Forty under 40

Forty 40

We prefer to invest. If it’s in the best interest of the serigraph or the artwork, we don’t
hesitate
Chaitya Dhanvi Shah Managing director, DRS Arts Company
Chaitya Dhanvi Shah
Be true to yourself, your business, and stakeholders
Something you have learnt from an industry leader?
After considering various parameters, the key factor that stands out is their consistency in delivering world-class quality. It is their timely delivery of quality that builds trust, ultimately creating a strong brand. This brand, in turn, helps them generate business growth.
How have you deployed technology to reduce costs and drive revenue?
We prefer to invest. If it’s in the best interest of the serigraph or the artwork, we don’t hesitate. We view it as an investment rather than an additional expense. Plus, research and development, product development, and the actual product itself.
One tip to build a successful business? Honesty is key. Be true to yourself, your business, and all stakeholders. Prioritise honesty and everything else will fall into place. Trust your intuition and prioritise what is best for your business. This paves the way for success.
One customer from whom you learnt something about your own factory… Cleanliness is crucial. During my visit to a collector’s industry in Nairobi, who is specialising in textiles, I was given a tour of the factory. The immaculate cleanliness caught my attention, and when I inquired about it, the collector provided a straightforward explanation. He
stated, “It is mandatory for our workers to ensure that the floor and machinery remain neat and tidy at all times.” He conducts surprise visits to ensure cleanliness compliance, revealing its substantial role in commerce.
Three trends you are keeping an eye on which can show the path in our industry? Undoubtedly, Al holds great potential. With this advanced technology, we can contribute to society in ways previously unexplored by the printing and packaging industry. It’s a matter of finding the right balance in utilising this technology in our products, and we eagerly await the unfolding possibilities as we navigate the intersection of timing and technology.
Everyone talks about double-digit growth for our industry-what does double-digit growth mean for you?
To me, achieving double-digit growth signifies more than just increased sales and consumption. It means generating employment, creating value for the community we reside in, and earning the trust and appreciation of our industry for its contributions to society and nation-building.
The future of our industry-One way to engage with the Twenty Under 20?
The fundamental change should begin with school and college education. The curriculum should focus on providing essential knowledge to strengthen their foundation. Additionally, supplementary online content, such as infotainment through reels, podcasts, and YouTube videos, can serve as a valuable secondary source of information.
How does one stay ahead of the curve in this day and age?
One cannot avoid the temptation of staying ahead of the curve and fixations on market share, position, and peer pressure. These factors only add undue pressure to both you and your team. Instead, concentrate on the fundamentals of business-quality, delivery, customer satisfaction, and innovation. The pivotal moment comes when your stakeholders not only vote for you but also trust and stand by your side, marking a true measure of being ahead of the curve.

Forty Under 40: questioning the status quo, rethinking rules and seeking sustainable solutions
n 2014, PrintWeek published its first Forty Under 40 special. We celebrated tech-savvy, result-seeking, and above all, a cool vibe that the group brought to their organisation and our industry.
Almost a decade later, a fresh pedigree of superintelligent youngsters are shaking up the workplace, and their impact is important.
In the Indian print and packaging industry, more than 70% of businesses are family-owned. As per a mini-survey we conducted during the PrintWeek Awards 2024, more than 75% of the businesses continue to have the founders playing a key role in the family business, with 70% of them having inducted a second-gen or third-gen member.
This brings us to the topic of technology. It’s the theme of PrintWeek’s Forty Under 40. Almost every single person is asking tough questions about how to use multiple technologies to create that one great job. The good news is: transparency. Traditionally, our industry has been too slow about information-sharing and offering support to a competitor. That’s changing. Quite radically.
Also there is a step forward towards being sustainable-centric instead of customer-centric. This means three things: having a supply chain ecosystem which is sustainable; green alternatives for packaging and printing; and having practical sustainable goals.
Of course everyone understands that revenue will always triumph over sustainability. But on the shop floor and through job creations, the mantra is: sustainability. The move towards sustainability is real and the smart movers know it. And so, they are innovating to improve sustainability, since they know, it can reap strong benefits….
Finally, our interactions with the Forty Under 40 exude good news. The point is, our industry has remained a bright spot for top-end spending despite slowdown in many other markets. The forty winners (and there are many more) are the backbone of this growth.
Three cheers. And more power to the Forty Under 40.