There are very few individuals that have successfully converted their avocations into their vocation. And even fewer are those that have flourished it with diligence, zeal and consistency. One such individual is Haresh Soni. He is the owner of Premji Vallji Jewellers in Rajkot and the vice-chairman of Gem and Jewellery Federation (GJF). Soni is also an artist, a music lover and a travel enthusiast with a strong sweet tooth.%% He was inclined towards art since his childhood and also studied Fine Arts from the esteemed JJ School of Art. But it was on a sunny April day of 1980, that he immersed himself in his family business of jewellery in Rajkot. “In the beginning it was difficult for me to gain the confidence of my customers as I was only 18 when I first set out to do business. Most thought of me as a child. That’s when it struck me that I have to carve a niche for myself in this business that will help me in the long run. As I had a background in art and sketching was my forte, I started sketching impromptu designs for the customers who were on a look for something unique and that made me gain reputation and recognition,” shares Soni.%% As they say behind every great man there is a woman, behind every great artist is his muse and behind every successful businessman is a strong backbone and guiding light. For Soni, his guiding light and support system is his father Chamanbhai Soni who taught him the technicalities of jewellery making. He ensured that his son would go through each step of the manufacturing process, as designing jewellery was not enough. “My father is my biggest inspiration and support system. He showed me the right path and importance of trust and reputation, which makes Premji Vallji what it is today. He guided me in the jewellery making techniques so that I could design practical and feasible designs that could be handmade as technology was not rampant in those times. He still has the same zeal for business and designs jewellery even today. At the age of 77, he comes to office everyday and gives us at least two or three new designs everyday. His passion is what I have imbibed,” says the respectful son.%% ‘Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue,’ once said a great man. Concurring to this saying, Soni too believes that it is not enough to have a good family and business circle to make you a virtuous man. It is also is the company that he keeps. “My friends have played an important role in shaping me. My childhood friend, Deepak Shah is my advisor and confidante. My father has taught me business values and ethics but Deepak has taught me many personal values and morals. We chat on the phone very often and make it a point to go out on a holiday once or twice a year with our families,” smiles Soni.%%

Apart from business and friend circle Soni says he is incomplete without his family. His son Prajit, 23 has recently joined the business becoming the fourth generation of Premji Vallji Jewellers. His daughter Vinita, 25, has completed her masters in finance whereas his better half, Nita is a housewife and big support to Haresh Soni. “My family is my everything. My children, wife and my mother make me the man, I am today. My younger brother Nilesh who is in America and my younger sister Anju who is in Mumbai are also very close to me. We don’t just share a brother-sister relationships but we are each other’s closest friends,” states the doting family man.%% No matter how busy a man is, everyone loves holiday and Soni is no exception. He loves hill stations but his wife loves beaches. This tussle is a topic of family discussion every year, chuckles Soni. “When on a holiday I like to relax and pursue my passion of sketching and drawing. I try and indulge into nature-inspired sketching and landscaping which gives me immense pleasure and soothes me,” he says. But what does he do in his hometown or on a business trip that soothes him, we asked, “I love listening to music. Old numbers are my favourite. Whenever I am distressed I listen to Muhammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s tunes,” is his prompt answer. He also a movie buff, who likes to watch comedy and light-hearted movies. Considerably so, as he is busy with business at all times and comedy movies prove to be a much needed stress buster. “English Vinglish is the last movies I saw. It was brilliant. Light hearted but with a good message,” he tells.%% Soni is man of taste; taking one look at his jewellery designs and one knows this fact. But what satiates his palate the most? “Puranpoli, prepared by my mother or wife is what I can have every day,” declares the jeweller with a sweet tooth. But, avid travelling makes him try out other cuisines as well, which he enjoys but nothing is like home-cooked food for him. “Indian food tops my chart followed by Italian, Lebanese and Mexican food,” articulates Soni.%% Steering the conversation towards business, he tells that they have opened a Premji Vallji branch in the USA which has garnered a great response. Looking at that, they are planning a dynamic expansion plan. “I believe that an expansion plan should be such that it concentrates on the long-term picture and is easily manageable, because fast growth and disproportionate success never lasts too long. In five years I see our business in a more organised way with my son joining us and implementing modern techniques and technology in the business. We would also like to boost online retailing that has already gotten a good response in our American branch.” But talking about his personal plan, he says that he would like more time for his other business that is about the equity markets, mutual funds and stock broking. “The equity market is as huge as the jewellery market and has tremendous potential. I feel pressed for time due to my schedule as I would like to be more involved in financial markets,” he shares.%%

