In a brief with Mr Krishnanad Bastikar, Vice President, BVC Brinks, The JTM [Jewellery Technology & Machinery] Bureau got an insight on ‘WeddingSHIP’, an innovative service from the house of BVC Logistics. With this service, BVC has moved on to achieve a unique position in logistic service and innovative concepts. Excerpts:

BVC Logistics has always been a leader when it comes to servicing the gem and jewellery sector. What was the thought behind launching a unique service such as ‘WeddingSHIP’?

WeddingSHIP is a logistics service brought to you by BVC Logistics. This service is specially curated for destination weddings. In simple terms, it is a logistics service for personal jewellery to be worn at a destination wedding. Destination weddings call for transport of jewellery to the destination. They end up carrying imitation so that they can avoid customs and related documentation. People want to enjoy the wedding and not be worried about the safety of their valuables. That is where we come in. We collect the jewellery from your doorstep, securely package it and arrange for it to be sent to the destination.

Did you envisage a demand from the “destination weddings” sector that had prompted you to launch a unique service such as this?

Destination weddings are trending, and the market is moving towards supporting this behaviour. We too felt that we can be a part of this by offering our well-known secure logistics service, tweaking it ever so slightly to address the needs of the bride, groom and their family. We trust that it will add a great value in helping the bride and groom's family is experiencing stress-free celebrations when it comes to transportation of.

Do you think that the market is ready for a niche product like WeddingSHIP?

The destination wedding market always existed in India. But no one really curated a service specifically for destination weddings. There has also been an exponential growth in terms of Indians preferring a destination wedding. Travelling overseas with a significant amount of jewellery can be quite cumbersome from the customs clearance perspective and not forget the clear risk in carrying such articles. To address this, we have stepped out to offer a trusted logistics solution for their jewellery. We take up the responsibility of making our consumers aware of the existence of WeddingSHIP

How would you differentiate WeddingSHIP form other state-of-the-art services that BVC Logistics has been offering for a long time now?

As stated earlier, this is the first-ever customer-facing service launched by BVC. Hence, we hold it very close to our hearts. We understand that we are not just transporting jewellery from one city to another. The jewellery has more meaning attached to it. We are transporting the hopes and dreams of the wedding party. The bride has dreamed of this day for most of her life. It needs to be perfect and BVC Logistics take satisfaction in the fact that we play an important role in making that dream come true! In terms of business, this service involves a round trip. We pick up the jewellery from the clients’ doorstep and deliver them to the wedding loaction. Post the wedding, the jewellery is transported back to the clients’ doorstep

What are the key factors that would make people chose ‘WeddingSHIP’?

One of the major factors is the seamless custom clearance of the jewellery that needs to be sent for the occasion. We have about 60 of experience in handling logistics for precious goods which will provide you assured peace of mind regarding the jewellery during the preparation chaos. BVC Logistics is India's Largest Secure Logistics Enterprise providing services of WeddingSHIP in 40 major cities in India and 7 countries globally.

How many destinations does BVC’s WeddingSHIP service PAN India and globally?

To start with, we serve 40 cities across India which include Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai Coimbatore, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Goa, Rajkot, Indore, Hyderabad, Amritsar etc. 7 countries around the globe include UK, New York, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Dubai, Italy, and Istanbul. We are continuously expanding geographically. We do use the strong presence of BVC Logistics to reach the most popular as well as niche/unfrequented destinations.

What are the key services provided under ‘WeddingSHIP’?

The wedding jewellery will be picked up and dropped off to your door, offering convenience in the bargain. We handle end-to-end documentation and clearance at the customs for overseas shipments. We offer a logistics service that is completely insured so that you can be assured about your peace of mind. Bringing all its experience together and specifically catering to destination weddings, BVC commits to bringing personalized solutions to its customers.

How is this product relevant to the lucrative wedding Industry and to family members?

Destination weddings take the whole wedding event a notch up. With destination weddings, the couple and their families want to focus on enjoying the wedding and the people. Transportation of jewellery can be a huge hassle for the families. The documentation itself is a goliath task. If we can provide the families with a seamless door-to-door solution, I am sure today’s couples will find relevance in it

How do you see WeddingSHIP creating a space of its own within the busy and mentally occupied schedule of the ‘To Be Wed’ couples and their family?

We are meeting a need that has not been addressed yet, the transportation of jewellery and the compliance-related issues connected with overseas travel carrying valuables meant to be used in a wedding. Thus, we do see ourselves carving out a small but significant space in the consumer minds when it comes to destination weddings.

How do you think ‘WeddingSHIP’ and the Indian wedding industry look like in the next 10 years? What is your goal?

With high profile weddings taking place across the globe we see a trend building up for destination weddings. The idea of destination weddings exists and is picking up fast. I see this industry grow exponentially. Also with destination weddings, the events will not be restricted to the summer and winter seasons. Now weddings will be an all-year-round affair. As the destination wedding industry picks up, the need for a secure logistics service for wedding valuables will be more evident.