Remember when you went out playing in the building compound and there was this khadoos uncle who stopped you from playing or told you to go play somewhere else? Now, cut to the present day when this uncle suddenly starts being nice to you because you have just detailed his favourite car and brought it to mint condition?!
That's where Darshan Bhadra knew he had it in him to do something with his life which was away from his dad's business and of his own talent. King Lifestyle Cars was an outcome of the point where Darshan converted a foe into a friend because of the talent he displayed and not the lineage he came from.
Coming from a Vyapari family in the Bhanushali community, Darshan never had a chance to work outside the family business. Many would call that nepotistic privileges but that comes with a notion that when you walk into your dad's office, you are immediately given the boss' chair. Nope! Not so soon, dude. Even that didn't come like a cakewalk to Darshan. After he completed his 12th board, his father did call him to work with him at their family business but not as the Boss' son but like any other salesperson or office boy. And that too under adult supervision.
He had a passion for cars - the love for their craftsmanship, the engineering, the design, the speed. It gave him a thrill like nothing else. On a random day, Darshan had somebody job on his dad's car which made it look superb and as good as new. Little did he know, that this building neighbour was watching him at his craft and was going to offer him the opportunity to repeat the process for his car too.
The uncle was a convert after seeing the job and Darshan now had the confidence to start this out as a full-fledged business. King Lifestyle Cars is a full-stack Automobile service provider that offers services from Car detailing to Modification and servicing. Starting out in 2019, KLC has grown into an emerging brand that is out there for its consumers' satisfaction - giving them a car radically different and more robust than when it was first left into their hands.
The team has acted as a strong pillar to KLC building their base in Mumbai but catering to customers pan India. Darshan understands that it is the teammates who are the plinth of any organization - they execute the vision of the Founder. The Founder has to ensure that the team is taken care of under all circumstances and they give their best back in return for the comfort they derive from being in an environment like that.
Darshan likes the detail in everything - he is particular about his surroundings, his things, his material possessions and most of all, his family. His parents have been strong supporters of every decision he has ever made. Never had a second thought and never made him feel that he was treading on a path that was potentially risky. They ensured Darshan felt comfortable running along the path of his dreams and that whenever he looked back, he would find them standing firmly behind him like an unflinching wall. He fondly mentions that this love and support make him believe that he wasn't born with a silver spoon but in fact a golden spoon because of such a supportive family.
Darshan believes in the love people have for their cars. It is not just a means of commuting for them - it is like a symbol of their identity, their pride, the proof of their success. And they will do anything that is in their power to keep that symbol well cared for. And this belief makes Darshan step out of his bed every day. He doesn't believe in overnight success. It is hard-earned and well-fought for. But there isn't always a rosy path.
There were times when Darshan felt taken advantage of. His age and background made people feel he could afford to lose time and money because he had enough of it. He learnt to steer clear of such people. He learnt to say NO. He started focusing on his actual customers - the car patrons who had the passion to keep their cars well. He started talking to them about a concept called Car Well-being. This communication with his clients gave him a wider spectrum of people’s needs and expectations from the service industry too.
But is this an elitist business? You would think only the rich cared for or could afford to care about their cars. Well, you are in for a surprise, says Darshan. When asked what is it that brings customers to his doorstep, Darshan quotes out of the experience, "High standard lifestyle isn't just about being wealthy, it's about the way to use it. People just need to understand one man's Maruti can be another man’s Mercedes."
Coming from a guy who was diagnosed with Hemophilia, a blood clotting disorder and was told by his doctor at a very young age, that he won't be able to walk or run ever again - well, this is how you fly before you can walk or run! The motivation, you ask? He says, "I am not doing anything new. I am just trying to revolutionize the mindset of people, that the average car is not less important than a high-end car. It is all about life and what you make of it."
Believe in self-learning because without failure there is no joy of success
Darshan Bhadra, Founder, King Lifestyle Cars
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