In the age of digital everything, where memories often reside in the cloud or on a social media feed, there’s something inherently nostalgic and magical about holding a physical storybook in your hands. But what if that storybook wasn’t just any tale from the shelf, but one uniquely crafted to weave the narrative of your own life or that of a loved one? Enter Talered – a haven for those seeking to preserve cherished memories in the form of beautifully tailored storybooks.
Company Highlights
| Field | Details |
| Startup Name | TALERED |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Sector | Gifting |
| Founder | Gitanjali Chandrasekharan |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Website | talered.com |
Talered: About
Talered specializes in crafting bespoke literary works meticulously tailored to encapsulate cherished memories. Our expertise spans a diverse spectrum, including the creation of personalized narratives in fiction, non-fiction, and commemorative wedding books. Whether catering to the imaginative world of children, the enduring bond of couples, or the reflective journey of adults, Talered ensures each creation is imbued with unparalleled attention to detail and a commitment to preserving the essence of your unique experiences.
The gifting market in India was projected to grow from $119 million in 2019 to $159 million in 2025, according to a report published in August 2022. Corporate gifting would make up 80% of this category, with personal space making up the remaining 20%. According to a more recent estimate, the market for personalized gifts has expanded by 20% as well.
People are becoming more selective about the gifts they give, even as their discretionary income rises. They are looking for anything that conveys a stronger feeling.
The creator of Talered, Gitanjali Chandrasekharan, thinks that memory and storytelling are becoming more and more important. When the company first started out, its primary concentration was on writing books for young readers.
Talered plans to grow over the next five to ten years by producing stories for schools, pets, and other young readers in addition to stories in Indian languages.
In addition, Talered hosts workshops on creating stories, from which the finished works are published as books.
Talered: A Startup Story
Gitanjali, a nearly 20-year veteran print journalist, was thinking of significant gifts for two close cousins who lived in San Francisco in 2020 during the pandemic. She wanted something special, so she made individual bedtime story books for their infants. With the help of Canva and her interviewing abilities, Gitanjali started this artistic endeavor.
Gitanjali plunged into entrepreneurship with a yearning for a change in his job and a strong will to see this project through to completion. She progressively turned her notion into reality by using her creativity and her friends’ encouragement. Talered started to take shape with her first order from a school buddy in Singapore and her collaborations with creative people.
Talered: Products and Services
The transient nature of memory is the main problem that Talered attempts to solve. Gitanjali emphasizes the value of recording memories in writing by reflecting on personal events, such as the disparate memories that siblings have of their late father’s favorite music. She stresses that all stories—be they about friends, parents, kids, or pets—have a great potential to help people feel rooted, loved, and a part of something greater. Memories can be preserved and treasured for a lifetime with Talered personalized books.
Talered was founded with the intention of writing personalized fiction stories for kids, but it has since expanded to serve a wide range of customers and events.
In order to better serve its clientele’s specific wants and tastes, Talered’s services have grown. The company’s dedication to creating one-of-a-kind books guarantees that every customer receives a genuinely unique item, which heightens the appeal of the book as a kind and customized present.
Talered uses advances in digital printing technology and design software, particularly Canva, to expedite the book creation process. The realization of Gitanjali’s vision and the accessibility of personalized book creation for a larger audience have been made possible by these instruments.
Talered : Vision and Mission
Gitanjali’s fundamental principle underpinning Talered is the profound importance of preserving cherished memories. She underscores the notion that every individual holds invaluable narratives about themselves, their families, loved ones, and communities. Yet, these reminiscences frequently diminish over time, particularly as the desire to maintain a connection with them intensifies.
Gitanjali asserts that books serve as pivotal instruments in safeguarding these memories. Her overarching aspiration for Talered is to establish it as the premier gifting solution for those who wish to bestow something genuinely significant upon their loved ones. She regards books as timeless vessels that adeptly conserve memories for perpetuity.
Aligned with this overarching vision, Gitanjali endeavors to broaden the spectrum of Tailored offerings by incorporating literature in diverse Indian languages as a preliminary step, with future aspirations to encompass languages spanning the global spectrum.
Furthermore, she envisages augmenting accessibility through the production of audiobook and Braille renditions of these literary works, thereby ensuring equitable access for all to engage with and appreciate their narratives.
