MINK Laundry Services - Pamper your CLothes

Women & Clothes- the never ending saga! I always got mad at my mom for spending so much time sorting out the laundry, buying all possible detergents, conditioners, being super cautious with her silk saris & repeatedly wearing them before Dry-cleaning! I never understood why would you not Dry Clean it after each wear!

Here I am now married to a #Hujband who loves his suits & loves me in Silk & woven saris & crepe dresses. I can't help accept that yes, I have evolved into my Mom! I sort the laundry basket, scour for types of fabric conditioners, look out for stains. I carefully wear my saris & expensive dresses & wear them selectively & dry clean them even more carefully!

Being part of networking forum soften throws up opportunities at you to try out various new products & services! They genuinely seek an opinion. Some try to influence the review whilst some stay clear from any such gimmicks. I prefer the latter as it allows me to be me and honest with my readers.

So here, I am reviewing MINK Laundry Services. 

A small background on where I come from when I evaluate Dry Cleaning Services. Habits are inculcated young, my Mom taught me that if you can buy & wear a sari worth Rs.5000/- plus, you must treat it like an asset, care for it & maintain it well. She swore me to forever & forever trust only Beauty Art Drycleaners for all the heirlooms she passed on to me & I would acquire over the years. So yes, I believe in old school experience when it comes to taking care of my clothes because they truly understand weaves! 

So here was MINK tempting me with trying any of my -5- pieces of prized possessions to be dry cleaned! Haw! I thought, modern technology on Indian clothes! Yet another Presto. (Do not get me started on Presto!)

So MINK's claim to fame- Pampering your clothes & Absolutely Premium right from placing a pick up order to receiving it. 

Placing a Pick up Order: rather easy over Whatsapp

Punctuality: On Pick up, within 20 mins in Powai

Client Engagement: Well Informed & extremely courteous Staff 

Clothes Given: A brand new Linen dyed Pathani Salwar Suit, a never before washed but often worn Dinner Jacket, my #Hujband's favourite leather suede finish jacket & a silk sari which bleeds colour & had a stain.

Post Handover of clothes, the feeling I had, Premium, reminded me of the House keeping staff at any Good business hotel. 

I received a message with a pic of the stained sari which they were trying to get rid of & keep me in the loop.

Now, here is the twist. So MINK promises delivery within -48- hours. I gave away my clothes on Saturday. I definitely did not expect the clothes on Monday given Sunday would have been an off day. However when on Tuesday I did not receive my clothes, the anger in me rose because I cant stand unfulfilled promises. 

So I messaged them the next day demanding to know about my clothes to which I received the standard response that they are truly sorry for the delay & the stain has delayed them and I will positively receive my clothes the next day. 

Now, had these clothes been urgent, I would have blasted the day lights out of them but they were not. These were just long over due clothes. (Plus, I was reviewing them, hence pushed myself to be super patient)

I received my package today as promised.

Delivery: Profusely apologetic for the delay, Smiling, courteous well educated staff handed over the jackets in the hanger along with the folded sari & set in a cover.

Post Delivery Feeling: Yes. Premium. I particularly liked their packaging i.e. the cover, quality of hanger (hope they maintain it), the branded paper bag (ensures repeat use), the sari cover (ensures the sari stays in it in the wardrobe). Clothes don't smell of hard chemicals. The colours have not bled either. Ironing seems crisp even in the current humidity. 

So yes, over all, a good service experience & more importantly the clothes seem to have been pampered well. The packaging definitely steals the show.

Question is Value For Money? Well, they are a premium service so let us not talk about VFM as it is priced above the average local Dry Cleaner. It is the price one pays for guarantee & service. 

On what occasions would I personally use their services again? Wedding & Heavy saris, expensive jackets when needed expressly. Especially steam ironing of trousseau attire. Regular Clothes I would most likely skip. I would definitely like to try infant wear & expensive Pashminas with MINK to see if the softness can be maintained or made better! 

MINK Best Suited for: Expensive Couture & most loved clothing which requires genuine care. Yes, our outer skin too deserves pampering!

Pricing: 

*Note: This review was sponsored by the company, however, the views expressed are my own sans any influence & bias. 

Hobby or Business?

I have come across so many women with so many skill sets developed as a child or over the years and yet they assume they are not skilled enough to pursue a career, a business or a life beyond their lovely homes, family and children. It worries me to think what will they do when the little birds will fly out & the nest will be empty? Women must work, pursue a hobby, not just for the money but more so for their sense of independent being.