With handling his business, going international with his brand and also being the vice-chairman of GJF, Soni is pressed for time, no doubt. But, he is happy. “The gem and jewellery industry has given me everything I have and I joined GJF to give something back to the industry. I wan to help the industry grow in everyway I can. Also, being a part of GJF has helped me personally. Earlier, I didn’t have any friends from the industry but after I joined GJF, I made a lot of good friends. People know me now and know my brand that was just another store in Rajkot before I joined GJF. This friendship, recognition and the feeling of doing something for the industry makes it worth all. It is true though that I am not able to spend much time with my family but I am trying to balance it out,” he states.%% When quizzed what would he like to do if he gets a day without work, telephone or computer, he says he would like to be a ‘nobody’ in an unknown place. “I would like to gel my hair, wear shorts and slippers and roam about and have a gala time in a place where nobody knows me. I would like to ‘freak out’ as the younger generation would say,” he says while having a hearty laugh.%% So is that the plan after retirement we ask, he laughs again and says, “I would definitely like to travel and explore more places. Spend more time with my wife and children and also learn a musical instrument such as a guitar or a keyboard. I used to play the tabla when I was a child and it used to be my best friend. A musical instrument can be your closest companion.”%% As a concluding message he requests the gem and jewellery industry of India to stand united and change the image of the industry in such a way that consumers trust their product much more. “People now have a larger choice when it comes to spending be it international holidays or gadgets, jewellery is not the only thing people spend upon like the olden days. In such a scenario, the industry has to draft new policies that appeal to the youth. I would request each and every person from the industry to join GJF so that we as a united group can work towards the betterment of the industry. The GJF is the only domestic representing body of our industry and can act as an umbrella for the entire industry.”%%

There are very few individuals that have successfully converted their avocations into their vocation. And even fewer are those that have flourished it with diligence, zeal and consistency. One such individual is Haresh Soni. He is the owner of Premji Vallji Jewellers in Rajkot and the vice-chairman of Gem and Jewellery Federation (GJF). Soni is also an artist, a music lover and a travel enthusiast with a strong sweet tooth.%% He was inclined towards art since his childhood and also studied Fine Arts from the esteemed JJ School of Art. But it was on a sunny April day of 1980, that he immersed himself in his family business of jewellery in Rajkot. “In the beginning it was difficult for me to gain the confidence of my customers as I was only 18 when I first set out to do business. Most thought of me as a child. That’s when it struck me that I have to carve a niche for myself in this business that will help me in the long run. As I had a background in art and sketching was my forte, I started sketching impromptu designs for the customers who were on a look for something unique and that made me gain reputation and recognition,” shares Soni.%% As they say behind every great man there is a woman, behind every great artist is his muse and behind every successful businessman is a strong backbone and guiding light. For Soni, his guiding light and support system is his father Chamanbhai Soni who taught him the technicalities of jewellery making. He ensured that his son would go through each step of the manufacturing process, as designing jewellery was not enough. “My father is my biggest inspiration and support system. He showed me the right path and importance of trust and reputation, which makes Premji Vallji what it is today. He guided me in the jewellery making techniques so that I could design practical and feasible designs that could be handmade as technology was not rampant in those times. He still has the same zeal for business and designs jewellery even today. At the age of 77, he comes to office everyday and gives us at least two or three new designs everyday. His passion is what I have imbibed,” says the respectful son.%% ‘Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue,’ once said a great man. Concurring to this saying, Soni too believes that it is not enough to have a good family and business circle to make you a virtuous man. It is also is the company that he keeps. “My friends have played an important role in shaping me. My childhood friend, Deepak Shah is my advisor and confidante. My father has taught me business values and ethics but Deepak has taught me many personal values and morals. We chat on the phone very often and make it a point to go out on a holiday once or twice a year with our families,” smiles Soni.%%

