From Schoolyard Hustle to Corporate Gifting King: How Gaurav Bhagat Built Consortium Gifts into India's Fastest Growing Corporate Gifting Company
Gaurav Bhagat's entrepreneurial journey began at 16 with WWF trump cards and a stock market board game. Today, he leads Consortium Gifts, India's fastest growing corporate gifting company, while transforming sales training through Grant Cardone Academy. His story reveals how schoolyard hustle evolved into corporate excellence.
The Early Hustle: From Boarding School to Business
Gorav's entrepreneurial awakening happened when he moved from The Lawrence School, Sanawar to Delhi Public School, Mathura Road in 1992. The contrast was stark - from a boarding school with no scope for entrepreneurship to "a school of hustlers, street smart people who get stuff done."
The First Ventures (Age 16, 1992)
- Stock Market Board Game: Fascinated by the Harshad Mehta era, created and sold board games to toy shops across Delhi
- WWF Trump Cards: The breakthrough - asked US cousins to bring wrestling magazines, cut out images, created 30 original cards, and printed them locally
- The Explosion: WWF cards became a massive hit, providing his first taste of real entrepreneurial success
"That was what really exploded and started making me some good money. It was confirmation that yes, there is money to be made and entrepreneurship is my thing," Gorav recalls about his trump card success.
The Accidental Entry into Corporate Gifting
The journey to corporate gifting began purely by accident in 1995-96 during Gorav's first year of college. What started as a solution to a personal problem evolved into a business empire.
The Serendipitous Beginning
- Gym Gloves Problem: Started making gym gloves after struggling to find quality workout gloves in India
- The Factory Connection: The glove manufacturer also made EVA foam for mouse pads
- The Pivot Suggestion: Factory owner suggested offering corporate mouse pads to companies
- First Success: Made mouse pads for their own company, then approached Compaq showroom
- The Expansion: Compaq Delhi led to Compaq Bangalore, then continuous product expansion
From Hobby to Business
The venture remained a hobby through college until 1999, when Gorav "went all in" after cracking a big Maruti deal. This marked the transition from casual entrepreneurship to serious business building.
Understanding the Corporate Gifting Ecosystem
Today's corporate gifting industry represents a massive market opportunity that most people underestimate.
Market Size & Growth
- Global Leaders: Top 5 US companies doing $800+ million each
- India Market: $5-6 billion USD with 175,000+ companies
- Growth Rate: 13-14% year-on-year on conservative estimates
- Supply Chain Shift: From 85% China-sourced to 90% India-sourced post-pandemic
The Stakeholder Ecosystem
Corporate gifting has evolved beyond simple employee rewards to encompass multiple business functions:
Key Stakeholders
- HR Teams: Welcome kits, employee onboarding, reward and recognition programs
- Sales Teams: Gift with Purchase (GWP) programs, dealer incentives, customer acquisition
- Marketing Teams: Product launches, press gifts, mall activations, brand building
- Leadership: Client relationship building, strategic partnerships
Technology Revolution in Corporate Gifting
While the industry has massive potential for technological innovation, adoption remains limited across most players.
Current Tech Innovations
- 3D Printing: Custom caps and promotional items
- AI Design: Automated creative ideation and customization
- SaaS Platforms: Point-based gifting systems for HR and employees
- Advanced Printing: DTF, spot UV, and other specialized techniques
However, Gorav points out the untapped potential: "How many people are using augmented reality where a product can be seen on someone's desktop? How many are using virtual reality where your experience center travels to a client using a Meta headset? We're not even scratching the surface."
Business Model and Client Acquisition
Consortium Gifts has evolved into more than a vendor - they've become financiers and strategic partners for their clients.
The Financing Model
"If a client wants 1,000 Samsonite trolley bags, they could go directly to Samsonite, but Samsonite won't give them credit. Our company will. So we invest ₹60 lakhs with Samsonite and get paid 30-60 days later. We've become financiers."
