today, he manages a lean team of five, balancing the walk-in energy of his shop with the digital demands of a nationwide customer base.
Pankaj’s approach is now a blend of old-school grit and new-age precision. He times his ethnic footwear listings to the peak of the wedding season and uses modern tools to ensure his brand stays visible. “I use AI tools for support and apply SEO techniques to identify product-related keywords to boost sales,” he explains. For Pankaj, the journey from the farm to the digital marketplace is about building a brand with a soul. “I want to sell footwear that the customers love. My plan is to expand my trademarked brand in the footwear market,” he adds.
