This premium mattress brand aims to replicate offline success in digital world

 Family-owned Foam Home has been successfully operating as a premium mattress brand for over forty years, primarily thanks to word of mouth. 

The company aims to replicate this success in the digital realm. Established in 1977 by the Bhanpurawala family, Foam Home has established a unique presence in the Indian mattress market, achieving this largely through word-of-mouth marketing.

"We have always catered to a clientele that recognizes sleep as an investment," states Sabina Bhanpurawala, CEO of Foam Home, in an interview with SMB Story. Sabina is part of the family's second generation.

Initially, Foam Home specialized in refurbishing mattresses. It has since transformed into a brand that sells mattresses and pillows in both Indian and international markets. The company operates a manufacturing facility and maintains a single retail outlet in Mumbai.

Foam Home is now exploring digital avenues to boost its growth. Bhanpurawala is optimistic that the success achieved offline can translate into online market expansion. "There is significant potential for providing online consumers with authentically crafted, high-quality products," she notes.

While Foam Home has not disclosed its revenue figures, it reports a growth of over three times in the past six years. Retail focus is key; Bhanpurawala emphasizes that Foam Home prioritizes the retail sector and maintains strong relationships with architects and interior designers to market its products.

"For us, our clientele represents prestige," Bhanpurawala explains, noting that from the outset, Foam Home has consistently produced high-quality mattresses that are priced at a premium.

Foam Home's mattress prices range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 3,00,000. Bhanpurawala mentions that the company, which holds 20 patents, has benefited from being a first mover in the industry. Its emphasis on technology has kept it ahead of competitors, as it is attuned to the needs of the Indian market.

According to the CEO, the local market requires a greater level of customization compared to other developed nations, where the emphasis is on standardization.

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AI tools for businesses by Gayatri Agrawal

AI tools for businesses by Gayatri Agrawal 

Fueled by her curiosity and creativity, Gayatri Agrawal founded ALTRD, a company that designs customized AI tools for businesses.
 up in a vibrant, business-focused family in Kishangarh, Odisha, her early life significantly influenced her entrepreneurial journey.
 Growing up in a vibrant, business-focused family in Kishangarh, Odisha, her early life significantly influenced her entrepreneurial journey.

 In her tier-three town, she spent her childhood watching her father, uncle, and grandfather conduct business over the phone, unknowingly nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit.

 "I often played games where I pretended to negotiate sales calls," she shares with HerStory.

 Aware that Kishangarh offered no schooling beyond the 10th grade, Agrawal's family relocated to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh when she was in seventh grade.

 As the eldest of three siblings and the first girl in her family, Agrawal grew up with high expectations, which she transformed into a passion for learning and creativity.

With a natural inclination towards business, she opted for Commerce in her senior school years, but soon found her true passion in design and architecture.

 This newfound interest led her to pursue a five-year architecture degree in Mumbai, where she unexpectedly discovered coding while delving into digital architecture.

 This experience unveiled a realm of opportunities, merging her creative talents with technological skills. "Architecture provided me with a solid foundation in creativity and problem-solving, but learning to code during that time offered me a fresh perspective on innovation," she reflects.

 The inspiration for ALTRD emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she freelanced for international clients from her hometown and witnessed the rise of data, AI, and ML as transformative forces in various industries.

 "I noticed a gap where companies relied on five or six generic tools to accomplish a single task. We aimed to develop tailored AI solutions that effortlessly streamlined workflows," she explains.

The firm focuses on crafting custom AI tools for various businesses, ranging from retail recommendation bots to technology-driven marketing initiatives.

 Unlike standard tools, these AI solutions are specifically designed to meet each client's unique data and requirements, according to Agrawal.

• For instance, the company recently launched a bot that enables users on e-commerce platforms to provide input on personalized searches—like needing a bag with a laptop compartment and a water bottle holder for a short trip, or a specific garment for a particular body type—and receive accurate recommendations.

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From Kitchen Table to Global Empire:Mia Johnson

 From Kitchen Table to Global Empire:

The Journey of Mia Johnson and Her Eco-Conscious Startup

Mia Johnson wasn’t always the thriving CEO of GreenNest, a top eco-friendly lifestyle brand worth over $1 billion. Just ten years ago, she was a struggling single mom working as a barista in Portland, Oregon, trying to get by. But Mia had something priceless: a vision and an unyielding determination to improve the world.

Mia Johnson wasn’t always the thriving CEO of GreenNest, a top eco-friendly lifestyle brand worth over $1 billion. Just ten years ago, she was a struggling single mom working as a barista in Portland, Oregon, trying to get by. But Mia had something priceless: a vision and an unyielding determination to improve the world.

The Spark of an Idea

Mia’s “lightbulb” moment happened during a late-night brainstorming session at her kitchen table. Her toddler, Jamie, had developed a skin rash from a well-known laundry detergent. Frustrated by the absence of genuinely natural, eco-friendly alternatives, Mia resolved to create her own. With just $200 to start, she began experimenting with recipes for non-toxic, biodegradable laundry soap in her small apartment.

Her first batch of “EcoClean” was crafted using plant-based ingredients and essential oils. She distributed samples to friends and family, who praised its effectiveness and delightful scent. Motivated by their positive feedback, Mia began selling her product at local farmers’ markets under the name GreenNest.

From Local Markets to a Digital Breakthrough

Despite her enthusiasm, Mia encountered obstacles. She lacked formal business education and had limited resources. Undeterred, she signed up for free online courses in entrepreneurship and marketing. She also utilized social media to promote GreenNest, sharing videos of her eco-friendly production process and testimonials from satisfied customers.

In 2016, Mia opened a small online store. To her astonishment, the response was incredible. Customers from all over

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Nutritional and Health Benefits of Dairy Products

 For centuries, dairy products have been a vital part of affluent diets, and their adaptability has made them a key ingredient in many culinary traditions. Items like milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter not only provide delicious  tastes but also offer numerous health advantages. 

