Your Interviews
Ten minutes with....
Dhiraj Kapoor (MSc Investment Management, 2011)
What is your current position/occupation?
I am a director at K.M. Lowry, an affordable luxury menswear brand specialising in suits for occasion wear. Having launched the K.M. Lowry brand this year I am currently involved in many aspects of the business, from servicing clients via our personal shopping service to working with the strategy team to increase our presence.
Why did you choose to study at Cass?
When deciding between business schools, London was always my first preference. Having visited the City many times socially, I wanted to gain the full experience of London. Cass stood out amongst its peers because it seemed to offer this; a good balance of academia and the opportunity to network with City professionals. Being located within the Square Mile was important to me because although I had a basic concept of how business was conducted in the Capital, I wanted to explore the role finance and investment played across the different industries.
How did Cass influence your Career Development?
The life essentials were tested on a daily basis – especially discipline and organisational skills – and proved that if applied correctly, they would yield desirable results. However, the art of working smartly was a new concept that I quickly became accustomed to. Instead of taking conventional approaches when faced in a situation, I learnt that choosing the unlikely option would often increase my chances of success. When the time came round for job applications and after seeing the daunting statistics showing the number of applicants per role, I knew I had to be creative in my approach. After the many networking events with prospective employers and City professionals that took place in London, I would call up senior managers and try to arrange a meeting with them in the hope of ultimately landing a job. Granted it didn’t always pay-off, but the instances where I did meet with individuals from various institutions demonstrated that by taking a direct approach, one can create opportunities for oneself. I learnt the true value of networking and establishing a personal connection whilst building up my contact list. Now I am in a position where I can contact those individuals and offer a product to them!
How did the concept of your own Business come about?
Being raised in a business environment specialising in clothing and textiles, I have naturally had an interest in men’s fashion and it is a goal of mine to establish a successful retail business.
It is well known that people want to look good and feel good without having to pay Savile Row prices. We identified a gap in the market as very few companies offer a variety of both classic and on-trend quality suits that are tailored to fit to an individual’s measurements. Our collection at the K.M. Lowry flagship store in Salford Quays caters to this niche and includes affordable suits, shirts and shoes that are ideal for both the corporate and occasion-based market (weddings, proms, cruises). Our in-house tailor provides a truly personalised service, ensuring your suit fits the best way possible. We are looking to expand our luxury offering with the introduction of a made-to-measure service later on this year.
What would your one piece of essential advice be to others who plan to start their own business?
Firstly, ensure there is a market for your product/service. Once you have identified how your business will stand out above the rest, be bold and go for it.
The most important thing is to be passionate about your business. This is what will drive you through the highs and lows. Without passion, it is unlikely the business will ever reach its true potential.
When you’re not working, what’s your favourite thing to do?
I love visiting the Northern Quarter in Manchester. With its quirky bars and cafes, it makes for a great night out; having lived in Manchester all my life I still don’t think I’ve experienced all it has to offer!
And lastly, what does the future hold for you?
I hope to be involved with K.M. Lowry for the foreseeable future and expand our presence in the affordable luxury market. I find it extremely rewarding to offer a service that allows people to dress well and ultimately, feel good about themselves.
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