Such steadfast commitment underscores Gitanjali’s unwavering dedication to inclusivity, thereby reaffirming her resolve to ensure that every individual is afforded the opportunity to participate in the journey of preserving their collective memories.
Talered – Founders and Team
Gitanjali Chandrasekharan, the founder of Talered, has recently augmented her team by enlisting the expertise of two distinguished advisors. Among them is Amrita Jaykumar, a former journalist whose visionary contributions inspired the inception of Talered’s inaugural book.
With a profound involvement since the company’s genesis, Amrita inherently grasps the ethos and evolution of Talered. The second advisor, Urvashi Pant, boasts a close personal relationship with Gitanjali and a professional background in journalism, specializing in communications and marketing.
Urvashi offers invaluable counsel, particularly in areas such as pitching strategies and optimizing social media marketing endeavors.
Talered – Business and Revenue Model
Talered is currently undergoing a comprehensive restructuring of its business model. Preliminary indications suggest that our books are priced at a minimum of Rs 20,000.
Talered : Launching Company Strategies
While Talered has not yet attained 100 users, it has achieved a significant milestone by producing over 35 books in the past three years. Remarkably, despite the limited scope of our marketing efforts, which have primarily consisted of select Instagram and Facebook campaigns, all orders have been organically generated through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients.
This notable organic growth underscores the superior quality and inherent value of Talered’s services, further affirmed by the enthusiastic endorsement of our existing clientele.
Challenges Faced by Talered:
Gitanjali acknowledges the significant challenges encountered in marketing and sales endeavors at Talered to date, with a clear commitment to resolving these issues in 2024. In navigating the intricacies of business management, she confronts various hurdles, including the development of compelling sales strategies and determining optimal follow-up protocols.
To effectively address these challenges, Gitanjali adopts a systematic approach to continual enhancement. Upon receiving feedback regarding writing quality, she promptly engaged a proofreader to ensure that all content meets rigorous standards prior to finalization.
For more extensive projects, Talered has sought the expertise of a professional designer. Additionally, Gitanjali dedicates time to studying book design principles to refine her creative process.
In response to customer preferences for hardbound books, even for individual copies, Gitanjali strategically considers methods to fulfill these requests while minimizing paper waste and adhering to financial constraints. This underscores her dedication to both customer satisfaction and environmental sustainability.
Looking ahead, Gitanjali remains steadfast in her commitment to incrementally refining Talered’s operations, proactively addressing challenges as they emerge, and consistently delivering exceptional products and services to her clientele.
Talered: Recognition and Achievements
Despite not having garnered formal accolades, Gitanjali Chandrasekharan derives profound satisfaction from the genuine appreciation expressed by customers. She deeply values the sentiments conveyed in messages affirming that a Talered publication stands as the most cherished gift someone has ever received or bestowed.
Such feedback stands as a significant accomplishment for her, reinforcing her steadfast dedication to providing exceptional experiences through Talered’s offerings.
Gitanjali is committed to upholding this customer-centric ethos as the company advances, ensuring that the essence of fostering meaningful connections through storytelling remains integral to Talered’s overarching mission.
Talered : Funding
Gitanjali undertook several endeavors to secure funding for Talered, albeit without success. Nevertheless, this experience led her to conclude that she prefers to sustain Talered through bootstrapping.
By opting for this approach, she retains autonomy over the company’s trajectory, enabling her to concentrate on enhancing the product and orchestrating a methodical expansion. While the prospect of funding may be reevaluated in the future, Gitanjali is presently dedicated to cultivating Talered organically, fostering its sustainable development.
Talered : Key Tools and Software
| Tool | Description |
| Canva | Graphic design tool |
| Word | Word processing software |
Talered – Competitors
Family Fables Co. is one of the rival businesses that performs a great deal of work that is comparable to Talered.
Talered’s Future Goals
In the next two years, Gitanjali hopes to increase the business’s self-sufficiency, publish books in at least one language other than English, and enter the pet memories market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Talered stands out as a symbol of customization and nostalgia at a time where digital encounters are the norm. Talered was established by Gitanjali Chandrasekharan, a dedicated memory-keeper and former print journalist. The company specializes in creating custom storybooks that capture meaningful moments and stories. The company’s mission is to become the leading source of gifts for people looking to give thoughtful and unique presents to their loved ones. Its vision centers on the value of preserving memories via reading.
