A promising entrepreneur, Mrs Ritika Jatin Ahuja is an icon of sorts and a name to reckon with. An avid collector of exotic miniature perfumes since childhood which she cultivated as a hobby and passion has seen her as a proud owner of 563 scented bottles and has been awarded the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by the Golden Book of World Records for the same. Having passed out from one of the elite prestigious schools of Delhi, Modern School Barakhamba Road, she is an interior designer by profession and has also specialized in the interior designing of jets and yachts from the University of Arts London in addition to a professional course in 3D Animation and Software coral.

Blessed with an artistic bent of mind, her imaginative skills have truly seen no boundaries when it came to shaping her rewarding and fulfilling career path. Presently she spearheads the Merchandise section at Big Boy Toyz, one of Asia’s largest super exotic car destinations. As the Chief Operating Officer, her key role here is to ensure that the team successfully markets the product portfolio consisting of stationery, decorative items and lifestyle products.  A well-conceived effort, planning and execution from her side became the reason for the bright and fruitful inception of the Merchandise section. And the most talked about amongst them all is the Big Boy Toyz’ Gold Edition perfume, a one-of-a-kind offering, that was launched on 9^th August 2017.

It instantly grabbed headlines for promising its users a whiff of heady fragrance, aristocracy and signature style. A heartfelt companion for the special occasions, it makes you announce your arrival in style along with leaving a lasting impression. The flawless blend of fragrance and ornamentation that draws praiseworthy exclamations on first glimpse is akin to perfection, the definition for which lies at Asia’ biggest Super Exotic Car Showroom. And the cherry on the cake, being the affordable price of rupees 1499/- quickly makes a place for itself in the hearts of fashion lovers. Indulge yourself in a never like before extravagant affair that will surely leave you speechless and craving for more.

Her leadership and motivational skills, the ability to take bold decisions and overcome challenges without compromising on the ethics, tackling business and organizational issues as an integrated unit, makes her a promising entrepreneur and an inspiring mentor. Winning the National Excellence Award 2018 and the Women Entrepreneur award 2018, Young Women Leader in Operations by the Indian Conventions, Most Influential Leader of the 2018 by Transformance Forum and the Gem of India Awards by AIAC portray her steadfast and true-blue demeanor which has been the catapulting differentiator. Her unfazed passion for perfumes along with the standout entrepreneurial journey has fetched big time coverages on CNBC TV-18, Business Standard,YourStory.com,  She magazine, Business Connect and the like. Staying committed to her goals in the face of uncertainties and not compromising on her values remains her dare quotient.

Taking each day as it comes, she has nevertheless geared herself and is sufficiently equipped to handle the pressures from unexpected quarters thereby striving to make the merchandise section as big as Big Boy Toyz in due course of time. The talented multi -tasking lady surely has her hands full and the manner in which she has balanced motherhood and profession with harmony and precision is truly commendable.

My childhood perennial attachment for scented bottles! That is what I accord it to.Revisiting the past timeline makes me cherish the good olden days when perfumes occupied the “top drawer” fascination of my daily chores.To be more precise, when my parents were on their honeymoon in Switzerland! My mom bought small bottles of perfumes which were later gifted to me and thus began my interest in collecting miniature perfumes. This was a very exceptional moment, extremely close to my heart for it chalked out the course of my career.Truly want to thank them!Of course, the quest to do something different from my contemporaries was always on the wish list and soon the mental soft spot for perfumes grew into a full- fledged hobby of dwelling deep into the peculiarities of various renowned brands together with making them a part of my collection.A staunch diversion from the run of the mill praxis proceedings, the strong emotional connect with perfumes saw me stack the exemplary bottled specimens with utmost care in a colossal glass cabinet, that calls for a grand recital of “passion is the basis of achieving everything you once dreamt of”.Receiving the honorable “Certificate of Excellence” by the Golden Book of World Records was a complete validation which conveyed that this was a meritorious start with much more to follow.

I head the Merchandise section at Big Boy Toyz. As the Chief Operating Officer, my key role is to ensure that my team and I successfully market the portfolio that we have come out with like stationery and lifestyle products. The responsibilities entail that we work hard, take bold and tough decisions without compromising on our values and solve the difficult business and organizational issues as a team.

What is the idea behind Merchandise section at Big Boy Toyz (BBT)?
As the preferred and choicest super exotic car destination, Big Boy Toyz aims to offer extra and something more with the newly launched Merchandise Section.Coming up with a full-blown contributory for furthering the indomitable streak and popularity which BBT commands, was always there on my mind and choosing an item from the alluringcategory surely adds to your attractive takeaway at the end of the day when you drive off with the swanky four wheeled statementfrom our showroom.

 

Specifically pinpointing to the big eponym, the “Big Boy Toyz Gold Edition Perfume”, which has redefined the very essence of luxury & gratification together with qualifying as a wholehearted satiating exemplification for our ever-expansive brand following. So that is a definite icing on the cake!

 

Where do you want to see yourself in the next 5 years?

I may be the COO of the Merchandise Section but I want to make it clear that both my husband, MrJatin Ahuja and I work as a team and intend to remain that way. Along with our responsible and dependable staff, we want to expand, innovate and offer our best services to the people in the coming years.It is not only about competition but a process of constant evolving and upgradation that keeps us on our toes and Market ourselves better.

 

What type of a lifestyle do you enjoy?
I strive to achieve a lifestyle with a perfect work life balance wherein I can give an optimum contribution to my Merchandise Section and not feel guilty of neglecting the family members andhousehold affairs. My little daughter Zaara commands most of my attention and time which I enjoy to the hilt.It is my responsibility to bring her up with the right values and see her taking over the reigns of the organization.

What inspired you to do what you are doing today?
There are a couple of things that I would love to highlight here -Firstly, it was my dream to be a complete woman. A woman with a home and a woman with a flourishing career! 

The Merchandise Section of Big Boy Toyz is like my baby. My passion of collecting perfumes soon got translated into a business venture and I realized that I could give the ladies and the men folk a unique individualistic style, something that stands apart, the Big Boy Toyz Gold Edition Perfume.

 

Not only this!

 

We have other products too in our attractive listing such as the BBT Carbon Fiber Pen, Puzzle, Stickers and the newly added Signature playing cards, all of which add to our diverse quotient.

 

I always had a desire to put my creative instincts to good use and believe me this is like a meditation that has aided my spiritual growth.

 

What message do you have for budding entrepreneurs?

Foremost, be committed to the people you want to serve and the people who are the backbone to your organisation. Be smart and different in your organizational skills, inspire & lead your team and above all have a sense of humor in the face of challenges. Work hard but take out time for yourself.