Jaya

I always feel that I can do better, that there are things I haven't done before or will do in the future. For example, in the past, I didn't keep a large amount of stock, so now I plan to keep more stock. If I can't do it now, I will do it in the future. This is applicable specifically to a clothing business. My goal is to sell my current stock as soon as possible so that I can buy new stock. The stock is the main focus, and once I have sold the old stock, I will bring in new stock. The selling of stock depends on the customers, and sometimes I also have to stop selling.

There are many businesses, but I know a lot of women, and I do social work, so I know even more women. I enjoy working with women and believe that the more, the better. That's why I have chosen to specialize in clothing items that women commonly use, such as sarees and kurtis. I keep a wide range of products that cater to women's needs.

I store stock here, and I have a friend who lives in Besa. If she needs something, she takes it from here and sells it door-to-door.

I mean, you also gain knowledge from it, as you are actively doing something and engaging in marketing. By selling a product, we can learn about the preferences of our ladies, including their expenses and interests. For example, there are women who are unable to visit a mall due to their household responsibilities. So, we can provide them with the products they desire at a minimum price. In some cases, an item that costs 200 rupees in this shop may cost 450 or 500 rupees in a mall. Therefore, by offering them products at affordable prices, we can fulfill their needs. If we provide them with an item that usually costs 400 rupees for only 200 rupees, they will certainly appreciate it.

Starting any business comes with its own set of challenges. For example, when I started my business, I faced the challenge of not having much knowledge about clothing. It was easier when I was selling online, but when I opened a physical shop, I had to figure out where to buy the clothes from. Initially, I faced some difficulties in this aspect, but I started going with my husband and eventually learned to do it on my own. Now, I run the business independently and feel confident in my abilities. Although it was a little challenging in the beginning, I can now handle anything at any time.

I also have responsibilities at the shop. Sometimes, I wonder if I will be able to sell the stock or not. It's my first thought, and it can be a bit scary too. Will I lose money in this? But then I change my perspective. I think about it like this: if we're on the battlefield, we have to keep moving forward no matter what. This is my mindset. I'm mentally strong and can handle any situation. It could be a family issue or anything else; I face it. This is based on my experience, and it applies everywhere.

I open the shop at 12:30 or 1 PM because my daughter is currently not available. Otherwise, she opens it at 11 or 11:30 AM. My dad is a patient who recently had an attack, which is why I arrive late. He has a 95 percent blockage on the left side, but thankfully he claims to be fine and behaves normally. I do take care of him, and I attribute his well-being to divine intervention. Taking care of everyone is a responsibility I fulfill with the help of this divine grace.

I go to the shop and attend to customers as they arrive. I believe that once a customer comes to me, they won't go anywhere else. They come back to me again. Maybe it's the way I talk or the bond I form with them. I don't treat them just as customers, but more like friends. For example, when talking to you, I would treat you as a friend and speak freely like this. You have to talk freely, it is not like she is just a customer of our shop, if you treat her freely then they get attached to you.

Customers come whenever they like. Sometimes I get four to five customers at once, and other times I only get two customers in a day. This is a seasonal business. For example, during Rakhi, my stock was low because my friend, whom I mentioned earlier, will be coming again in ten days. After that, there is Dussehra and Diwali. The peak season is from Rakhi to Diwali. During the monsoon season, demand goes down, and I don't get much business, which is the case for everyone. However, from Rakhi to Diwali and then in summers during wedding season, I do get more business. After the new year, business starts to pick up again. I do change my stock according to the season and the latest trends. For example, if there are new Kurtas or Sarees in trend, I stock them accordingly.

When choosing new stocks, I keep in mind factors such as advertisements, emerging patterns, and customer demand. I provide stocks to customers based on these considerations.

If I'm not here, my employee (the girl) is present. If there is any problem, she calls me and I come here. I live nearby, so it's not a problem. It's only 10 to 15 minutes away from here. Today, she hasn't come because of the Ganpati festival and the Mahalaxmi Pooja.

