Ongyel Sherpa migrated to the US sixteen years ago at the age of 18. Now, he runs a business in US. His US Sherpa International is a wholesale business, which exports Nepal-made items like hats, gloves, scarves, socks, purses and bags to retail stores in the US. Recently, he visited Nepal and spoke to Siromani Dhungana of New Business Age. Excerpts:

 

How entrepreneurship came in your mind?

I grew up in an enterprising family. My mother used to knit wool hats, gloves, and socks at home for extra income and father had a dry food manufacturing business for 30 years along with acting as tourist guide. In Vermont, Dr Geoff Tabin’s family, the local community and my college family provided exposure and ideas to start a handicraft and trekking service. While at Vermont I built connections and expanded my horizon in the business opportunities. The Vermont community members are friendly and they would ask me about the Sherpa people, Himalayas and the Nepali culture. Along with this, I noticed the presence of Nepali handcrafts in local stores, found out that the locals loved using them stating that buying Nepali goods served a good cause. I realized that this would be a great business opportunity if I could establish networking between potential stores and customers.  

 

When did you start your business? 

I started my journey into business with the launch of the "US Sherpa International" company in 2005. By that time, I had graduated with an Associate degree in Travel and Tourism, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Champlain College and had two years of work experience. During these years that led to the establishing of the company, I also married to Jessica M Sherpa whom I had met in college and who later became my business partner. The company imported natural, sustainable and fair trade, handcrafted products in the US from Nepal and offered trekking and travelling services to Nepal.

 

How do you describe your journey as an entrepreneur in this nearly decade ?

It has been an amazing journey. From the humble beginning to struggles in finding an US based custom broker, operating out of home, producing quality sales materials, communicating and setting up potential sales meetings, challenges in ordering, delivering quality products and services, meeting order deadlines and finding business funding were some obstacles that I had to face in the beginning.  But things kept getting better every year.  Now, we have an office with a warehouse, staffed with full time and seasonal staffs and some interns too, both here and in Nepal. 

 

We offer trekking trips to Nepal every year through partnership with private and non-profit organizations. We provide lodging services to the clients of Himalayan Cataract Project, founded by Dr Tabin to provide eye services in Nepal in collaboration with the Tilganga Eye Hospital. 

 

We have established professional relationship with some of the most reliable and trust worthy Nepali and UScargo companies, manufacturers, custom brokers, college/universities, and with around 150 retailers in seven states of the USA. Besides that, we provide occasional shipments to countries other than the USA and have provided lodging, trekking and travel services to over 200 guests in Nepal. 

 

Our business is growing every year and we remain committed to develop this business journey of bringing Nepal and USA close further.

 

What is the story behind your brand “US Sherpa”? 

Sherpa is my last name, which has a strong cultural identity that describes people from the mountainous regions of Nepal and as a strong hardworking mountaineer. I wanted to keep this identity alive by promoting quality Nepali handicrafts and trekking services through the brand name "US Sherpa." The addition of US connects both countries, as does the business. 

 

How is the response of your clients towards the brand? 

The responses about our brand have been very positive. The brand is popular for delivering good handmade and natural products that care produced through sustainable means. Our products are affordable and each of the products is sold with a story on how it is produced and how it helps the Nepali community.  We put cloth labels, stickers, hang tags on all the products with product description and barcode to promote our brand name and story.

 

Please elaborate about your company’s product range. 

We specialize in accessories such as wool hats, mittens, head bands, cotton based products like prayer flags, scarfs, hemp wallets, felt bags, lokta paper journals, recycled bags and singing bowls.  Our focus is on trading natural, environment friendly and sustainable products thatmake maximum use of Nepali raw materials such as hemp, lokta and wool. 

 

Do you have plans to expand your business beyond USA?

I have big plans to expand my business within USA but don’t have any plans as of now to expand beyond its borders, unless of course big opportunity comes my way. USA is such a huge market and there is so much room to grow for everyone.  Our business is still young, relatively small with presence mainly in the North Eastern USA. Our growth strategy conservative and is prepared considering the market demands and scope. 

 

Your experience of doing business in the USA?

It has been incredible. There are so many resources and support available for start-up businesses.  People are willing to try you, they are friendly, generous, honest and helpful.  Without support from two local retailers in Vermont: Peace & Justice Store and Outdoor Gear Exchange in the initial days, US Sherpa International probably would not have existed today.  If you are persistent, passionate, take risks, do not let go the right opportunity and chase your dream, you can be successful and materialize your dreams. 

 

How can Nepal make it products visible in the international market?

Product quality and delivery time are crucial factors to thrive in the international market.  I have seen so many manufacturers that lack quality control, consistency in products and fail to deliver consignments on agreed time. There are inconsistencies in sizes, colour, cleanliness, knitting and sewing.  I believe part of these problems are caused due to lack of reliable support from the government to handicraft industries, lack of infrastructures like roads, electricity, education, and proper training. Over the years, I have seen US companies shifting their manufacturers to other countries like India and China instead of Nepal. However, I strongly believe that dedicated and committed companies with vision can promote Nepali handicrafts. Similarly, tourism industry has huge scope as well.