Mountain Man makes rock-climbing walls for concrete jungles
Mountain Man makes rock-climbing walls for concrete jungles
November 22, 2012 / 19:21 IST
Nikita Peer
Harshal Gandhi is a seasoned rock climber and mountaineer who helps others like him get to the top. And giving them a leg up are Gandhi’s artificial rock-climbing walls that are springing up across Mumbai. “Rock climbing is a serious sport and my walls offer athletes much-needed training and practice.”But it’s more than merely providing prospective mountaineers a foothold in the sport. Kids and youngsters too are getting a kick out of Gandhi’s walls, which are being erected at schools, amusement parks and recreation centres across Mumbai. “We also make portable walls and hire them out for events and fun fairs,” reveals Gandhi, who founded Ergo Outdoors in Kalyan on the outskirts of Mumbai.“The word ‘ergo’ is perfectly suited to my company as it is derived from ‘ergonomics’,” smiles Gandhi.
The Opportunity
Gandhi was a national-level mountain climber in the early 1990s and, back then, mountaineering equipment was not available locally. It was imported from overseas and very expensive. “Due to lack of funds, I was unable to train properly to win the National Climbing Competition,” says Gandhi. So he turned his defeat into an opportunity and started experimenting with the manufacture of rock-climbing equipment in 1996. “I wanted to manufacture equipment that was affordable but didn’t compromise on quality.”Although Gandhi launched his start-up in 2000, it wasn’t until 2004 that he began production of entire rock-climbing walls. “It was not rocket science as there is nothing that cannot be made in India. When we manufactured mountaineering holds and grips, the craze for imported holds vanished. Of course, there is considerable engineering that goes into making our walls but after a lot of research and development, we began production of holds made of epoxy in 2004.” But Gandhi realised that the epoxy holds were brittle and has since switched to polyester resin, fibreglass and concrete. “These materials are much more durable than the foam used in imported holds,” he claims.Sustaining the Start-Up
The initial days weren’t easy and Gandhi has had to wear many hats. He was a freelance organiser of events relating to mountain climbing. He also worked with management training companies and was part of the rig-up team at leading shows and advertisements including Flight of the Rocks on National Geographic channel and the Mountain Dew advertisement. Gandhi has also taught mountain climbing to children.
Climbing Up
Gandhi was able to manufacture his climbing walls only when clients started paying 80 per cent of the project cost in advance. “In October 2011, I built a wall for Showline Adventures in Essel World. I have also built artificial walls at Yazoo Park (Virar), Bhavans Nature and Adventure Centre (Andheri) and Inorbit Mall (Goregaon),” says an elated Gandhi. He also provides portable walls on rent at events like Sprouts Earth Mela in Dharavi and Kil Bil Mela in Dombivali.“We have sold about 6,500 holds for Rs 350 per hold across the country with a profit margin of 20-25 per cent. I have made about four artificial walls so far, each costing at least Rs 75,000. I have also manufactured a portable wall, which I rented for Rs 4,000-6,000 a day,” reveals Gandhi.Entrepreneurship apart, Gandhi’s first love is mountaineering and it will always occupy a special place in his heart. “Today, the sky is the limit for children who master the sport. Indian students have got scholarships from French mountain climbing institutes and have made it to the international level. Fortunately, the sport is no more looked upon as a hobby and has gained the respect it deserves.”You can send your feedback to smementor@moneycontrol.com or simply post comments below
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