Hobbies are recreational but have you ever thought of converting it into a career or a business? If yes, fantastic, if not, let us think over it and probe the very idea.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Which skills or talents do I possess? Can it be tangible? More importantly, are people willing to pay for it? For example, can I cook really well? Can I cook for at least -50- people at one go? Is my cooking such that people will pay for it? Can I make candles which can stand apart? Can I make -100- candles in a week? Will people pay Rs.100 per candle for it? Question is- would you also pay for it? Can I write well? Am I comparable with the professional writers or can I hone my skills? Can I churn out content each day? 

2. Do you have the time, commitment, passion and a huge amount of discipline to engage yourself in your chosen hobby each & every day? Trust me, it seems it is easy to work from home, however, it is not so. At an office, you are physically away from home, family members & kids. You do not entertain sudden guests! Whereas at home, the maid, the kids, the neighbours, sudden guests, Television Serials, Phone calls, house chores and errands are constantly seeking your attention. Do you have the self-constraint in you to assign few hours strictly for your work when each family member knows not to disturb your space & time?

(Do not allow this to discourage you! It is a check which you need to make happen! One has to INVEST TIME.)

3. So you have zeroed down on your skill which will now be your business. My next question to you- Where will you showcase your work? Where will you sell? Via Facebook, Whatsapp, Word of Mouth, E-commerce Sites, Retail Shops, Wholesaler, Exhibitions, your own stand-alone store, Networking forums or will you create a mobile application for it? Yes! You need to showcase & sell where your Buyer is present or seeks your products & services.

4. When you fell in love, married, had a child or bought your new Jimmy Choo, did you not flaunt it to the whole wide world? Then why are you so conscious of wearing your skill on your sleeve and flaunting it? Wear it, be it, love it – it is an extension of your identity! Be your own Brand.

5. Are you content being a hobby free-lancer or wish to be a suave businesswoman? The attitude matters, it influences your thought process & your approach to your work. Believe me, there is absolutely nothing wrong in being a hobby free-lancer working as per one’s convenience. It is a personal choice and yes what you feel is right, is the right choice. 

(I technically work only -4- months a year, and yes, I couldn’t have been happier!)

6. Let’s do some Math! Can you align profitability to your chosen hobby? Yes, you have to make money not just to cover costs but also to reward yourself. A lot of women entrepreneurs forget to take into account the money value of their time, energy, labour and skills into the selling price of the product. Set a standard for yourself. 

7. Once you are a business woman, you aren’t just the Creative head. You also are the Office boy, Courier Boy, Receptionist, Sales Team, Purchase Team and the Accountant! So, set yourself up for the challenges and enjoy these new roles of your life! People’s Skills is what will get you through all this. Ability to connect with various people. Essentially, Business is all about Networking with the right resources and delivering work!

8. A lot of women entrepreneurs shared with me that they do not wish to manufacture & sell. Selling & customer relationships is not their forte and it is a time consuming process too. If you too have a similar thought, my question to you then is- Can you TEACH your hobby and make that into a business for yourself? Share your skill sets, train others & enable them to manufacture and sell? Think over it!

9. Now, let us think differently. You love to cook. However, due to constraints of any kind, you do not wish to actually cook & sell. Can you convert your knowledge, ability to network into an Intellectual Property? Can you not create an event around food, associate with stake holders like chefs, nutritionists, vegan followers, food bloggers, food photographers, foodies, eateries etc. who would benefit from such an event, invite participants, execute it each year and create your own brand with it?

(If you decide to do this, we at Businesswali expect an invite!)

10. An extremely important question- Do you have the initial funds available to kick start the business? Yes, make an estimation of required funds, consider time lag of receiving payments, keep a buffer for delayed payments & advance payments. Set a target & work towards it.

11. Now the big one- Scan the market for your competition & beat them! Yes, all said and done, if you take up something, be the best you can be, be known for it & demand a price for it and don’t forget to make profits!

So, why wait, let’s get started and create a bit of us! Good Luck! 

Magical Airwaves

:) Beqarar karke humein yoon na jaiye...Aapko humari kasam laut aaiye...

It all started with kick starting my mornings with some good music & a super sexi voice at 6am & the one n only pit stop then called 107.1 FM...that is where n when the romance started...me n my radio...my chota sa philips.

Then came a passed down Sony walkman & a few Radio stations, with only the good old rainbow playing english classics, the rest all Bollywood, but none the less, cherished every bit of tuning the dial...listening to the airwaves tuning from nothing to a noise to music...wow!

n then came cell phones with radios ! life cdnt get better! a confession il make- i chose to not hold a BB simply coz it didnt have radio ! to hell with the BB msngr ! ;p 

n the Airwaves was all about travelling n music on the go ! cursing it when in a train coz of the disturbance!

... but even then the love story didnt have the old time romance...the quiet one...with simply smiles...peppered... 

now...it does...

