In the world of textile manufacturing, where quality and reliability are paramount, Shivkrupa Cotspin has emerged as a noteworthy player. This family-owned business, deeply rooted in the cotton ginning and pressing industry for over 25 years, has recently made significant strides in cotton yarn manufacturing. Its journey is marked by a commitment to excellence and a forward-looking approach.

The company aims to diversify its product offerings further into the weaving and garment sectors. It boasts world-class equipment from Uster Technologies, including a high-volume instrument testing machine for raw cotton and state-of-the-art machinery for quality checks on cotton yarns.

In an industry characterised by both organised and unorganised players, the company values buyers who operate in a streamlined and organised manner. From deal negotiations to execution and post-sales processes like transportation, it seeks buyers who prioritise a structured approach. Digitalisation is another key criterion, as it is considered essential for staying competitive in today’s business landscape.

Amid these challenges, Shivkrupa Cotspin found a reliable partner in The Yarn Bazaar (TYB).

In a conversation, the company’s executive director Aditya Agrawal shared its successful collaboration journey with TYB. Initially focused on the Malegaon market, Shivkrupa Cotspin aimed to expand into Ichalkaranji, and TYB played a crucial role in this expansion. TYB introduced Shivkrupa Cotspin’s combed weaving counts to the Ichalkaranji market, a significant milestone. However, some potential buyers hesitated due to unfamiliarity with the yarn quality. TYB stepped in, helping in the yarn sales with 100 per cent advance payment and building trust in the product’s quality. It also assisted in logistics management, a critical but often overlooked aspect.

“What truly sets TYB apart is their unwavering commitment to their partners. Unlike many traders who tend to disengage after negotiations, TYB remained actively engaged throughout the entire process, from start to finish. They provided continuous updates on each development, extending their support beyond the deal-making stage, and ensuring seamless progression until the payment and delivery were completed,” said Agrawal.

For Shivkrupa Cotspin, this partnership with TYB transcended a typical business transaction; it became a source of trust, reliability, and peace of mind throughout their journey. Agrawal tells more about the journey with TYB in the following interview:

Tell us about your journey with Shivkrupa Cotspin

We have had a family business in cotton ginning and pressing for the last 25 years. After completing my education in Pune, I immediately joined the family business in cotton ginning and pressing. With extensive experience in cotton ginning and spinning, we ventured into cotton yarn. In 2017, we incorporated our company, and in 2019, we commenced commercial operations. Since July 2019, we have been manufacturing cotton yarn, and our unit has 14,892 spindles. We have now completed four years of operations. Over these four years, we experienced various phases in our business, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 period. As beginners in the industry, we faced these challenges and enjoyed the journey. Currently, we are in the process of expanding to 21,888 spindles, and the machinery installation is already in progress. We expect to begin production in the new unit by December of this year.

Other than the expansion what are the things you are looking forward to for the next year?

Initially, our vision was from farm to fibre. We were involved in cotton ginning and pressing, which kept us closely connected with the farmers. With the vision of ‘farm to fibre’, we are now looking to expand into ‘fibre-to-fashion’. While we are currently focused on spinning, we have plans for further forward integration into the weaving and garmenting sectors after this expansion.

What are the criteria you have while choosing a yarn buyer for your business?

In our industry, there are numerous unorganised players, and our business operates within this unorganised landscape. Therefore, if we were to find buyers or purchasers who work in a highly structured or completely organised manner, it would greatly benefit us. This structured approach encompasses everything, from initial deals to the execution phase, including transportation, contracts, and post-sales issues. Fortunately, we have not received any customer complaints thus far. However, if our yarn purchasers prefer a streamlined and well-defined methodology where everything is managed in an organised manner, it would be highly beneficial. One crucial aspect is digitalisation, which is essential in today’s business environment. Many businesses are adopting digitalisation, but there are still some areas lacking in terms of data analysis, which need to be addressed.

What are the biggest pain points and challenges you face while finding these suppliers?

We have always prioritised quality over quantity, even in our ginning business. Although we have the capacity to manufacture more than 50,000 bales per annum, we choose to produce only 9,000 to 10,000 bales. This is not due to a lack of available cotton but rather because high-quality cotton is available in limited quantities. We place great emphasis on quality and, as a result, maintain rigorous quality checks and adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all quality parameters.

However, one challenge we often encounter is the availability of skilled manpower. Even when we provide clear instructions on how tasks should be carried out, there are instances where some details may be missed. This becomes problematic because, despite having everything in place and clear instructions, if workers do not meet our requirements, it disrupts the entire process. It is crucial to follow the correct procedures meticulously, ensuring that every detail is attended to.

How did The Yarn Bazaar meet those criteria? And at that time, what were the problems you were facing, and did TYB help you solve those problems?

I would like to make a big comment: My yarn was first introduced in the Ichalkaranji market by The Yarn Bazaar.
I already had a good market share, and I was aggressively working in the Malegaon market. When I started with carded counts, my primary focus was on the Malegaon market. At that time, I was searching for reliable suppliers who could help me cater to the Ichalkaranji market. It was then that The Yarn Bazaar, led by Mr. Vishal Darak during the company’s initial phase, played a pivotal role in assisting me. We began our journey in the Ichalkaranji market with 30s combed weaving yarn, making The Yarn Bazaar the first to introduce my combed weaving count in the domestic market. In the Ichalkaranji market, some buyers were initially hesitant to purchase on advance payment terms because they were unaware of the superior quality of yarn we were manufacturing. The Yarn Bazaar provided valuable assistance in this regard by purchasing each slot on advance payment terms. TYB also helped me with organising the logistics, which is often a challenging aspect. Many times, buyers place orders but expect the supplier to manage and arrange for the logistics at the time of lifting. If the mill is unable to handle the logistics, it can lead to delays in both order fulfilment and payment. However, in our case, TYB provided significant support in this regard. It ensured timely arrangement of vehicles, going beyond typical industry practices where efforts often cease after bargaining. Throughout the execution of orders, TYB’s support has been invaluable, providing a sense of relief as a miller.

Can you tell us more about Shivkrupa Cotspin’s planned expansion?

As is well-known, Uster Technologies in Switzerland offers the world’s best lab solutions for quality assurance. Targeting quality-conscious consumers and aiming to sell premium products, we have exclusively installed labs from Uster. Currently, we use the HVI1000 from Uster for checking the quality of raw cotton bales, and for cotton yarn, we have the latest UT6 machine. These installations have significantly enhanced various processes within our operations.

However, while we had machines in place for checking both raw materials and finished goods, we lacked a system for monitoring quality during the manufacturing process itself. To address this gap, we have ordered the Uster AFIS, which is set to be delivered next month. This addition will further strengthen our commitment to delivering quality products.