From Sewing Machines to Rs 7000 Crore: Nanu Gupta’s Journey

The story of Nanu Gupta really shows what can happen when you mix perseverance, vision, and a genuine focus on customers. Born in 1942 in Haryana, Nanu started out in a farmer’s family and somehow ended up building one of India’s biggest electronics retail chains, Vijay Sales.

He kicked things off with just Rs 2,000. Now, the company has over 120 stores and annual sales topping Rs 4,000 crore. It’s wild to think how far he came, honestly.

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

Nanu Gupta grew up surrounded by simplicity and hard work. In 1954, his family moved to Mumbai, hoping for better opportunities.

He got his start selling fans and sewing machines for Usha International Limited. That job taught him how to really connect with customers—something that would stick with him for life.

It was a grind, but those early days gave him the skills and instincts he’d need later on.

The Birth of Vijay Sales

In 1967, with just Rs 2,000, Nanu opened a tiny shop in Matunga, Mumbai. He named it Vijay Sales after his brother, which I think is kind of sweet.

At first, he only sold sewing machines and fans. But he wasn’t content to stay small.

By 1974, he started selling black-and-white televisions. That move changed everything for Vijay Sales.

Strategic Expansion and Innovation

When color TVs came to India, Nanu saw an opportunity and grabbed it. He bought a bigger place in Mahim, just to display the new TVs in style.

He kept all the TVs running in the store, hoping to catch people’s attention as they walked by. It was a gutsy move, honestly, but it worked.

That kind of risk-taking really set him apart.

Commitment to Customer Satisfaction

Nanu always put customers first—sometimes to a fault. Back then, EMIs weren’t a thing, but he still let people pay in installments.

If someone had trouble with a product, he’d actually go to their house to fix it himself. That’s not something you see every day.

His honesty and effort built real trust. People kept coming back, and word spread fast.

Growth and Diversification

By 2006–07, Vijay Sales had grown to about 8–10 stores in Mumbai. Then they picked up a four-story store in Goregaon, each floor around 1,300 square feet.

The company kept expanding—Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi. By 2007–08, revenue hit Rs 500 crore.

That same year, Vijay Sales started offering digital products like mobile phones and computers. It was a big shift, but it worked out.

Current Status and Future Plans

Today, Vijay Sales sells over 3,500 products in 11+ categories. You’ll find their stores in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Nanu Gupta is still the Chairman, and his sons Nilesh and Ashish are Directors. Even his grandson Karan helps run things now.

In 2021, a senior official said Vijay Sales could hit Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 crore in sales by 2025, with 200 stores on the horizon. That’s ambitious, but who knows?

Lessons from Nanu Gupta’s Journey

• Customer-Centric Approach: Nanu’s way of putting customers first really made a difference. He’d go out of his way to help, and people noticed.
• Innovation and Risk-Taking: Investing in bigger, flashier stores and showing off new tech wasn’t the obvious move, but it paid off for him.
• Adaptability: He didn’t stick to just sewing machines—he kept evolving with the times, which kept the business growing.
• Visionary Leadership: Nanu just seemed to know when to make the next big move. That kind of timing is rare.

Nanu Gupta started with almost nothing. Somehow, he built a company now worth Rs 7,000 crore.

He focused on customer satisfaction and came up with fresh strategies. When the market shifted, he didn’t just watch—he adapted.

That’s how Vijay Sales became such a big name in India’s electronics retail scene. Nanu Gupta’s story? It’s honestly inspiring for anyone who dreams of building something big.

If you’re curious to dive deeper into his journey, check out the full article here.