In the bustling streets of Delhi, a young boy named Jatin Ahuja discovered his passion for automobiles. Little did he know that this fascination would one day transform him into a visionary entrepreneur.
Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Jatin was born and raised in Delhi in a family of entrepreneurs. His father was a Chartered Accountant, which likely influenced his business acumen. Despite this Jatin nurtured a deep love for cars, and even as a child, he could identify the brand of a car just by the sound of its engine.
Jatin’s entrepreneurial journey began when he sold a pen to his friend for Rs 3 at the age of 10.
Just six months after completing his engineering degree, Jatin took a bold step into the world of entrepreneurship. He bought a pre-owned Fiat Palio for Rs 70,000 and invested Rs 1.3 lakh in restoring it. Although he couldn’t sell the car for a good price, this experience taught him valuable lessons about the automotive market and the potential of pre-owned vehicles.
Jatin says, “So often we ignore small jobs at hand if we take care of them now that means doing our best today”
Early Ventures and Successes
Jatin’s first major turning point came in 2005 during the Mumbai floods. He seized the opportunity and purchased a damaged Mercedes S-Class. He refurbished it and sold it for a remarkable profit of Rs 25 lakh. This success boosted his confidence and laid foundation for his future ventures.
In 2006, Jatin demonstrated his keen business acumen by venturing into the telecom sector. He noticed the growing demand for fancy mobile numbers, he invested in 1,200 SIM cards of the coveted 99999 series from Vodafone. By selling these numbers at a premium, he earned a substantial Rs 24 lakh in a short span of time.
By 2007, Jatin’s earnings had reached an impressive Rs 2 crore that included his own savings and some of his father’s support. With this he launched Magus Cars Limited, a company that imported new cars from around the world and sold them in India. However, he soon faced challenges in disposing of the used cars that customers often exchanged for new ones.
The Birth of Big Boy Toyz
Jatin’s experience with selling the refurbished Mercedes during the Mumbai floods had taught him the potential of the pre-owned luxury car market. Inspired by this success and driven by his passion for automobiles, he decided to shift his business model.
He says, “BE STRONG WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, BRAVE WHEN YOU ARE SCARED, AND HUMBLE WHEN YOU ARE VICTORIOUS”
In 2009, at the age of 23, Jatin founded Big Boy Toyz (BBT), a venture specializing in buying, refurbishing, and selling pre-owned luxury cars.
Starting with a modest loan of Rs 70,000 from his father, Jatin opened a small studio in Delhi. His innovative approach, attention to detail, and commitment to quality quickly set BBT apart in the market. The company’s unique selling proposition was its 151-point quality check on every car before putting it up for sale, ensuring that customers received vehicles in pristine condition.
Jatin aims for BBT to reach Rs 1,000 crore in annual turnover by expanding to all metro cities. Jatin’s wife, Ritika Ahuja is the Chief Operating Officer of BBT and has won awards like Young Woman Leader in Operations.
He believes, “ONE OF THE STRONGEST FACTORS FOR SUCCESS IS BELIEF BELIEVING YOU CAN DO IT BELIEVING YOU DESERVE IT BELIEVING YOU WILL GET IT.”
