Nathella Sampathu Chetty

Usman Road is probably the busiest place in all of T. Nagar. Our shop is in Nathellas Arcade, at number 37. It is a lot of walking around and being on our feet all day. We have been in this exact spot for a very long time. Anyone who lives in Chennai knows how packed this area gets, especially on the weekends when everyone is out shopping. We have many staff members who have basically grown old working with us. We don't really go for those modern glass designs or the flashy stuff you see in the new showrooms. We like our wooden counters and the way the light looks on the gold pieces. It feels more real and traditional that way. Sometimes the traffic outside is so loud we have to speak up to be heard, but that is just how T. Nagar is. We don’t spend any money on big posters or television ads. We just wait for our regular customers to show up. They usually bring their children, and then years later, those children bring their own kids. It involves a lot of sitting and showing different designs until someone finds what they actually want. We always keep a jug of cold water for anyone who walks in because the heat on Usman Road can be really tough. By the time we lock up the arcade at night, we are tired, but we do it all again tomorrow.