Chandrika Bags House

Our place is at 335 in the Naroda GIDC area, right by the masjid. Since we are in an industrial estate, the vibe is very different from a mall. It’s more about work and getting things done. We have a lot of bags that are for daily use, mostly for people working in the nearby factories or those who need something tough for their daily commute. The shop is basically one big room with metal shelves bolted to the walls. We don't spend money on decorations because that’s not what people are looking for here. They want a bag that won't break after a week. We keep the place clean, but it’s hard with all the trucks driving by kicking up dust. We usually have a big jug of water for anyone who stops in, as it gets quite hot in Naroda. Most of our customers are people who work in the GIDC, so we see the same faces quite often. We know which bags are the most popular based on how quickly the shelves go empty. It’s a straightforward way to run a shop. We don’t have any big sales or gimmicks. We just open the shutters in the morning and wait for the day to start. It’s a lot of standing around and talking to people, which is fine by us. We’ve been here long enough that we feel part of the landscape.