Walking the talk: Noushad Panikkaveetil Walkaroo

Noushad Panikkaveetil, Managing Director of Walkaroo, has led the brand through a remarkable journey since its inception in 2012.

- BY AMIT CHOPRA

Noushad Panikkaveetil Walkaroo

Despite growing up in a business-oriented family, he initially did not intend to pursue the family business. However, his father's advice—“Whatever you do, do it with passion and keep society in mind”—inspired him to delve into business with a focus on affordable fashion. With a background in chemical engineering and polymer technology, Noushad identified a gap in the supply of virgin quality PVC footwear in South India, which led him to venture into the footwear industry.

Today, Walkaroo has grown into a brand known for providing fashion-forward, affordable footwear. The company boasts a vast distribution network of over 700 dealers and 150,000 retailers across India, with exports to markets like the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, where Walkaroo has become a leading brand. Walkaroo also plans to expand into new international markets, including Tanzania, where they are set to begin manufacturing.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the retail industry, particularly in footwear?

After pursuing Chemical Engineering & specialisation in Polymer technology, I visited Delhi to study about Hawaii market for family business, as there was a huge supply of Hawaii footwear. That was the moment when I realised that there is a huge gap in the supply of Virgin Quality PVC Footwear in South India. This inspired me to delve into this footwear business to serve the Indian consumers with affordable fashion without compromising quality.

What demographics do you primarily target with your product offerings?