New Year Greetings from The Pipal

Its been a rather eventful year for us at The Pipal. Our target for 2010 was to get the online store going - a personalized kids furnishings online store! Amongst the first of its kind and quite unheard of in India. Most people we talked to were sceptical about the concept which made us work harder...

Every online order reaffirms our belief in our idea :)

We have seen tremendous growth in all areas: manufacturing, web development as well as product design. Still a lot of learning to do and a long way to go! All teams rock!


2011 begins on a more exciting note as we have more vendors with new product lines on our website, new designs and products lined up for release, and a target to reach more customers in more places all over the country. And maybe outside the country, too :)

On a personal note, I have made so many friends in so many different places the past year! A special thanks to family and friends who have been our biggest support - thanks for all the design reviews, suggestions and encouragement! Of course, my biggest supporters and best critics are the men in my life - my husband and my 3 year old son :) I give a daily status report to my son about how many people like us on facebook!!!


On that happy note, wishing you a very happy new year!

PIPAL TALK GIVEAWAY: CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

Here is our Christmas Surprise: THREE giveaways this Christmas - 2 cushion covers from Bibzy by AA Living (www.aa-living.com) and 1 shaped pillow cover from Little Pipal.

1st PRIZE - Bibzy by AA Living - PAYAL CHANDAN

2nd Prize: Little Pipal - SHILPA KAMATH

3rd Prize: Bibzy by AA Living - GARIMA MRIDUL

It's really easy to enter - In your comments, leave your comments about The Pipal or Bibzy by AA Living.

You do not have to purchase anything to enter the Giveaway. Just make sure you fulfil the eligibility criteria described below. We will use a randomizer application to generate 3 numbers. The winners will be the corresponding posts on the blog. Winners will be sent an email and they can let us know their choice of product.

To enter you will have to post one mandatory comment on the blog telling us about products from The Pipal or AA Living. Read on below to find out how you can increase your chances to win by earning bonus entries into the Giveaway. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR GIVEAWAY
You must be a registered member of The Pipal. Visit http://www.thepipal.com/customersignup.aspx to signup if you are not a member

You must "Like" the following Facebook pages:

www.facebook.com/thepipal
www.facebook.com/aaliving

www.facebook.com/mybibzy

ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY – MANDATORY COMMENT
You must leave a comment on the blog about our products.

HOW TO GET EXTRA ENTRIES FOR THE GIVEAWAY
Receive extra entries and increase your chances of winning the Giveaway
Click here for the tutorial to understand how to earn these extra entries

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/aaliving
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Post a product review of the product that you bought on www.thepipal.com
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Subscribe to our newsletters via email

Get 1 extra entry
Email us your mobile number and email address to subscribe to [email protected]

Subscribe to our blog via email

Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are subscribed to the blog via email

Follow our blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are following the Pipal Talk blog

Post about this Giveaway on your personal Facebook page
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your posting

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thepipal
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with your twitter handle

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AA_LivingTweets
Get 1 extra entry

To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with your twitter handle

Tweet about this Giveaway
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your tweet

Write about this Giveaway on your Blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your blog article

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• You must be 18+ years of age to enter any of our Giveaways
• We ship the Giveaway only within India
• No purchase is necessary to enter the Giveaway
• One entry per mailing address, except for when you qualify for extra credits
• Duplicate/false entries will be deleted and will disqualify the poster from the Giveaway
• You must be willing to give us your full name, address, and phone number if you are the winner
• Winner will be contacted by email only. The winner has 48 hours to respond and we will only attempt to contact by email twice. If we have not heard back from the winner within 48 hours we will select another winner
• We are not responsible for our emails going into your junk mail folder
• This contest is subject to the Official Rules and any other rules at any time promulgated by The Pipal
• The Pipal reserves the right to amend these rules at any time in its sole discretion
• In the event that any provision or rule is found unenforceable by any court of appropriate jurisdiction, such provision or rule shall be severed here from and the remainder of the Official Rules shall remain valid and enforceable
• In the event of any question or ambiguity with respect to these Official Rules, The Pipal interpretation of such question or ambiguity shall be final and binding upon all participants
• If the Potential Winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules, he/she will be disqualified, the prize will be forfeited and an alternative winner may be selected in a second drawing of all eligible entries received during the contest period
• Any attempt at entry other than stated is void
• This promotion is not open to employees of The Pipal and their families

Theme Board: SPORTS

Yes, finally our sports theme is here! When we started the design on this theme, one requirement was that cricket and tennis should be a part of it. After all, we grew up playing cricket with a tennis ball :)

There is more to come in terms of bedding for individual sports but this is a start...our personal favorite is the shaped body cushion which you can use with any bedding to create a sports theme look!


