Rani Totman Interview, St. Pucchi Wedding Gowns Designer & Founder

Rani shares her inspiration to start her multimillion dollar business with woman of the month club

Rani Totman, the maven behind St. Pucchi wedding dresses gives Woman of the Month Club access to her new collection as well as her journey in running a company. After 20 years in the business, Rani shares her secrets to building a successful couture firm which includes labels Avine Perucci and Sposa by St. Pucchi. We see how her international background, being born in Thailand to Indian parents and then emigrating to the United States, has played a role in the artistry of her designs as well as her business model.

Q: Rani, how did you get started in bridal couture and fashion design?

R: My father owned the largest lace factory in Thailand . So it was all around me. I started designing ready to wear and evening wear, showed it on the catwalk, and for my finale, had a pink lace wedding dress which got a standing ovation. I knew I had something the market could bear. I made 15 St. Pucchi Dresses at a Dallas show, most in color. [At the time people didnt use color in wedding dresses] It was 1985 and nobody knew what pure silk was. The colors I used were pale, champagne, peach. There were a lot of oohs and ahhs. Thats the start of the story.

Q: Sounds very glamorous. Were there any challenges you faced building and growing your brand in the early days?

R: (Smiles) The investment in the first few years was more than my income. Im a risk taker. I started from my American Express card. There are so many resources available today that were not available. Everyone was tight with their knowledge. I learned by trial and error. Now you can go to Ask.com, is that amazing? It cuts out 75% of mistakes, makes it all at your disposal.

Q: The number one secret of Rani Totman.

R: I love designing and Im a control freak. I love planning every aspect of business-Im a perfectionist. Our signature in the manufacturing process, its hand drawn, hand-embroidered, made in-house. Im the designer, I market, I sell. There is no middle man.

 

The no middle man philosophy is evident in both design and management at St. Pucchi. Rani has one son handle the international business while her other son runs the Dallas office. I later learned that the PR Liaison who coordinated our interview was intricately woven into the family fabric as well, shes her daughter-in-law. This could be why during our interview there were a constant stream of salon owners from across the country looking to be consulted by Rani on what to carry for brides in their respective regions. They know shes hands on and thats a great way to build trust. Your salon is in Michigan ? Rani asks a salon owner. I know your clientele, she continues before showing her latest luxurious silk gown and intricate hand embroidered dress. Perfectionism and hands-on management may be the key to this businesswomans success, garnering her write-ups in media outlets like the Los Angeles Times, features on tv show Extra and being the selected designer of Phoebes wedding gown on NBCs Friends.

 

Her advice to women entrepreneurs and budding business mavens: Ask for advice. If theres someone you admire Rani says just ask them, Would you mindcan I take you out to lunch? Her advice on continued success in business and life: If we make today the best we can tomorrow is already taken care of.

Article By Faye Nwafor For more on St. Pucchi visit stpucchi .com or call 214.764.3455

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