“Brands aren’t just built-in boardrooms. They’re born in the hearts of people.”
In a freewheeling chat with the Entrepreneurs Today team, Aarushi Saria talks about what it’s like to start at 21 and dream differently.
With a degree in Visual Communication Design from Raffles International, Mumbai, and coming from a design background, Aarushi soon realised her heart was in branding and marketing. What has always fascinated her about conventional brand building and marketing is that it can create “new reasons to believe’ for brands with the help of stories and narratives despite the gaps.
Now the founder of 361 Degrees, Aarushi agrees that the journey has been challenging transitioning from a designer to a 360-degree communication agency. With 45 talented individuals in her team, she considers herself blessed to have evolved from her journey as a one-woman army.
The Extra Degree in 361
Digging deeper into what led Aarushi to pursue entrepreneurship, she says it was the gap in the communication between businesses and audiences that pushed her to start an agency of her own that focused on connections rather than just selling.
Today, they serve businesses of all sizes, from small to global leaders. It was her urge to do something meaningful that made her work on her idea with logistical planning and problem-solving ideas. She says,
“I saw this as an opportunity to own a company that would provide tailored digital brand-building and marketing services for our target audience. Our approach is all about being disciplined, providing non-standard solutions, and the ability to interpret the task to find the most innovative ideas.”
Striving to be storytellers, myth-busters and digital pioneers, their focus on not being just another branding and digital marketing agency makes them unlike others in the market. They make sure to never fall for ineffectual trends so that the brands can benefit from stories that are not only timeless but are also aligned with the brands vision. In her words,
“While others offer complete 360-degree solutions, we at 361 Degrees go a step further. From design and brand building and marketing to storytelling, we don’t just provide 360-degree solutions; we go the extra mile. That extra degree is what makes us 361.”
At 361 Degrees, Aarushi and her team take care of everything involving branding, from strategy, and design to marketing. Today, they are known for helping brands with their brand identities, proofing concepts and launching successful products in the market.
What gives them an edge over other agencies in the market is their ability to give brands their ROI and results that are truly remarkable. With expertise in digital, social and print media, 361 Degrees can help businesses of all sizes, from startups to global enterprises.
Troubled Waters
Founding an agency in the Indian market almost a decade back has not been an easy feat for Aarushi. They had to start their journey from scratch and had to convince clients to opt for digital brand building and marketing at a time when it was not given eminence.
What helped them was having a strong relationship with their clients and embracing the technologies as they evolved. Aarushi says that one of their mantras is to never say no to an opportunity. She expresses,
“We’ve learned to laugh through the chaos, cry over deadlines, and celebrate even the smallest wins.”
The Milestones
“The most rewarding aspect is the trust our clients place in us. To have clients actively seek us out, recognising the value we bring, is what success is to me.”
So far they have been featured in numerous publications like Forbes India Magazine (2023), Tech India Best Startup of the Year Award (2023), East India’s Woman Leader Award (2023), and MSME Best Enterprise of the Year – Advertising (2022).
They have also been given Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award (2021), along with MSME Time2Leap, Hello Kolkata, Rising Brands and Leaders Summit, India Business Awards, Times Style Icon, and International Quality Award.
Future Looks Bright
One of Aarushi’s plans for 361 degrees is to go international. They also want to be seen as an inspiration when it comes to innovative and purpose-driven marketing.
Moreover, with the advancement of AI and AR, Aarushi looks forward to adapting and including new strategies in her approach to make brand building and marketing more innovative.
Words of Wisdom
One of the most significant lessons Aarushi has learned from her journey as an entrepreneur is that patience is a superpower and more than just a virtue. She also says it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who believe in you and your vision but also call you out when you are off track. She also mentions that they need not take things too seriously, and just hustle and never stop dreaming.
While signing off, she leaves a message for the budding entrepreneurs saying,
“Start, just start. You’ll never know it all before you actually take the first step.