All products will be available soon online at www.thepipal.com

The Pipal @ Mumbai: AA Living's BIBZY

We have some exciting news to share - Little Pipal products are now available at BIBZY, AA Living, Luxury Home Interiors Store at Napean Sea Road, Mumbai.

We are showcasing some of our popular designs and launching a new range of products designed exclusively for BIBZY. Its been an awesome experience to grow beyond the virtual world of facebook and google to a "brick-n-mortar" store. Our strong commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is echoed by BIBZY and forms the basis of a strong partnership.  

AA Living

Luxury home interiors Store,

Rajul Apts, 9 Harkness Road, (Opp. gold’s gym),

Nepean Sea Road. Mumbai - 6

Tel: 022-23683985

Store opening hours: 

10:30 am - 7:30 pm

Website: www.aa-living.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyBibzy

A room come true for a budding astronaut...

It's been a crazy few weeks - crazily busy at work as well as home! Diwali orders, expansion plans, and more...
So, while the blog was on the back burner, I decided to gift my son a room makeover - a first after The Pipal was started :)


Took months of planning and research, online shopping (I am an onlineshopaholic, if there is a term like that :-)), and voila, just before Diwali I put together everything!

It's a medium sized room (probably 10ftx10ft) with a study on one side and the bed on the other. The complete solar system (including Pluto) hangs from the ceiling - they are inflatable balls! The window valance has the solar system (excluding Pluto) appliqued and embroidered on it.

The floor cushion is 3.5ftx3.5ft and is a family favorite - everybody (including our dogs) loves to flop down on it! The rugs from Bibzy and wall stickers from Wallies perfectly match the theme. The one-eyed alien is a new addition to The Pipal's astronaut theme.

Have yet to add shaped curtain ties to complete the window dressing and am still looking for the perfect night light!

A lot new designs and projects in the works even while I write this post...but it's lovely to snuggle with my son in his bed looking for aliens and fairies (yeah fairies :-)) in the planets above...

PIPAL TALK GIVEAWAY: DIWALI DHAMAKA

October has been crazy work wise so much so that we have hardly any posts on Pipal Talk. But we have been really busy putting together lots of exciting new things besides shipping out a record number of orders :)


And finally here is the much awaited Diwali Giveaway or should we call it DIWALI GIVEAWAYS. SIX GIVEAWAYS IN ALL!!!

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS:
#30 Manisha Singh


SECOND PRIZE WINNERS:

#2 Mindful Meanderer
#99 Astha Bahl



THIRD PRIZE WINNERS:

#83 Swapna Thomas
#79 Lalit Seervi
#165 Sinjini Unni



CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We have so may emails, smses and Facebook comments after every giveaway that why didn't I win a prize? Well, its a lottery and a number is pulled out randomly. So we said, lets do something different for Diwali and here we are...


SIX INDIVIDUALS WILL WIN 6 PRIZES (One person cannot win multiple prizes). Here are the prizes:


ONE 12inx20in NAME CUSHION

TWO BACKPACKS

THREE WALL STICKER SHEETS

It's really easy to enter - In your comments, leave your comments about The Pipal.

You do not have to purchase anything to enter the Giveaway. Just make sure you fulfil the eligibility criteria described below. We will use a randomizer application to generate 6 numbers. The winners will be the corresponding posts on the blog. Winners will be sent an email and they can let us know their choice of product.

To enter you will have to post one mandatory comment on the blog telling us about our products. Read on below to find out how you can increase your chances to win by earning bonus entries into the Giveaway. 

NEW WAY TO GET EXTRA ENTRIES:

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

ELIGIBILITY FOR GIVEAWAY
You must be a registered member of The Pipal. Visit http://www.thepipal.com/customersignup.aspx to signup if you are not a member

ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY – MANDATORY COMMENT
You must leave a comment on the blog about our products.

