Initially, Vimal was not readily accepted by traders in Ahmedabad and Bombay who were controlled by long-established textile tycoons. Shri Dhirubhai Ambani decided to bypass the wholesaler and take Vimal directly to the customer. In 1972, Vimal opened its first exclusive showroom at Roxy Theatre, near the Opera House, Bombay.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Due to lack of space in Bombay, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani scouted in Gujarat, his home state, to find a suitable land for a textile mill. In February 1966, he bought a 10,000 sq. yard plot at Naroda. He also bought the plots of factories around it that were facing business losses. Soon, the textile mill at Naroda spread over 125 acres.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Printing master Shanbaug, who joined Reliance in its early days and helped set up Reliance Textiles, looks on as Shri Dhirubhai Ambani explains to foreign exporters the mill’s 12-colour automatic roller printing plant, imported from Switzerland.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
By 1964, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani had made a name for himself in the Bombay yarn market. He was made director of the Bombay Yarn Merchants’ Association and Exchange Ltd. in 1964. As the director, he brought about transparent practices and wage regulation of mathadi workers; handcart pullers who hauled goods.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
With the profits from yarn trading, Shri Dhirubhai Ambani bought his first car, a Fiat, in 1963. Its registration number was 8404.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited.
Although profitable, the spice business was not enough for Shri Dhirubhai Ambani. Ever restless to find more growth opportunities, he shifted to yarn trading. This was a risky business, but there were also margins to be made. Shri Dhirubhai Ambani started buying and selling different types of yarn, first in small quantities, then in ever-increasing volumes.
Image Courtesy: Reliance Industries Limited