:)

a group of best friends...post dinner...each one in his/her room, snuggled in bed...with a book, work, thoughts, nythng et al...n d airwaves...its a connect. Thousands of people tuned into an airwave...listening to the same song...going through a myriad of thoughts n emotions...it touches you...txtn frnds d frequency of d common fav song...smiling when ur heart broken n d airwaves play, " ajeeb daastan hai yeh.." :)

Rekha's " saalame ishqe" plays thru n u kno there are peals of laughter in 3 rooms somewhere in this city coz 3 gurls remembered something from their college group study days when lights were dimmed n the "mahol" was created! 

When Lionel Richie serenades you with "Hello...is it me you are looking for..." u know there are 2 more gurls smiling & remembering your crush...

When Rehman soothes you with "Khamosh raat..." n you wonder where did that guy disappear who penned this song for you...

When Asha Bhosle cheers you with "bhavra bada naadaan hai...bagiyan ki shaan hai.." n u smile remembering your parents smiling when they hear this one...

at Times like these...words take a back seat...thrs something else that is saying it all...the airwaves...guess they do carry with them the emotions...which one experiences... ? .... the airwaves does it all...its sheer beauty...when you know you aint smiling alone...therz someone whoz smiling with you...

somewhere, in ur heart you know u aint alone...coz ur frnds are with you tuned into the same frequency...its enough to go thru the shit in life...its enough to smile after a long day...its comforting to know u aint alone... :)

Life...simply beautiful...

Driving into 70mm

I honestly dont know how many of us really even recall the "Drive In Theatre" at the Kalanagar-Bandra junction. Just when you turn into the latest Office District - bandra Kurla Complex, where now stands Maker Maxity, stood the Drive In. I remember it from the 90s, some very faint memories, some distinct. Now when i recall, its like  a by-gone era. When i pass by the spot now, not a single memory to tell me, it stood there. Out of curosity, i googled it, to discover its owners, a few details and histroy, well nothing at all. Sorta disappointing coz nothing at all. 

I remember it as a lil kid in the back seat of teh car, driving past it. And invariably i remember "Maine Pyar Kiya" - Yes, the classic Romace between Prem & Suman playing on it. The screen lit up in the sky amidst the stars & the moon, it was a delight! Would always get dad to pull over at the side & wait for a few minutes to watch it. It was a wonderful! The delight of watching a movie in the middle of teh road, open for all to see, no walls nothing at all.

Source: Google | Representative only

Iv been told by some old time regulars (in this case, my folks & their friends), that couples, families would pack up dabbas, drive in to teh theatre, park at some place nice. Speakers were then placed in each car ann dthe family would enjoy the movie. Though i dont quite remember being there, yet the thought itself warms me up. Imagining the excitement of going to a Drive-In is definitely a wow!

I remember, after numerous 5-10 mins pull overs on the road to watch the movie, i pestered dad into taking me inside the drive in. I remember dad having this wry smile, guess he knew what was in store for me. Anyways, we drove in, and yes, teh guy at the ticket counter had a surprised smile to see someone actually drive in, guess people had lost interest. Yes, he also informed us that the Drive In was empty. We went in, parked, nopes, this time no speakers were placed in the car, instead it was more of a public address system that was audible all over the place. and when the screen rolled in, it was magic ! :) the actors seemed stars ! the movie on the screen felt like  areally large medium of something totally wonderful but dude ! the huge mosquitoes were a pain ! and you could not roll up teh windows coz then there would be no audio. and yes, we left within 15 oodd minutes. But teh memory stayed... the idea of a drive in... pure joy, happy times.

I wish we could have a drive in now in Mumbai. May be create a entertainment property around teh drive in to ensure its commercial viability. But the idea of being plonked on teh car bonnet, sipping chai, and watching a lovely movie...priceless... :)

Brew Called Life

Sleepy eyes, sleepy head, immobile limbs, for once a quiet brain sans any thoughts buzzing around, with just a wish, 5 more minutes. sigh! only if the damn alarm would relent! 3 alarms all with the snooze option used excessively, n finally you give up & give in to the sunlight streaming through the window, a slight chill in the air , n the oh so warm bed calling you back again, but...nopes, cant. The warm sunlight makes you smile, just a lil bit, stretch like a queen cat, smile again n finally throw away the covers to find your feet on the floor and the one goal that you have in mind ...mmmm.."chai".

now here comes in the case of "haves" & "haves not". Some of us have to fend for ourselves, find our way to the kitchen to get ourselves that brew of life. And then there are some of us, who simply walk to the living room couch, plonk ourselves still in slumber & simply utter the magic word.."maa...chai..".ofcourse you could replace the maa with biwi...miya...or ramu !  n viola the perfect way to start your day is there for you.Lifez just so nice to some of us! its called being the priveledged few.

and how the brew kick starts our day- Start your day with a brew not done to your liking n whats your reaction? Arrg! you gulp it just to get done with it. hmn...do we make the effort to just dunk it into the sink n prepare a fresh one as our liking? naa...its done its done. lets get moving, iv got an entire day ahead of me.

