Ajay Nayar, CEO, Freemans & Founder, SilverArc Mall
Ajay Nayar is the man behind giving the city of Ludhiana a destination for Retail, Lifestyle, and Entertainment was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, the town known for its entrepreneurial spirit. He did his Masters in Management from the University of Kent a Canterbury (UK).
Podcast
Overview
“Success is bound to come”
On today’s episode of The Brand Called You, we have with us a professional from the real estate field, Mr. Ajay Nayar. Ajay is the Founder of Freeman’s, the world’s largest manufacturer of tape measures. He is also the Founder of Silver Arc Mall which is a premium mall in Ludhiana.
Ajay and Ashutosh engage in a gripping conversation around the real estate business and the process of setting up a mall. Ajay shares the three key milestones of his life. He further talks about Freeman’s tape and the work he has done with the company. He also shares the challenges faced by the company and what it takes to be one of the world’s largest manufacturers.
While on the subject of his career in the real estate business, Ajay enlightens the audience with the basics of setting up a mall. And what it takes to build a strong brand. They discuss the impact of e-commerce on malls, the importance of food courts, the functioning, and management of malls, etc.
Ajay shares his success mantra and leadership style. He believes that with adequate hard work, nobody can stop you from achieving your goals!
Profile
Ajay Nayar, the man behind giving the city of Ludhiana a destination for Retail, Lifestyle and Entertainment was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, the town known for its entrepreneurial spirit. He did his Masters in Management from the University of Kent a Canterbury (UK). In 1988, he came back and joined his family business of manufacturing measuring tapes and tools. The business was well established in India and Europe under the renowned brand FREEMANS, and he initiated the exports to the other parts of the world which included the Middle East, South Africa, East Europe, USA, Latin, and South America.
Mr. Nayar realized an early opportunity to build a Premium shopping destination to cater to the hunger of Ludhiana shopaholics who back then used to go to Delhi for shopping of International Premium brands. After a lot of brainstorming and efforts to give Ludhiana city a True Shopping destination and a world-class experience, Mr. Nayar in June 2012 came up with SilverArc Mall which immediately became a huge success due to its zoned environment and rich experience.
SilverArc became shopper’s paradise with the introduction of brands like Mango, Promod, RossoBrunello, Vero Moda, Aldo, CKJ, Gant, Guess, Salman’s Being Human, and the designers like Rohit Bal, Evolv, Karmik, etc which were the first-timers to enter in the market of Punjab. SilverArc is known for bringing new brands not only to the city but also to the entire state of Punjab. The mall has an excellent combination of Hypermart, Gold class cinemas, Premium Lifestyle, and International Brands, a Well-poised gaming zone, and the most buzzing food court comprising of brands like KFC, Dominos, Dunkin Donuts, etc. It also comprises Talwalkars, India’s largest chain of Gymnasiums, and Toni & Guy, the world’s number one hair salon.
Mr. Nayar plays an active role in the core business of manufacturing tape measures, measuring tools, hand tools, and cutting tools. FREEMANS is amongst the largest manufacturers of tape measures in the world today and has over 60% market share in India.
Ajay Nayar has been very active in many organizations like Ludhiana Management Association. He has been the chairman of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and initiated and was the first chairman of YPO – Young Presidents Organization- Punjab chapter, which is today the most coveted organization of young presidents.