Incorporating dairy into your diet is a smart decision, as it can enhance bone health, boost your immune system, and contribute to overall well-being. 

Dairy products are particularly noted for their high calcium levels, which are crucial for maintaining strong bones and teeth. 

Calcium plays a significant role in muscle function, nerve signal transmission, and blood clotting. Adequate dairy consumption can help prevent osteoporosis and support healthy bones throughout your life. Additionally, high-quality proteins found in dairy, such as those in milk, yogurt, and cheese, are essential for muscle repair, growth, and overall function, as they provide all the necessary amino acids. 

Dairy products are nutrient-rich, offering vital vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, which aids calcium absorption and strengthens bones. Vitamin B12 is important for red blood cell production and proper nervous system function, while potassium helps regulate blood pressure by counteracting sodium. 

Phosphorus works with calcium to fortify bones and teeth. Furthermore, consuming fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir can improve gut health due to their rich content of beneficial probiotics that support a healthy gut microbiome. A healthy gut can enhance digestion, strengthen immunity, and even affect mood and mental health.

 Lastly, dairy products, particularly those that are complete, provide a balanced combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

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What Do Beef Cattle Need to Eat?

 Did you know that what you feed your beef cattle directly affects the quality of the meat, the marbling of the fat, and the overall price at market? Having a solid plan for feeding beef cattle that considers nutritional needs, cost and availability of feed, as well as other aspects of feeding your livestock can improve the quality of the final product, therefore improving your farm profits.

Cattle Feed Plans: What Do Beef Cattle Need to Eat?

All types of cattle are born with a four-chamber stomach. At birth, calves live off the fat and protein that comes from their mother’s milk, and their stomach functions more similarly to a single-chamber stomach. As calves get older and begin to eat grass and forage, the other three stomach chambers grow to become one of the most efficient means of transforming plants into protein.

Cattle are very efficient at extracting as much nutrients as they can from the food they eat. Ruminants have a special stomach chamber filled with microorganisms that break down the components of their food. However, cattle still need specific nutrients to grow and thrive such as:

• Protein: While hay and various grasses contain protein, most cattle will get their protein through legumes. Soybeans are the most common protein source, followed by cottonseed meal and linseed. They can also get protein sources from mineral blocks, which is especially helpful for young calves.

• Minerals: Cattle can get minerals through the hay they eat, though the amount can vary depending on mineral content in soils where the hay is grown. Livestock need calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and salt as the basic minerals, but trace amounts of iodine, copper, cobalt, zinc, and selenium are also essential. To ensure your cattle get the proper minerals, it’s important to feed them minerals – whether in block form, or loose – so they stay healthy.

• Vitamins: Minerals for cattle are only half of the equation. They also need an abundance of vitamins A, D, and E. Bacteria that lives in the fourth stomach produce vitamins K and B, so you don’t have to worry as much about feeding your cattle these vitamins.

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MILK QUALITY IN RAINY SEASON

 In rainstorm season we do get bounty of rain in the southern portion of India. Karnataka is no exemption. Amid the blustery season, there is copious green grass and clears out accessible for dairy animals to touch. Our bovines adore touching new green grass and takes off. Recently developed green grass and takes off more often than not have higher water substance. Whereas dairy animals appreciate these greens, there is a slight variety in the quality of drain. When dairy animals eat more new green grass water substance in the drain moreover increments. Whereas there is completely no alter in the vitamins, minerals, and proteins in the drain, due to marginally raised water levels in the drain, the fat rate in the drain will be on the lower side.

So, what does it cruel to you?

You may feel drain is somewhat watery and cream arrangement (malai) is too less. You will have a reason to accept that there is a few water debasement in the drain. It’s genuine that drain is marginally watery and cream arrangement will moreover be less, if you don’t mind be guaranteed that we do not debase the drain. It’s common water display in the drain, due to intemperate touching of recently developed green grass, makes drain somewhat watery.

Unlike other dairy industry, we do not prepare the drain to make fat substance in the drain to be more uniform by including or expelling cream in the drain. We supply drain as it is from the bovines. Due to alter in season and depending on what bovines eat, there will be continuously variety in the quality of our milk.

Is it something you require to be concerned ab
out?

Absolutely not. There will be no alter in vitamins, minerals, and proteins display in the drain due to common water show in the drain. Taste and smell will moreover stay the same. Curd, paneer, or any other dairy items you make will be great as usual.

Do you still require thicker milk?

If you’re utilized to having thick drain, you can still make it thicker by bubbling the drain for a small longer. This will vanish the characteristic water show in the drain and abdicate you thicker milk.

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The 5 best platforms for your brand

 Choosing the best platforms for your brand depends on your target audience and goals. Here are five popular options that can help you build and promote your brand effectively:

1. Instagram Ideal for visually-driven brands, Instagram allows you to showcase products through photos, stories, and reels. It’s particularly effective for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands.

2. Facebook: With its vast user base, Facebook is great for building community, running targeted ads, and sharing updates. It’s versatile for various types of brands and allows for engagement through posts, groups, and events.

3. TikTok: Perfect for reaching a younger audience, TikTok’s short-form video format encourages creativity. Brands can use trends and challenges to engage users and promote products in an entertaining way

4. LinkedIn: Best for B2B brands, LinkedIn focuses on professional networking. It’s effective for sharing industry insights, thought leadership, and connecting with other businesses.

5. YouTube: As the second-largest search engine, YouTube is excellent for video content. Brands can create tutorials, reviews, and engaging storytelling to connect with their audience more deeply.

Each platform has its strengths, so consider where your audience spends their time and what type of content you can create effectively!

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