Raised in a home where decor took on a different hue with a theme for every season, occasion or sometimes even just on a whim(courtesy “mom”), it comes as no surprise that Sharon Isaiah took her mother’s homemaking skills a notch higher by crafting her own space in an ingenuous vibrant store called ‘The Upper Room,’neatly tucked away in Damu Nagarin the heart of Coimbatore city.
Raised in a home where decor took on a different hue with a theme for every season, occasion or sometimes even just on a whim (courtesy “mom”), it comes as no surprise that Sharon Isaiah took her mother’s homemaking skills a notch higher by crafting her own space in an ingenuous vibrant store called ‘The Upper Room,’neatly tucked away in Damu Nagarin the heart of Coimbatore city.
The Upper Room is a home linen and hand-crafted accessories store based in Coimbatore. Started in 2016, as a home business in Ooty, it is now based out of Coimbatore. “Many people wonder about the store’s name.
When I started the business in Ooty, we had a spare room on the first floor, which was under-utilised. I figured it would be the perfect space to start the business. So 'The Upper Room' was literally where the business was born. We relocated to Coimbatore in 2017. I didn't have the option of running a home business once we moved, and I decided that it was time to take the plunge and grow the business with a brick and mortar store. In Coimbatore, I rented a lovely space that was perfectly suited to the ethos of the business. The Upper Room opened here in September 2017. Despite the store being on the ground floor currently, I retained the name as it is a good reminder of where I began and how far I have come,” reminisces Sharon.
“I wanted to be a marine biologist or computer engineer initially (laughs) but actually went on to gain a post-graduate diploma in Textile Design and Development from NIFT, Hyderabad. But it was my mother’s decor skills that inspired me from young. I have always enjoyed decorating my room with coordinated linen but felt that there was a void in the home linen market. Either we were stuck with cheap polyester and flashy designs or extremely expensive linen from high-end brands. There were a few stores selling printed and woven cotton linen, but the selection was very limited. Being a textile designer and having worked in the field for about 15 years, I decided to use my expertise to create a store where one could find beautiful prints and subtle woven textures for the home,” says Sharon.
Sharon’s mother, Chithra Paul reflects that Sharon was a very talented girl even in her school days, with a great eye for colour, texture and design. “Every time Sharon came home from boarding school for her holidays, she always enjoyed the warmth and decor of our home, especially when all our creativity would come to the fore for the Christmas season. Sharon enjoyed creating designs and setting the mood for Christmas. The colorful cushions were a big favourite for her. It was a proud moment for us when she received the award for the most creative project during her post-graduation in Textile Design. Sharon’s passion for her work and her social skills are what makes everyone want to visit The Upper Room,” says Chithra Paul.
Having seen both sides of the ‘career coin,’ Sharon decided to flip over to being an entrepreneur. “It is definitely more fulfilling on many levels. As part of a corporate organisation, although I did enjoy my job as a designer, I missed interacting with the end-customer and hearing feedback about the products. As an entrepreneur, I get to meet a lot of people and get direct feedback from them. It is a lot of hard work, but the immense satisfaction of hearing positive feedback from customers and receiving pictures of my products in their homes, is unparalleled,” she says contentedly.
“I plan to expand visibility of my business through social media platforms, collaborating with home decor enthusiasts and influencers on Instagram. The Upper Room’s website is under development and should soon be launched in a month. I am also hoping that the e-commerce website will generate business from other cities across India. We participate in a few exhibitions in Coimbatore every year, to widen our customer base. This month, for the first time, we will be participating in an exhibition in Bangalore called Creative Souls which is to be hosted at Taj West End on the 29th and 30th of September. I am very excited about this opportunity,” gushes Sharon.
“I have always dreamed of having a business of my own, though I did not have any background in business. I think there are so many opportunities for entrepreneurs now, and it only requires us to have the courage to take that first step. As a woman, the challenge for me was to balance work and home. However, having a very supportive family has made it easier to overcome this challenge.
Sharon has built a brand loyalty for The Upper Room by simply infusing a degree of freshness into the products. Anju, who has a fetish for home linen and decor herself,revels in what The Upper Room has to offer for her home, “I loved the splash of colours across the store and went crazy just looking at the array of cushion covers, table mats, runners, floor mats and bed spreads. The icing on the cake was the pricing which was so affordable,” says Anju with glee. “Refreshing the store’s collections in tune with the changing seasons and trends does excite customers,” agrees Sharon.
The Upper Room is set up like a home which sets the mood for a calming shopping experience, without the hustle and bustle of regular linen and decor stores. Sharon’s textile design background allows her to provide valuable inputs on patterns and fabric, which in turn gives a fillip to customers for a wholesome and personalized shopping experience.
Sharon’s advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to keep an open mind and learn as one goes along. “Take advice from mentors and network with other successful entrepreneurs. Never ever be afraid to ask for help if needed. You may or may not get the help you need, but always ask,” she emphasizes with a smile.
The Upper Room is tucked away at No.19, New Damu Nagar, Pappanaickenpalayam, P.O, Coimbatore - 641037
