28 July,2023 09:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Dinesh Vibhute’s nursery’s turnover is into lakhs of rupees. Pic/Satej Shinde
Jo jaadu mitti mein hai, wo kisi mein nahi,' (the magic in soil is not seen anywhere else) believes Dinesh Vibhute, 34, the son of a farmer, who runs a nursery in a plush suburb of Mumbai. From humble beginnings where he even delivered newspapers to help support his family, Vibhute's business today earns him lakhs of rupees. He also maintains the gardens of some corporates and hotels.
His company has over 500 clients, from Bollywood celebrities to business houses, and he has employed over 16 people. He narrates his journey to success:
Originally from Guhagar, Ratnagiri, I am the fourth of five siblings. I had a tough childhood and my farmer father Shantaram, 65, was unable to meet ends due to low returns from our farm. My mother Shalini, 55, ensured that we kids got basic education and ate at least once a day, so we could get a peaceful sleep at night. My elder siblings discontinued studies after school.
I was unable to help and that is when I decided to take a train for Mumbai. I did so off and on to stay with a relative and work here until I moved here in 2019.
Newspaper to courier boy
In Mumbai, I stayed with the relative in her tiny shanty in Golibar Road, Santacruz (E). I started delivering newspapers in the neighbourhood. I was paid R300 per month. I also distributed mobile bills for which I was paid R1,000 monthly. I would give R500 to the relative and send R300 to my parents in Ratnagiri. I completed B.Com through correspondence. Then I got my first job at R3000 per month, as an office assistant, but soon I lost it and didn't work for almost a year.
One day, near Mumbai University's Kalina campus, I spotted people selling plants on the road and on inquiry, I was surprised to learn that the nursery business was quite lucrative. Apparently the profit margin was almost double with minimal investment. Interestingly, a nursery could be set up even on a road side.
At DN Nagar, Andheri (W) later, I saw private tempos and buses parked close to a footpath turned dumping ground. The vehicles were being used as a safe den by many roadside urchins and drug addicts for illegal activities. I decided to set up my nursery touching the footpath, and in October 2019, I started with a handful of creepers and show plants.
While the urchins and drivers raised their objections and threatened me with dire consequences to stop the nursery business, it was only because of the support of local residents that I could face them.
The dumping area on the open plot, touching the footpath, was slowly changed to a beautiful nursery. I decorated the area with colourful creepers and show plants. I would get plants and saplings from wholesale nurseries in Haveli and from MIDC in Pune early in the morning. I would leave Andheri at 2 am and after spending the entire day in Pune, return by late evening. I invested R26,000 for setting up my nursery, and earned Rs 45,000 from the sale in a fortnight. The red soil I bought for R100 and would sell it from Rs 130 to Rs 150 per packet. The earnings I reinvested in buying more plants and saplings.
The redevelopment of D N Nagar luckily worked in my favour. DN Nagar is known for MHADA buildings and majority of the people were lower middle-class families, who would seldom visit the nursery to buy plants.
In 2019 most of the MHADA buildings were redeveloped into high-rises and people staying in these towers not only had the purchasing power, but were also fond of plants to decorate their balconies. Within the next few months, I was offered a place to open a nursery next to Gulshan Kumar Temple on 10th road, Juhu by a friend.
It was in the year 2020, before the COVID-19 lockdown I decided to form a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) company with my friend Tushar (he presently handles our DN Nagar nursery). The company is called D2T Friends Flower Garden LLP.
COVID was a game changer, as many people were forced to stay indoors and developed a liking for gardening and decorated their balconies with plants and saplings. Some would even visit the Juhu nursery to get trained on the type of soil to be used, number of time and quantity of water that needs to be used for specific plants, type of soil to be used and so on.
It was during the second wave, when hospitals were running short of oxygen and the shocking media reports on the struggle to find oxygen cylinders, that made people understand the importance of covering their balconies, terrace and society with green plants and saplings. The demand for snake plants and Gulvel was high due to the medicinal benefits of these plants.
Today, the company has over 500 clients which include celebrities like Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Shilpa Shetty, etc. whose gardeners get the saplings, plants, and other gardening materials from me. I also have a few corporates and hotels in Juhu as my clients.
I am able to support my family back home financially. I stay in a rented apartment in DN Nagar, but am keen to buy a flat of my own soon. My parents want me to get married, and I am determined my life partner should support my mantra - Jo jaadu mitti mein hai, wo kisi mein nahi.
Love about Mumbai Humanity makes Mumbai special for me. I have been all over India, but haven't come across any place like Mumbai nor anyone like a Mumbaikar. And Mumbai never lets anyone sleep on an empty stomach
Hate about Mumbai The major problem in the city is potholed roads in monsoon and heavy traffic on other days.
Expectations from Mumbai I expect more Metro connectivity in the city and I hope the city roads are made of concrete to rid them of potholes.
Did Mumbai live up to it? It might become a reality in near future.
Will it remain forever home? Though my janmabhoomi is Ratnagiri, my karma bhoomi will always be Mumbai, because this city has given me everything, which I never had in my Janmabhoomi.