I prioritize my house as a wife, with my family being the most important and the business coming after that. Firstly, I take care of everything at home, and then I come here to do everything. In the morning, my son goes to his school where he is in 5th grade, and my husband leaves at 9:30. Since I don't have a brother, I live with my mom and dad, so I also take care of them. I live with my mother only, while my husband's house is also in the vicinity. I have an elder sister, but she lives far away. So, both my husband and I live there, along with our young son. My husband's house is also nearby, as well as my mother's house.

When I asked my family members about starting a business, they told me that the decision is mine. They are there to support me, but I have to take charge. They believe in me and say that if I want to start this business, they are with me and won't say no.

I have a family and my husband is also part of it, so this is a common situation that applies to everyone. It doesn't matter how hard I work or how much I earn, I still feel like I should receive my husband's salary. This desire remains regardless of whether I hide my earnings or take any other actions, but it is something I prioritize.

I listed my shop online a few years ago. However, over the past four or five years, my family has faced some challenges. My mom became paralyzed, and my dad had a heart attack. As a result, I couldn't dedicate much time to my online business. Currently, I'm focusing on taking care of my family. In the past, I used to send photos of dresses to my friends, and if they liked any of them, I would bring it for them. I only did this with my friends, not with anyone else. Eventually, I had to stop doing it because I didn't have enough time to spend on my phone. Taking care of my sick mom, who is also a pastor at our church, became my responsibility. It was difficult for me to balance everything, so I couldn't give enough attention to my online shop.

Due to the increasing demand for mobile phones and the need to spend more time on them, it becomes necessary to click photos and send them. However, this can be challenging at times due to network issues. Personally, I use WhatsApp to share photos with friends, as it is a popular platform these days.

Suppose you come to my shop today. Let's say you need a saree or something similar, but I don't have it. Instead, I will show you something else and convince you to buy it my way. I will tell you that it's the best option, that the other thing is no longer trendy and outdated, while this one is new and in trend. That's how I will handle a new customer.

I will turn a regular customer into a loyal customer. First, it starts with the impression they get when they visit my shop. If they like the attitude and helpfulness of the staff, or if they appreciate the way they showcase the latest fashion trends, they are more likely to come back. However, if I don't have a particular item at the moment, I will assure them that I will inform them when it becomes available. If I want to bring them back, I will find a way to convince them. I will emphasize that certain things are no longer trendy, while highlighting the latest fashionable items like sarees or kurtis.

I understand my customers' preferences when I show them my products. Sometimes they don't like what I show them initially and ask for something else. If they want it, I can bring it for them. However, I need to know when they want it and if they are willing to wait. Some people are patient and wait, while others prefer to go to another shop. We cannot force the customer to buy from us. They should not feel pressured into making a purchase.

No, I don't maintain a formal register, but I jot down rough notes at home. It's just a casual record, nothing official. For example, I may note the number of sales I made in a day or month, such as selling 20 to 25 pieces, or the number of customers I served in a day. I usually write these details down when I have free time. Since I work alone, there's no one to remind me or hold me accountable for keeping records. I don't have a supervisor, so it doesn't matter if I write them down today or tomorrow. I keep the records at home because I rarely need them in my work setting. The only records I maintain are for maintenance purposes and I keep the bills as well. If I purchase something, I keep the bills to track my earnings and monitor what's happening.

Yes, I do have regular customers. They call me even when I'm not here and tell me what they want. There are about 15 to 20 people who have become my regular customers because I am talkative. Some people are drawn to me because of the way I communicate. However, if a customer approaches me and I show displeasure on my face or if I am not genuinely interested, they will not return. Therefore, I make sure to welcome them, engage in friendly conversation, and create a positive impression to attract them. As a result, they are more likely to come back.

Yes, that is always a common request from my customers - they often ask for discounts. For example, if a customer approaches me and the price of an item is 450 rupees, but they say they can only afford 300 or 350 rupees, I sometimes make adjustments to accommodate their budget if they are interested in purchasing it. The discount I offer depends on the customer and their situation. Let's say you are a customer who is willing to pay the standard price. If I tell you that an item is priced at 500 rupees, you would pay that amount without hesitation. However, if there is another person with you who I feel cannot afford it, I would handle the situation accordingly. For instance, if this saree is priced at 800 rupees, the maximum discount I would offer to you is 50 rupees. I would sell it to you for 750 rupees, considering that you can afford that amount. But if there is someone else who cannot afford that much, I would provide them with a bigger discount.