Apart from business and friend circle Soni says he is incomplete without his family. His son Prajit, 23 has recently joined the business becoming the fourth generation of Premji Vallji Jewellers. His daughter Vinita, 25, has completed her masters in finance whereas his better half, Nita is a housewife and big support to Haresh Soni. “My family is my everything. My children, wife and my mother make me the man, I am today. My younger brother Nilesh who is in America and my younger sister Anju who is in Mumbai are also very close to me. We don’t just share a brother-sister relationships but we are each other’s closest friends,” states the doting family man.%% No matter how busy a man is, everyone loves holiday and Soni is no exception. He loves hill stations but his wife loves beaches. This tussle is a topic of family discussion every year, chuckles Soni. “When on a holiday I like to relax and pursue my passion of sketching and drawing. I try and indulge into nature-inspired sketching and landscaping which gives me immense pleasure and soothes me,” he says. But what does he do in his hometown or on a business trip that soothes him, we asked, “I love listening to music. Old numbers are my favourite. Whenever I am distressed I listen to Muhammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s tunes,” is his prompt answer. He also a movie buff, who likes to watch comedy and light-hearted movies. Considerably so, as he is busy with business at all times and comedy movies prove to be a much needed stress buster. “English Vinglish is the last movies I saw. It was brilliant. Light hearted but with a good message,” he tells.%% Soni is man of taste; taking one look at his jewellery designs and one knows this fact. But what satiates his palate the most? “Puranpoli, prepared by my mother or wife is what I can have every day,” declares the jeweller with a sweet tooth. But, avid travelling makes him try out other cuisines as well, which he enjoys but nothing is like home-cooked food for him. “Indian food tops my chart followed by Italian, Lebanese and Mexican food,” articulates Soni.%% Steering the conversation towards business, he tells that they have opened a Premji Vallji branch in the USA which has garnered a great response. Looking at that, they are planning a dynamic expansion plan. “I believe that an expansion plan should be such that it concentrates on the long-term picture and is easily manageable, because fast growth and disproportionate success never lasts too long. In five years I see our business in a more organised way with my son joining us and implementing modern techniques and technology in the business. We would also like to boost online retailing that has already gotten a good response in our American branch.” But talking about his personal plan, he says that he would like more time for his other business that is about the equity markets, mutual funds and stock broking. “The equity market is as huge as the jewellery market and has tremendous potential. I feel pressed for time due to my schedule as I would like to be more involved in financial markets,” he shares.%%

With handling his business, going international with his brand and also being the vice-chairman of GJF, Soni is pressed for time, no doubt. But, he is happy. “The gem and jewellery industry has given me everything I have and I joined GJF to give something back to the industry. I wan to help the industry grow in everyway I can. Also, being a part of GJF has helped me personally. Earlier, I didn’t have any friends from the industry but after I joined GJF, I made a lot of good friends. People know me now and know my brand that was just another store in Rajkot before I joined GJF. This friendship, recognition and the feeling of doing something for the industry makes it worth all. It is true though that I am not able to spend much time with my family but I am trying to balance it out,” he states.%% When quizzed what would he like to do if he gets a day without work, telephone or computer, he says he would like to be a ‘nobody’ in an unknown place. “I would like to gel my hair, wear shorts and slippers and roam about and have a gala time in a place where nobody knows me. I would like to ‘freak out’ as the younger generation would say,” he says while having a hearty laugh.%% So is that the plan after retirement we ask, he laughs again and says, “I would definitely like to travel and explore more places. Spend more time with my wife and children and also learn a musical instrument such as a guitar or a keyboard. I used to play the tabla when I was a child and it used to be my best friend. A musical instrument can be your closest companion.”%% As a concluding message he requests the gem and jewellery industry of India to stand united and change the image of the industry in such a way that consumers trust their product much more. “People now have a larger choice when it comes to spending be it international holidays or gadgets, jewellery is not the only thing people spend upon like the olden days. In such a scenario, the industry has to draft new policies that appeal to the youth. I would request each and every person from the industry to join GJF so that we as a united group can work towards the betterment of the industry. The GJF is the only domestic representing body of our industry and can act as an umbrella for the entire industry.”%%

There are very few individuals that have successfully converted their avocations into their vocation. And even fewer are those that have flourished it with diligence, zeal and consistency. One such individual is Haresh Soni. He is the owner of Premji Vallji Jewellers in Rajkot and the vice-chairman of Gem and Jewellery Federation (GJF). Soni is also an artist, a music lover and a travel enthusiast with a strong sweet tooth.%% He was inclined towards art since his childhood and also studied Fine Arts from the esteemed JJ School of Art. But it was on a sunny April day of 1980, that he immersed himself in his family business of jewellery in Rajkot. “In the beginning it was difficult for me to gain the confidence of my customers as I was only 18 when I first set out to do business. Most thought of me as a child. That’s when it struck me that I have to carve a niche for myself in this business that will help me in the long run. As I had a background in art and sketching was my forte, I started sketching impromptu designs for the customers who were on a look for something unique and that made me gain reputation and recognition,” shares Soni.%% As they say behind every great man there is a woman, behind every great artist is his muse and behind every successful businessman is a strong backbone and guiding light. For Soni, his guiding light and support system is his father Chamanbhai Soni who taught him the technicalities of jewellery making. He ensured that his son would go through each step of the manufacturing process, as designing jewellery was not enough. “My father is my biggest inspiration and support system. He showed me the right path and importance of trust and reputation, which makes Premji Vallji what it is today. He guided me in the jewellery making techniques so that I could design practical and feasible designs that could be handmade as technology was not rampant in those times. He still has the same zeal for business and designs jewellery even today. At the age of 77, he comes to office everyday and gives us at least two or three new designs everyday. His passion is what I have imbibed,” says the respectful son.%% ‘Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue,’ once said a great man. Concurring to this saying, Soni too believes that it is not enough to have a good family and business circle to make you a virtuous man. It is also is the company that he keeps. “My friends have played an important role in shaping me. My childhood friend, Deepak Shah is my advisor and confidante. My father has taught me business values and ethics but Deepak has taught me many personal values and morals. We chat on the phone very often and make it a point to go out on a holiday once or twice a year with our families,” smiles Soni.%%

