Goodbye Friends: Swapzaar is closing down (for now).

Hey everyone, it's been so long!

Life has been busy and very tough; unfortunately we are going to have to close down Swapzaar.
Swapzaar in it's current avatar simply isn't working.
It was a great idea, but we don't have the funds to scale the business.
We also couldn't raise funds - we failed to convince investors that Swapzaar was an idea worth investing in!!

  :-(

Of course, when we had to face facts back in December 2016 we were really heart-broken, angry and sad because we felt so many useless startups got easily funded when the boom time was on (2012/2013/2014) and just when we started looking for funds everything just came crashing down...but then as we looked around we realised- maybe it was a blessing in disguise.


As you might have read, the funding scenario in India is undergoing some tectonic changes.
These large changes started in 2015, right around the time we started looking for funds, and are still happening! (Flipkart, Snapdeal, Ola and may more are under scrutiny and are being evaluated for soundness and their valuations are being slashed). Investors are wary of investing in new startups in the eCommerce space given that these large giants have failed to pay off as expected. It's always a bad idea to get a jittery investor on-board who doesn't really get your idea/vision and just wants 50X returns ASAP.

It's not a wasted effort; it's been an incredible journey of 5 years (this June we'll be officially 5) since we registered the company, and started building Swapzaar.
We have learnt so much along the way (mostly what not to do).

On the bright side, we founders are now free to move on with our other projects; there are some other fashion related business ideas we have wanted to explore in the past; we might try those- who knows?

But the overall focus on fashion stays; and we might even get back to vintage and pre-owned luxury fashion at some point...we don't know.

Meanwhile we will also stop posting on this blog regularly.
We might put up a mini fashion-related post once in a while till we are ready to totally close it down.

Thanks for your love and support; if and when we start something new we shall definitely post it here!

The future is wide open.

Hey everyone! Happy Holidays and wish you the best new year ever- 2017!

Okay, it's a bit early but we're signing off for the year.

2016 hasn't been a great year, but 2017 is going to be fantastic--we can feel in in our bones!
So 'tis the season to be jolly!

Make 2017 the year where you start off on a new and brilliant path that leads to all your dreams...
Just move away from what makes you unhappy and towards what makes you happy- it's that simple.

Are you ready for your dreams to come true? Here is a great video- food for thought. 

Wednesday Wishlist: Fall 2016 Beauty edit.

Right-so you know how they say, 'if you look good, the simplest clothes look stylish?'
It's true.
Ask yourself- what's more attractive- a fit, happy woman in a pair of great jeans and a crisp white shirt, or a woman who's not in shape, wearing a designer dress that looks 2 sizes too tight, and with her face plastered in makeup? This is not to say you can't be healthy, happy and wear designer threads - a few lucky people certainly can. But what's more important?

To look good you need firstly to be healthy and feeling good inside, and then you need to put some effort into mastering the basics of beauty. When we say 'beauty' we mean great skincare, great haircare and some basic enhancing makeup.Once you've got the basics of good skincare/haircare in place, the makeup part quickly falls into place with less effort. We really believe that less is more when it comes to makeup.

That's our philosophy, and we know not everyone feels the same way. In fact there are people who think having enough money can fix everything, and that may be true to an extent!

We aren't arguing- to each his/her own.

So here are some products on our wishlist to cover all these aspects: Skin, Hair and Makeup.
(We won't go into health here because that's a whole different world ; it's a topic for another wishlist).

We hope you like them, let us know what you think in the comments below.
Also tell us what's on your wishlist!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex 

Despite very expensive entries in the anti ageing category, this serum is still the one most women
swear by. The price seems a bit high except when you see this or this...
Trust us this one is worth the money.

Garnier Skincare Skin Renew Clinical Dark Spot Overnight Peel For All Skin Types  (48 ml)

We don't have to go for the hugely expensive and scary peels, this gentle peel can be used safely at home for good results. We don't want  a new face, we just want even-toned, brighter skin!!

SK II Facial Treatment Oil 

We have heard good things about this product all over YouTube. A face oil has become something of a beauty staple for most women, now, whether you choose pure organic Jojoba/Argan oil or you choose a pricey concoction like this one is up to you.

This is a wishlist!

Clarisonic Mia 3 Facial Sonic Cleansing System

Yet another well respected product, a facial cleansing system that gives gentle exfoliation and ensures your skin is really, really clean. Clean skin is a must if you want all the other skincare products to work better.
(Apparently a Derma Roller is great too, but this seems like a safe bet compared to mini needles!)

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oleo Serum Moringa Immortel For Damaged Hair

Amazingly light and effective, this one has been on our list for a while.
Again, it is a tried and true product: no more experiments with hair!
(you are already frying it with all that heat).

bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation

This product does not have a lot of the 'bad stuff' like silicones, fragrance, oil etc and delivers a natural flawless look. It's also a skincare product with SPF as well... Genius!

Artis Elite Mirror 3-piece Brush Kit with Cleansing Set

Beauty gurus consider Artis makeup brushes truly exceptional and life-changing.

What more can we say, except- nothing that good is ever cheap!

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Enhancer

A beautiful lipstick with lip enhancing properties? Of course we need it ASAP!
Not to worry, It's got plenty of shades to choose from!

CHANEL INTO THE SHADOWS Limited Edition Eye Set

Really, a good little pack of the most wearable fall eye-shadows, an eyeliner and mascara.
The little Chanel pouch is darling. Perfect for gifting.

Tom Ford Private Blend 2016 Reserve Bois Marocain Eau de Parfum Decanter

Now, this is a unisex perfume: not be everyone's cup of tea.
But we think it's intriguing, adventurous, and perfect for the chill weather.

So that's it for this week!

Of course wishlists are eternally growing, and we shall be back with more stuff to covet.