Navigating Industry Challenges
The industry faces unique challenges that require strategic navigation:
Key Challenges
- Price Competition: Dealing with companies offering unsustainable rates to win business
- Amazon Benchmark: Clients comparing custom corporate gifts with subsidized Amazon pricing
- Voucher Trend: Companies preferring vouchers over physical gifts, reducing brand recall
- Regulatory Changes: Government plugging tax loopholes around corporate gifting
The Grant Cardone Academy: Expanding Beyond Gifting
In 2017, Gorav's life changed when he invested in Grant Cardone sales training for Consortium Gifts and doubled the company's topline by December.
Grant Cardone Academy Journey
- July 2017: Invested in Grant Cardone training for Consortium
- December 2017: Doubled company topline and recovered investment multiple times
- February 2018: Met Grant Cardone in America, discussed licensing
- July 2018: Transferred license fee and spent time with Grant's team
- November 2018: Launched Grant Cardone Academy in India
Academy Impact
- Mission: Help 100,000 business owners add 100 jobs each (impacting 4 crore people)
- Boot Camps: 38 batches completed, 30-35 people per batch
- Pricing Model: Single offering at ₹14,999 with lifetime access
- No Upsells: Unlike competitors who start with ₹9 webinars and sell ₹5 lakh courses
AI Strategy for Sales and Business Growth
Gorav is a strong advocate for AI adoption, especially in sales processes, but emphasizes smart implementation over tool hoarding.
AI Adoption Strategy
- Start Basic: Minimum investment in ChatGPT Plus subscription (₹1,700)
- Essential Tools: Lusha, Apollo.io, Humanic for prospecting and psychometric profiling
- Smart Spending: Avoid long-term subscriptions as tools evolve rapidly
- Integration Focus: Use AI to amplify existing skills and creative abilities
Entrepreneurship Philosophy: Reality vs. Instagram
Having built businesses for over 25 years, Gorav offers sobering advice about entrepreneurship realities.
The Entrepreneurship Reality Check
"It's definitely not a bed of roses. You're going to have a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs - in some cases, more downs than ups for the first 3-5 years. Until you bring into place the people, processes, and products, it's going to be a struggle."
Essential Prerequisites for Success
What You Need Before Starting
- Capital: Substantial corpus for sustaining 6-8 months without income
- Thick Skin: Ability to handle rejection, challenges, and setbacks
- Support System: Strong ecosystem of family, friends, and mentors
- Market Fit: Clear understanding of market demand for your product/service
Building a Team of 80+ People
From starting alone at home, Gorav has built Consortium Gifts into a company with 80+ employees creating meaningful impact.
Company Growth
- Team Size: 80+ professionals
- Client Portfolio: Major corporates including Maruti, HDFC Bank, Bharti AXA
- Speaking Engagements: MDRT Boston (7,000 attendees), Outstanding Speakers Bureau
- Industry Position: India's fastest growing corporate gifting company
Key Lessons from 25+ Years of Entrepreneurship
1. Market Timing Matters
Success came from solving real problems at the right time - from WWF cards during wrestling craze to corporate mouse pads during PC boom to AI sales training during digital transformation.
2. Evolution Over Revolution
Consortium Gifts evolved from gym gloves to mouse pads to comprehensive corporate gifting. The key is adapting while maintaining core strengths.
3. Capital as Competitive Advantage
In corporate gifting, having capital to offer credit terms became a major differentiator. Understanding industry dynamics helps build sustainable competitive advantages.
4. Technology Adoption for Amplification
AI and technology should amplify existing strengths rather than replace core skills. Smart adoption beats early adoption.
The Future of Corporate Gifting
As Gorav continues building Consortium Gifts and Grant Cardone Academy, he sees massive opportunities ahead for those willing to combine traditional business acumen with modern technology and authentic relationship building.
His journey from creating trump cards at 16 to building India's fastest growing corporate gifting company proves that sustainable entrepreneurship comes from solving real problems, adapting to market changes, and building systems that amplify human potential rather than replacing it.
Connect with Gaurav Bhagat
Follow Gorav's entrepreneurial journey and sales training insights as he continues transforming corporate gifting and sales education in India.
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🎧 ELI Episode 487: From Schoolyard Hustle to Corporate Gifting King