And then there are times, when its the perfect one. just the way you like it. puurfect..the first sip spreads its warmth into you...the taste awakens & lingers on your sleepy taste buds awakening you, your eyes open with the joy of energy flowing through you n you smile, yes this is a really great day!

Its quiet interesting the way we like our chais to be n the way we have it.

n there is the one that we during our college days had. the first one was always rushe dthrough just so that we could get going & have the puurfect chai in the cutting glass at the tapri opposite college with the gang! yes, thts the purfect cutting be it rains or sun shine, could never do sans the cutting glass n the adrak chai at the tapri. n then there were the equally importaant cuttings at sunset at the tapri, where you abused the arese of the college, candidly tell your friends what a good job you did in teh student counsel, or simply queitly discuss the gurl / guy whom u really kike ..ekdum dil se or devise ways to ask out the hot chick of the campus. and all theses cuttings were inter spiced with the choicest of abuses...with justthe correct proununciation n emphasis just to tell your friend you love him. :)

anyways coming back to the chai...isnt the way we have our chai also reflect on the way we live our lives? mebbe am thinking too much, mebe not. just a thought.

There are some who simply have it hot straight from the stove into the cup into the mouth, without giving it much a thought, chai is a chai is a chai. Thus is Life, just live it, why all the extra divination thoughts? whoz got the time?

n then there are some who sip it hot sip by sip with that awesome ssllll...ssllrruuu...ssllluurrr....sound that we all make. cherishing it bit by bit but not really stopping by to ponder, just living it each moment, there is lots accomplish.

n then there are some who linger over it...savouring each sip...its almost like the very act of bringing thechai to your lips is an act of contentment n heighting the experience by allowing the sip to linger, taking in every flavor it has to offer- the mild sweetness, the  softness of the brew, the spice of the ginger or masala, the coolness of the mint...hmn...wow..life sure is beautiful. n with the brew...thoughts linger.

:) n then there are the chais that we have late at night at the tapri or the cycle wala chai at the sea face, chai had in huge mugs cozily held in our hands when we sit with our friends after dinner. For some reason a chai shared is alwayz special n yes chai had in quiet times alone too. Chais...bring in memories of conversations, moments, stories read, work done, ideas brain stormed, promises made to one self et al.

so..the nexttime you sip on your cuppa, spare a moment to disover your puurfect brew..

Bhai Jaan

We Indians take pride in saying "WE". Do we really mean it? Most of us do. Many don't. Thats Democracy.I aint arguing. 

Its the Holy month of Ramzaan...& for some reason i can feel it within me. Nopes, i dont bow my head in the direction of the Mecca. I dont say my namaaz five times a day. i can never fast definitely not Roze. I dont shop all night at Mohammad Ali Street or Bhendi Bazaar or for that matter Kurla. I dont break a roza with a Date i.e. Khajur.i just dont. Then why?

All religions preach Unity, Brotherhood & all that Jazz. But have you ever seen a Gujarati being supported by 10 gujaratis in a street fight even if he is on the wrong side of the mess? or Have you ever seen one marwari bail out another in case of a business crisis? you may say yes ! he lends his money...thst d point...even then the marwari is doing business, he aint standing by his "Brother". I wouldnt talk about sardarjis, coz iv seen them standing by their brothers until death do them apart. am not being racist. nor do i mean to demean any religion. But do we feel it inside us? That feeling of being one? honestly, i dont.. & i know many who dont.

But when each evening as i walk through Kurla, a pre-dominantly Muslim locality i see a sight which brings a smile in my heart, coz am being re-assured that the brethren feeling is still going strong. On the Foot over Bridge, Flex sheets are laid out in the entire stretch of teh bridge, huge platters of Dates, Fruits, Snacks are placed with the food & sherbets & faloodas flowing freely. Its open to all. You wont be asked your name. not your locality. not if you contributed to the fund. its enough that ur one of them & its the Holy month of Ramzaan. i couldnt help being curious & i asked an elderly "Chacha"  why was the food shared so unconditionally, irrespective of the social status, beggars, businessman, trader, passing traveler, unknown people sitting together, smiling n having a meal? he smiled gently, his white beard shimmering in the yellow light of the bulb atop his head in his tapri, he said, its the Holy month... we wish to rid ourselves  of our sins,do some good. we share our meal, coz we have been taught to help the needy...help those who cant help themselves. That is what we stand for...we are brothers...n we could never eat a morsel with our brothers starving.

"we could never eat a morsel with our brother starving" -- This...did it. 

i smiled. said my khuda haafiz...n walked away from that moment...knowing why WE aint WE & THEY are WE...