HOW TO GET EXTRA ENTRIES FOR THE GIVEAWAY
Receive extra entries and increase your chances of winning the Giveaway
Click here for the tutorial to understand how to earn these extra entries

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Post a product review of the product that you bought on www.thepipal.com
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Subscribe to our blog via email

Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are subscribed to the blog via email

Follow our blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are following the Pipal Talk blog

Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog with the link to your Facebook profile page

Post about this Giveaway on your personal Facebook page
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your posting

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thepipal
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with your twitter handle

Tweet about this Giveaway
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your tweet

Write about this Giveaway on your Blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your blog article

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• You must be 18+ years of age to enter any of our Giveaways
• We ship the Giveaway only within India
• No purchase is necessary to enter the Giveaway
• One entry per mailing address, except for when you qualify for extra credits
• Duplicate/false entries will be deleted and will disqualify the poster from the Giveaway
• You must be willing to give us your full name, address, and phone number if you are the winner
• Winner will be contacted by email only. The winner has 48 hours to respond and we will only attempt to contact by email twice. If we have not heard back from the winner within 48 hours we will select another winner
• We are not responsible for our emails going into your junk mail folder
• This contest is subject to the Official Rules and any other rules at any time promulgated by The Pipal
• The Pipal reserves the right to amend these rules at any time in its sole discretion
• In the event that any provision or rule is found unenforceable by any court of appropriate jurisdiction, such provision or rule shall be severed here from and the remainder of the Official Rules shall remain valid and enforceable
• In the event of any question or ambiguity with respect to these Official Rules, The Pipal interpretation of such question or ambiguity shall be final and binding upon all participants
• If the Potential Winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules, he/she will be disqualified, the prize will be forfeited and an alternative winner may be selected in a second drawing of all eligible entries received during the contest period
• Any attempt at entry other than stated is void
• This promotion is not open to employees of The Pipal and their families

Plush Finger Puppets

I simply love finger puppets! They are extremely versatile toys - of course please use with caution with kids under 3 years old (small parts and they put them in their mouth etc) But they are tons of fun!

I have used them with my son since he was 6 months old. Started with Old Macdonald - I still remember his eyes popping out when I would go Moo Moo here and a Moo Moo there with a little cow puppet on my finger. I like to think he started recognizing animals faster because of the puppets :)

And as they get older, its fun to see them come up with their own stories. I know two brothers who once staged a finger puppet show from behind the sofa when I gifted them a set :) Simple toy unleashes their creativity!
And also very convenient to carry when you travelling! Pull out a couple of puppets anytime anywhere to enact a story. Are great for bedtime stories too!

For the DIY mom, its great to use for sew on craft projects like sprucing up an old cushion or making a toran. I am sure moms out there will have more ideas :) Would love to hear your ideas - please email me at [email protected].

 Available at: http://www.thepipal.com/productdetail.aspx?pid=497

September Giveaway 2: Personalized Towel Set

Okay! Here is the deal: You get to win a towel set designed by you :)

The WINNER is

#122 GARIMA MRIDUL
Sea Green towel set with seahorse and starfish for SANSKRITI

It's really easy to enter - Check out Make Your Own Towel Set product at http://www.thepipal.com/productdetail.aspx?pid=425

In your comments, specify towel colour, bath towel motif, hand towel motif and the personalization name you want.

You do not have to purchase anything to enter the Giveaway. Just make sure you fulfil the eligibility criteria described below. We will use a randomizer application to generate a number. The winner will be the corresponding post on the blog.

To enter you will have to post one mandatory comment on the blog telling us about the towel set you'd like to win. Read on below to find out how you can increase your chances to win by earning bonus entries into the Giveaway.

NEW WAY TO GET EXTRA ENTRIES:

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

ELIGIBILITY FOR GIVEAWAY
You must be a registered member of The Pipal. Visit http://www.thepipal.com/customersignup.aspx to signup if you are not a member

ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY – MANDATORY COMMENT
You must leave a comment on the blog about the towel set you would like to receive if you win.

