Introducing, 'The Indianaut Chronicles', a fortnightly interview series where we sit-down with some of the most accomplished entrepreneurs, CXOs, leaders, innovators, and visionaries to figure out what makes them tick and how they're spearheading the next wave of Indian innovation.
The toughest task is to take the 'Leap of Faith' into the dark with absolutely no guarantee that you will succeed. But as always it is a necessary thing to do and Megha Thapa, the Garric Ollivander of India, proved that with passion and creativity. Wand Making started as a hobby for Megha, but in 2018 she began the full-fledged business of selling 100% customizable wands along with the famous characters' wands from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Over the years she has ventured into a number of other crafts like photography, pin-making, etc. With an eye for detail, Megha always tries to present the perfect wand for the wand bearers, and for her that's the most satisfying part of her work.
Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Gautam: What is your Indianaut origin story?
Megha: In the words of Peter Parker I’d like to call my story "A Leap of Faith". In my words, however, it'd be the need for wands! My story begins with me suddenly making a wand one day and putting up a story on Instagram, what followed after was a few direct messages asking me if I would sell them. Three years down the line and here we are talking about my journey so far. :)
Gautam: What inspired you to create custom made wands?
Megha: The custom wands started when a few of my ‘bookstagram’ friends suggested I take orders for the same, and now I custom-make them however you want them.
Gautam: How long does it take to create each wand? What's the most difficult part about making wands?
Megha: The wands I make are all shaped and sculpted by hand and hence each of them takes me about a week to finish, some however take a bit more, depending on how complex the design is.
The most difficult part for me personally is convincing myself that the wands have turned out the way I want them to. With custom wands, or any wand, in particular, I always have an image in my head about how I want the wands to look like, and I like to make sure they turn out exactly the way I picture them. When they don't however, I start again.
Gautam: Is there a favorite wand you have made? Is there a memorable story behind the one you've crafted?
Megha: My favorite wand would be Luna Lovegood's wand.
A memorable story would be making hundreds of wands for my collaboration with The Big Book box, I didn't think it was possible, but I did it!
Gautam: What is your creative strategy to reach out to the relevant audience who share the same enthusiasm about Harry Potter?
Megha: I do not have a creativity strategy as such, but I do like to work on each piece with as much love and effort as the last, and I think that works pretty well. :)
But I have also been lucky enough to find clients who write me paragraph-long messages telling me about how much they like the wands I make and also share stories mentioning the same. Word of mouth has also played a major role I suppose because a lot of clients are people who have been suggested by their friends, and I also have people who keep coming back to shop. I cannot tell you how happy that makes me! The love and support I receive on an everyday basis from the ‘bookstagram’ community is something I cannot even put into words, and I feel so grateful and blessed every single day, these people I tell you, made me!
Gautam: When it comes to customized crafts, do you plan to expand your range of product offerings?
Megha: When I am shopping I always like it when there's a customization option available on certain things, such as gifts for a close friend or for anything in general, and since everything in my store is handmade it gives me the flexibility to function my store the same way. The store is already open to anything you ask for, the possibilities are endless. :)
Gautam: Tell us more about the collaborations and partnerships you engage in?
Megha: I already mentioned my previous collaboration with The Big Book Box. I also host giveaways whenever I reach a certain milestone, and sales are mainly done via the Instagram page I have (@wandsbymeghamax).
Gautam: The power of imagination and thinking outside the box cannot be questioned. Bibliophilia seems to be a lost art, how can you revive this interest in youth with the personalized products you create?
Megha: When I got into making wands, I would spend hours doing research. The internet is full of fan theories, and I love reading them, the internet is also full of wand wiki, which gives us information about the wands that each character has, and the HOWs, WHYs and the story behind each design, anyone who has ever gotten a wand from the store is a die-hard fan and if you're reading this, I'd like to suggest people look at the wand wiki to know more, I think the curiosity would be enough to spark up lost interest!
Gautam: What one piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring 'Indianauts'?
Megha: To upcoming Indianauts, I'd like to say, do what makes you happy, believe in your dreams, and work the hardest you can to achieve them! Never let the ‘muggles’ get you down! And Anything is possible if you've got enough nerve, these are the advice I have based my life upon, and continue to do so and I know they work because my wand-making has also helped me follow my Photography dreams which are, of course, a whole new story! But I hope this touches you!
Gautam Marwah is the founder of Indianaut, a platform showcasing and strengthening India's next best analytical and creative minds.