Ad Land’s Young Guns: Srinath Reddy Polu, Founder, The Mean Indian Store

Srinath Reddy Polu is the founder of The Mean Indian Store, a homegrown lifestyle brand that is focussed on fashion apparel and is centered around novel graphic tees for the modish generation with quirky and witty phrasal puns and one-liners. In his capacity within the organisation, Srinath facilitates and propounds the plans for marketing and business strategy. He is also responsible for setting, tracking, and monitoring the short-term and long-term goals for the company.

Overall, Srinath supervises the fluid functioning of all departments while having a vantage view of the holistic development of the organisation.

In conversation with Adgully, Srinath Reddy Polu, Founder, The Mean Indian Store, speaks about increasing brand presence in the market, his journey with The Mean Indian store, advice for youngsters and more.

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?

I have an extremely multi-dimensional skill set that I bring to the table, but due to my diverse educational background, my USP lies in strategic planning, marketing, and organisational skills.

Besides overseeing daily operations at The Mean Indian Store, my major focus is on increasing the brand presence in the market through marketing and promotional activities.

How did you start this organisation?

I have always had a passion for starting an apparel brand, but I felt that it has to be unique and accessible to every average (mean) Indian. While thinking about a USP, we thought of graphic tees while giving a tribute to the subtle, mean sarcastic nature every Indian has in them. We kickstarted with a few ideas for graphic tees, and we are planning to expand our product portfolio soon.

Icons in this field you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?

Honestly, there is no particular person, but I admire the story of every person building something out of nothing in any industry. It teaches me a lot that inspires me to push further every now and then.

What are the five most productive things you do in your everyday routine?

I’ve always believed that listing out tasks for the day always helps you. Therefore, I ensure to make a daily to-do list to meet the weekly targets I’ve set for my brand. Additionally, I keep myself updated with industry trends daily and brainstorm for upcoming brands campaigns with my team. Going for a run/ jog and reading a book usually completes my day.

Do you think a career in this field is viable in the long term?

Any apparel brand with the right strategy and relatable to the common man is here to stay for a very long time. Moreover, the digital era is an added bonus to give a new-age brand like ours a push in the initial stages.

What does it take to succeed in a career?

Taking failure and success at the same level and pushing yourself to achieve your goals will help you succeed in your career. To put it simply – never settle.

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?

The younger generation needs to know what unique things they will offer to their customers with a definite plan of action. They need to dive very deep into industry trends, understand the market, in-depth research, strategize well, and execute things properly.

Where do you see your organisation in the next five years?

I envision being at par with the market leaders in terms of numbers and brand perception.