I determine the profit margin based on the price I paid for the item. The amount I paid for it and the selling price are entirely up to me. I don't have to justify or explain my decisions to anyone because it is my own business. For example, if I bought it for 500 rupees and sell it for 1000 rupees, it is still solely my decision. That's why I don't fixate on specific numbers like selling it for exactly 1000 or 400 rupees. Instead, I make decisions on the spot. I assess the customer and then determine the price accordingly.

I also have their phone numbers to contact them, especially when they leave my shop. Since I have customers from different areas, they may see me somewhere else and greet me with a hi or bye, or even stop to talk to me. This interaction continues over time. Additionally, I have WhatsApp, which allows me to stay in contact with them.

There are also business groups. One of them is called Ayesha Collection, but I have kept it small. I share things in that group and people in my close circle take photos from there and share them on their status. They do the marketing.

My sister's daughter's name is the name of the store. My son's name is Prerit, but I didn't think Prerit Collection sounded good. I didn't feel like this name was suitable for a clothing shop for women. That's why I decided that since she is my sister's daughter and very young, Ayesha Collection would be perfect.

I usually post once a day or every two days. When I come across something interesting online, I notice that many people are sharing it, so I also share those photos in this group. Additionally, my friends share photos in this group that they have seen in other groups. I prefer not to add people to the group unless they are genuinely interested, because if you add too many people, they tend to just look at the content and ignore it, which doesn't generate any business.

You mean sharing these photos and everything. Yes, and this is the group. I removed a lot of things from this because my phone was lagging. So, I deleted many things and groups because my phone was causing me a lot of problems. This is my personal number that I use for Whatsapp and I don't have any other number.

Vendors are like a network, where you discover new vendors through existing ones. If someone likes a Saree or Kurta that I have, they will likely recommend my shop to others. This is how I find new vendors. I don't have fixed vendors because when I need to buy stock, I don't have a specific shop in mind. I explore multiple shops in the market and then make a purchase from whichever one I prefer. Personally, I prefer buying from Gandhi Bagh, which is a wholesale market. If you stick to one shop then you don’t find what you are looking for. That is why I explore four shops and then buy it.

I have some customers like that to whom I offer goods on credit. I maintain a diary to keep a track of receivables. When I sell the stuff then I pay the vendors accordingly.

I bring it or check it when I come here, and I inform vendors beforehand. If there is a problem, they take it back. Vendors also provide delivery service. If I want something, I can call them and they will deliver it to me.

I am familiar with her. I cannot hire someone directly, but my friend informed me that she is in need of a job and she is a trustworthy individual. It is important to have faith in the person you hire, as doubting everyone will make it impossible to hire anyone. If you doubt her, people may assume that working at her shop means being accused of things, and I can vouch for myself.

I will inform one or two people that I am looking for a girl who is not too fancy and can take care of things. The main concern is that other girls are always on their phones. I don't want someone who is constantly using their phone because everyone uses their phones a lot. It should not be the case that when customers arrive, she is on her phone, as that would result in losing the customer.

She should let me know beforehand, and once she arrives here, I will inform her as well. Holidays are like giving her a day off whenever she needs it. It's not a big deal, like you won't have any days off or anything like that. If she needs it, she can take a day off without any problem.

I pay my employee using Google Pay, but I do it through my husband instead of using the app. Although I have the app, I don't use it to pay her. I choose this method to save on expenses because I prioritize myself.

I'll give you an example: If someone likes this Saree and I know it's damaged, I'll let them know. However, if they really like it, I'll offer it to them at a discounted price, but I'll inform them beforehand. I won't hide the fact from them because I want them to return. If there's still a complaint, I'll tell them to bring it back to me if something like this happens. I'll assure them that it hasn't happened with me so far. If one or two Sarees are damaged but the customers really like them, I'll inform them about the damage, show it to them, and if they still like it, I'll offer it to them at a lower price.

I have some remaining stock that I donate to an organization called Five-Fold Maitree society, which is very popular in Nagpur. This organization provides various items to people in need. If I can't sell these sarees, even if customers aren't willing to buy them for 100 rupees, I will donate them to the organization. It's up to them how they use the sarees. The organization is an NGO, and I'm familiar with the people there because my brother-in-law works there, which is why I donate to them.

