Housewives take to online business, expand their reach

Hyderabad: "I am a home baker. I sell desserts including cake, cupcakes, macaroons, meringue, cookies, cake pops, Oreo pops and caramel pudding. I have my own website Cake O'clock. I started in 2017 and the profit margin is 40%," says Agrima who operates from Mansarovar Heights in Lal Bazaar area.

Another woman who forayed into online business is Pooja Choudary who sells wedding, baby shower, baby announcement and corporate gifts from her residence in Srinagar Colony. "I had free time and wanted to make good use.

The gift market in Hyderabad has a lot of opportunity and i noticed people shell out a lot of money. My USP is i sell good quality products for half the price as i directly get material from manufacturers from across the country," says Pooja.

Several women in the city have ventured into online business but say it needs a lot of patience and word of mouth advertisement is the best. Agrima says, "Promotion is a huge thing.

I had to place ads and promote through instagram and also give out my business cards and make contacts. The main thing is to have patience." Food business seems to be a favourite among women.

Ritcha S, owner of Ritcha Caterers says, "Initially i had to adverstise and also spread the word. After launching the website, business picked up but one needs to have lot of patience and be consistent in deliverables."