It all started in 1996. I had shifted from France to India. My husband was in a job and my youngest child was already 4 years old. I had plenty of free time. I wanted to do something.

I began to sell Western art reprints in India. I used to import them from France. Architects and interior designers became my distribution channels. Offices and hotels began to buy these art prints. This is where 'Shalin' brand was born. I named the company Shalin fine arts. I liked the word Shalin because it related to my own name Shalini and 'Shalin' also meant 'grace' in Hindi. I conveyed to my customers that I was selling the most graceful artwork ever created.

July 1998, my difficult moments came. Indian rupee had devalued and import became difficult. My husband who is a trained telecom business professional suggested that I get into export-oriented business and use the Internet as a vehicle. I loved the idea of selling to the global market the most exquisite handcrafted products of India. Internet was right there to put this idea into action. As an art seller, I had developed an eye for beautiful products. Therefore, I took charge of selecting and procuring products.

October 1998, I had started with 5 page website WWW.ShalinCraft-india.Com. We didn't have a shopping cart then and no credit card transaction facility either. Yet, we made our first sale - a Madhubani style painting by a very eminent woman artist of India. I developed faith - we can do business on the Internet.