UK, Dec. 12, 2006

UK Daily Telegraph named NRI Sanjay Kumar is one of the "40 most successful young entrepreneurs"

Sanjay Kumar

Rajan Group imports and distributes fashion clothing from its head office in Manchester, its warehouse in the city and a branch office in London. It works on a contract basis with blue chip High Street stores, with much of the manufacturing taking place abroad. It also produces its own branded clothes for distribution through smaller retailers.

Sanjay Kumar runs Rajan Fashions with his brother Rajan. They have developed the business from their father's market stall in Manchester to a supplier for top fashion chains. The firm now has offices in New York and the Far East.

"You get a buzz off fashion," Kumar says, adding that he was inspired by his brother and father to go into the business. "Dad did all the hard work and Rajan entered the business eight years earlier than me."

Kumar, 36 said, "I'm quite narrow. I would regard an entrepreneur as someone more versatile than me. I guess I'm a little entrepreneur within my field."

The expansion of Rajan Fashions has come at a price - both in terms of Kumar's own workload and short-term returns. The company's profits slipped this year, which he attributes to an investment programme, including the opening of an office in Hong Kong.

The company, which supplies chains such as Zara and JC Penney, also has operations in New York, Dusseldorf and Madrid.

The company employs 150 people at its headquarters in Manchester, including an in-house design team of 20, while clothes are made in China.

Sanjay's father is still company chairman, while Rajan is managing director.

Kumar's top tip for success is simply to work hard, an ethic he says he gets from his father: "This is a seven day a week job, you are never switched off - even when you are walking down the street you are clocking the fashions