Apart from business and friend circle Soni says he is incomplete without his family. His son Prajit, 23 has recently joined the business becoming the fourth generation of Premji Vallji Jewellers. His daughter Vinita, 25, has completed her masters in finance whereas his better half, Nita is a housewife and big support to Haresh Soni. “My family is my everything. My children, wife and my mother make me the man, I am today. My younger brother Nilesh who is in America and my younger sister Anju who is in Mumbai are also very close to me. We don’t just share a brother-sister relationships but we are each other’s closest friends,” states the doting family man.%% No matter how busy a man is, everyone loves holiday and Soni is no exception. He loves hill stations but his wife loves beaches. This tussle is a topic of family discussion every year, chuckles Soni. “When on a holiday I like to relax and pursue my passion of sketching and drawing. I try and indulge into nature-inspired sketching and landscaping which gives me immense pleasure and soothes me,” he says. But what does he do in his hometown or on a business trip that soothes him, we asked, “I love listening to music. Old numbers are my favourite. Whenever I am distressed I listen to Muhammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s tunes,” is his prompt answer. He also a movie buff, who likes to watch comedy and light-hearted movies. Considerably so, as he is busy with business at all times and comedy movies prove to be a much needed stress buster. “English Vinglish is the last movies I saw. It was brilliant. Light hearted but with a good message,” he tells.%% Soni is man of taste; taking one look at his jewellery designs and one knows this fact. But what satiates his palate the most? “Puranpoli, prepared by my mother or wife is what I can have every day,” declares the jeweller with a sweet tooth. But, avid travelling makes him try out other cuisines as well, which he enjoys but nothing is like home-cooked food for him. “Indian food tops my chart followed by Italian, Lebanese and Mexican food,” articulates Soni.%% Steering the conversation towards business, he tells that they have opened a Premji Vallji branch in the USA which has garnered a great response. Looking at that, they are planning a dynamic expansion plan. “I believe that an expansion plan should be such that it concentrates on the long-term picture and is easily manageable, because fast growth and disproportionate success never lasts too long. In five years I see our business in a more organised way with my son joining us and implementing modern techniques and technology in the business. We would also like to boost online retailing that has already gotten a good response in our American branch.” But talking about his personal plan, he says that he would like more time for his other business that is about the equity markets, mutual funds and stock broking. “The equity market is as huge as the jewellery market and has tremendous potential. I feel pressed for time due to my schedule as I would like to be more involved in financial markets,” he shares.%%

With handling his business, going international with his brand and also being the vice-chairman of GJF, Soni is pressed for time, no doubt. But, he is happy. “The gem and jewellery industry has given me everything I have and I joined GJF to give something back to the industry. I wan to help the industry grow in everyway I can. Also, being a part of GJF has helped me personally. Earlier, I didn’t have any friends from the industry but after I joined GJF, I made a lot of good friends. People know me now and know my brand that was just another store in Rajkot before I joined GJF. This friendship, recognition and the feeling of doing something for the industry makes it worth all. It is true though that I am not able to spend much time with my family but I am trying to balance it out,” he states.%% When quizzed what would he like to do if he gets a day without work, telephone or computer, he says he would like to be a ‘nobody’ in an unknown place. “I would like to gel my hair, wear shorts and slippers and roam about and have a gala time in a place where nobody knows me. I would like to ‘freak out’ as the younger generation would say,” he says while having a hearty laugh.%% So is that the plan after retirement we ask, he laughs again and says, “I would definitely like to travel and explore more places. Spend more time with my wife and children and also learn a musical instrument such as a guitar or a keyboard. I used to play the tabla when I was a child and it used to be my best friend. A musical instrument can be your closest companion.”%% As a concluding message he requests the gem and jewellery industry of India to stand united and change the image of the industry in such a way that consumers trust their product much more. “People now have a larger choice when it comes to spending be it international holidays or gadgets, jewellery is not the only thing people spend upon like the olden days. In such a scenario, the industry has to draft new policies that appeal to the youth. I would request each and every person from the industry to join GJF so that we as a united group can work towards the betterment of the industry. The GJF is the only domestic representing body of our industry and can act as an umbrella for the entire industry.”%%