PEAKLIFE

As a community CLIQ brings together the best of the creative fraternity with full time and flexible engagements.

A Mumbai and Ahmedabad based creative, brand-savvy digital marketing Community, Cliq offers creative marketing strategies for all businesses, be it small, medium or large-scale and across all sectors like Retail, FMCG, Fashion and Services. Launched with one primary focus – to be able to provide unique, out of the box creative digital solutions that can help brands enhance their marketing efforts.

CEO AND Founder, Rhea Patel’s main motive to launch this company was to be able to capture a brands essence and convey it in a compelling, authentic manner which in turn helps build strong relationships with the brand’s target audience.

Speaking exclusively with PeakLife, Rhea Patel shares her experiences of being an entrepreneur and much more.

What was the whole idea behind launching CLIQ and how did the idea for your business come about?

Cliq was the outcome of a gap I felt very strongly about after working in the Advertising Industry., As a creative individual, I felt very strongly about the quality of the content that was offered in return for the kind of retainers that were being charged. I believed that good quality content that was created with a strong understanding of the target audience and their needs would help make long-lasting relationships with brands online. For that, agencies needed to be willing to do more. To remember that they were an extension of a brand’s marketing wing. CLIQ infact started out froma. silly bet I had with my friends and has now evolved to become a dream that carries the best from the creative talent space.

How did you come up with the name for your company?

I honestly was looking to keep it simple, easy to remember and speak. I wanted it to be an extension of my vision for the brand. When I thought about it with my family and friends they suggested CLIQ to be the perfect fit. As a community, most of your job entails enabling brands to “cliq” with their audience. Most of our handles were also worded as “wecliq” for the very same reason. It was meant to be a branding practice.

Please share your experience in setting up CLIQ?

Cliq has been a roller coaster ride. I’ve had the time of my life setting it up so far. I learnt something new almost every day. My job completely changed from a purely creative role to doing so much more. I applied myself into building a team with the right values, which often came with its own challenges. Greater challenges came while finding the right people to work for too as what we proposed was not always everyone’s cup of tea. All this while attempting to make the finances work.

According to you, what are the key factors that make a great entrepreneur?

Great entrepreneurs I believe have three qualities that set them apart. Grit/persistence and discipline being two key personal factors always set the tone for any business. But the most important thing for an entrepreneur is to put their team and people before themselves. Only then does one see long term, consistent success and growth.

Who do you consider an inspiration when it comes to being an entrepreneur?

Personally I am inspired by every woman who is working and making a difference across industries in every small or big way. I am inspired by the way in which they are bringing equality to the society and neutralising gender roles. Creatively speaking, I believe inspiration is in observation. Your next best idea is around you. You just need to be a keen listener and a good observer.

Could you tell us about the culture in your organisation and how did you establish it?

The culture in my organisation began with me. I was a flexible worker, but a diligent one. I believe in transparency and honesty and ensured my team did believe in it as much as I did. I believed in working for each and with each other as we are a team of all women coming together to make a difference.

I believe in being fair and compensating well. Today, effortlessly, every member that is with us believes and pursues these values personally and professionally. Establishing it was very simple- to do it myself.

If you had to suggest 5 must-read marketing books during the pandemic, what would they be?

I believe you generally learn the best lessons where you least expect to. I seek inspiration and lessons from some very unique novels I’ve read. It’s all about what one is able to take away from text. Some of my favourite suggestions are

Predictably Irrational

The everything store

These are two of my recent favourites

What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?

Learning and relationships. Learning new things always helps individuals grow and ensure you are moving with current trends and times.

Relationships ensure you are not only remembered for your work but also for the way in which you helped someone. Be honest, be kind. That always catches up with you from time to time.