I never felt the need to take a loan before, but now I want to borrow money. My grandad is against it, as I mentioned earlier, and he doesn't allow me to do it. Perhaps someone has deceived him in the past, someone may have borrowed money and never paid it back, that's why he refuses. I mean, I want to borrow money, but if I can find a suitable loan, I will definitely take it. I will take the loan if I want to purchase more stock, in other words, if I want to expand my business. I will get the loan from wherever the interest rate is lower, because that's what you prioritize, isn't it?

Yes, I will borrow money from a bank. If you borrow money from your family, you may consider it as a personal matter, and I will repay them gradually. However, if you borrow money from someone else, you may feel obligated to repay it no matter what. In that case, I will make a sincere effort to repay the loan.

Sometimes I make money and sometimes I lose money too, that's just how business works. I keep track of how much stuff I buy, how much I sell, and how much money I lose in this register. Yes, the register is at home. I write in it at night when I'm free, or I tell someone and they take care of it. I write everything down when I get back home and when I have free time, usually after nine. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes, it's not a big deal. My husband helps me with finances, even if he doesn't come here. I have his support.

It is easier to take payments through the QR code. Before that I had to look for change, sometimes I had the change and sometimes not. But this is easier.

I participate in some WhatsApp groups, such as Ladies Shopping Point and Saree India, which are about dresses and Kurtis. In these groups, I browse through the items. If I like a Saree or Kurti, I send a message on WhatsApp to place an order. I share the image with my customer through WhatsApp. I buy the item from the group I'm in and then share it with another group called Ayesha Collection.

I tried searching about running a business on YouTube once or twice, but I don't do that here. I do it when I'm at home because there are network problems in this area. If I do it here, people around me come to talk to me. I have neighbors who come and sit here, so if they are there, I can't be on my phone because I get customers through them as well.

Instagram is a good platform for publicity, but it is similar to Facebook, which can create some apprehension. I have considered putting my store online, but I have reservations about it. I have tried it once before, but as a woman, I question if I can truly succeed. There are times when I doubt my abilities. However, if I set my mind to it, I believe I can achieve success. Additionally, family responsibilities play a role in my decision-making. Currently, there are two patients in my household, and my son is young, only nine or ten years old. I must prioritize taking care of him. Furthermore, his own career is a consideration. Taking all these factors into account, I often find myself holding back. If I have a reliable support system and feel confident that something is not a scam, I would definitely pursue it.

Initially, my business had very low growth, but now it is steadily increasing. In the beginning, I didn't have any customers, and I started from scratch. However, now it is performing well. I am determined to further expand my business. After all, who wouldn't want to capitalize on a growing business and take it to the next level?

In 5 years, I hope to have started a wholesale business where other shop owners will purchase goods from me. This is my aspiration. To achieve this, I may need to take a loan, as having a substantial inventory is necessary. Therefore, I require additional funds. Money plays a crucial role in everything. Without money, it is difficult to accomplish anything, even if you start small. Growth requires financial resources. If the business becomes very successful, I plan to open another shop. Some may see this as greed, but it is a natural desire within oneself. You can also view it as ambition or my personal wish. People may perceive me as overly ambitious, but I aim to expand further. I envision opening a shop in another area, so that the name "Ayesha" can be displayed on a banner there as well.

Having multiple shops is often seen as a measure of success. However, true success is subjective and can only be determined over time. In the business world, there are always ups and downs, regardless of the industry.

It's just the two of us, my husband and I. We make all the decisions together. My mother-in-law is not involved in our decision-making process. I share my decision with him, and if he agrees, he says yes. If he's not immediately convinced, I try to persuade him by explaining why it's important for our future. Eventually, he agrees and says okay, trusting my judgment.

My new store should be a posh and upscale shop, with a high standard. I envision having ample lighting, glass fixtures, racks, and an overall design that resembles a small showroom. The size of the shop will be at least as big as this one, if not even larger, to create the desired showroom-like appearance.

After me, I have only one son, so, it is up to him, whether he looks after it or not, it is up to him. because I don’t want my son to get into this business. Because he should pursue his own dreams.