HOW TO GET EXTRA ENTRIES FOR THE GIVEAWAY
Receive extra entries and increase your chances of winning the Giveaway
Click here for the tutorial to understand how to earn these extra entries

Post a product review of the product that you bought on the REVIEWS tab on www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Post a product review of the product that you bought on www.thepipal.com
Get 2 extra entries for each review
To earn entries leave two separate comments on the blog with the link to your review

Subscribe to our blog via email

Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are subscribed to the blog via email

Follow our blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog confirming that you are following the Pipal Talk blog

Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thepipal
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a separate comment on the blog with the link to your Facebook profile page

Post about this Giveaway on your personal Facebook page
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your posting

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thepipal
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with your twitter handle

Tweet about this Giveaway
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your tweet

Write about this Giveaway on your Blog
Get 1 extra entry
To earn entry leave a comment on the blog with the link to your blog article

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• You must be 18+ years of age to enter any of our Giveaways
• We ship the Giveaway only within India
• No purchase is necessary to enter the Giveaway
• One entry per mailing address, except for when you qualify for extra credits
• Duplicate/false entries will be deleted and will disqualify the poster from the Giveaway
• You must be willing to give us your full name, address, and phone number if you are the winner
• Winner will be contacted by email only. The winner has 48 hours to respond and we will only attempt to contact by email twice. If we have not heard back from the winner within 48 hours we will select another winner
• We are not responsible for our emails going into your junk mail folder
• This contest is subject to the Official Rules and any other rules at any time promulgated by The Pipal
• The Pipal reserves the right to amend these rules at any time in its sole discretion
• In the event that any provision or rule is found unenforceable by any court of appropriate jurisdiction, such provision or rule shall be severed here from and the remainder of the Official Rules shall remain valid and enforceable
• In the event of any question or ambiguity with respect to these Official Rules, The Pipal interpretation of such question or ambiguity shall be final and binding upon all participants
• If the Potential Winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules, he/she will be disqualified, the prize will be forfeited and an alternative winner may be selected in a second drawing of all eligible entries received during the contest period
• Any attempt at entry other than stated is void
• This promotion is not open to employees of The Pipal and their families

Towel set ideas Gallery:
THESE ARE ONLY IDEAS. Check out Make Your Own Towel Set product at http://www.thepipal.com/productdetail.aspx?pid=425

In your comments, specify towel colour, bath towel motif, hand towel motif and the personalization name you want.

EXAMPLE COMMENT: Leaf Green, Starfish, Fish, Amaira

Design your set now!

Featured Pipal: Chrysette and Daniel

The personalized body cushions is one of our popular products. One of our first online customers, Chrysette sent in her reviews:



A few months ago, I was just browsing around on Facebook and saw this ad in my right pane about personalized items for kids. Since I have a two year old little boy, I just decided to give the site/page a once-over. I did and I didn’t stop looking!!! They had a whole range of stuff available that you could have personalized in whatever way you wanted from colour to motifs and even what you wanted to write! I kept coming back to the site a couple of times but I was wary of buying stuff online because of the fact that it might look good in a picture on the net but when I get the item, I might be disappointed as to the quality of the product. Finally, I realized I would never know until I tried it and I decided to pick one of the body cushions for my son. There was a train one and I knew my son would love it coz it had wheels so I went online and ordered it, I thought to myself, well, I will know in a week if I made a mistake! I knew sooner! I got my cushion in four days, I think, coz I was surprised I had gotten it so soon! And it was exactly as it was in the picture. Everything was as I had seen it on the site. I was so happy with the quality especially! I had placed it at the edge of my bed while my son was asleep and when he woke up, he saw it and he was so happy! It has been almost three months now that he has it but he still hasn’t gotten tired of reading out his name on it, or playing with it, using it like a tree or just something to lie down on for fun. Watching him play with it really makes me feel like I got my money’s worth!! 

About a personalized experience, I must say, Abha was excellent handling my every query. I needed another cushion exactly like the first for my nephew and even though the original design could only accommodate seven letters, Abha somehow made it possible to fit nine! And everything was still the same as the original!! Both the little guys have loads of fun fooling around on their train cushions and it is really a pleasure to watch them.


Last but not the least, if you are looking for something different or special and you have an idea in your head, I am sure the team at ‘The Pipal’ can make that idea a reality (Disclaimer: Everything within reason, of course!!). And do an awesome job of it too! 


The Pipal was personalized shopping in every way right from placing my order to getting exactly what I wanted and even down to tracking an errant cushion! Amazing! Good luck to you in everything you do!


Thanks, Chrysette, for giving us a chance :)


If you'd like to share your reviews and pictures, please email me at [email protected].