Gujarat women entrepreneurs at Numaish

The skilled women entrepreneurs are conscious enough to actively utilise the opportunities that come their way. Gujarat-based women entrepreneurs are striving hard to make the most of the All India Industrial Exhibition, Numaish, in Nampally exhibition grounds, Hyderabad.

Numaish has long since been attracting many Gujarati women entrepreneurs to exhibit their ware for sale.
Some of the women are now living in Hyderabad. But during the Numaish, they stay at the premises to save time and travel expenses. They are not concerned about the chilly winter and have converted their allocated spaces within the exhibition grounds into stalls and tentative residences where they cook and sleep after the exhibition hours.

These women expect good sale this year and are hoping to earn profits over the investments they made. “As of now there is not much sale. But, we are expecting our sales to scale up after 10-15 days. The exhibition of this kind facilitates us to introduce our products to market and enables us to extend our business,” says Rekha, a handloom seller.

She adds, “I have been into business with my husband for more than 15 years. We are the victims of Gujarat’s earthquake in 2002. After that, we shifted to Hyderabad and rented a house at Malapur, RCI road.” She is skilled in designing cutworks, handprint designs, kurtas, and many such traditional crafts. She even travels to different states and regions to explore her products and make money. “I along with my husband traveled to Karnataka, Maharastra, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, etc. we earn between Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 in a month and often do home deliveries.

Exhibitions help us to promote our products and attract more customers and sometimes make them stick to our quality,” shares Rekha. The negative criticism didn’t deter her from being women entrepreneur. “My family extended support that has given strength to stand on my own feet and work hard to provide education to my children,” she says.

Another women entrepreneur, Nethu says, “Being not so well educated, I have chosen to be an entrepreneur. Decades ago, girls were not sent to schools and I was advised to learn on how to design varieties of handicafts, besides, the housework.” Her stall comprises of handprint designs, beautiful handicrafts- Bandhani, Rajasthani bed-sheets, applique, etc.

Being uneducated she knows the importance of education and she wanted her two children to be educated and live a happy life. She doesn’t want her children to continue their business and face life’s ups and downs. Most of them use chit funds as a saving portal to retrieve money when needed.

Demonetisation and GST have pulled down their business for months and it is too early for them to guess likely profits this year. However, most of them enjoy the luxury of the joint family, where all people work to run the family. The income that gets generated from joint family helps them to cover up their debts. But despite all the hardwork, there is not much change in their lives.

These women are well fitted for business. They not only run the enterprise but even help customers to take suggestions on what kind of outfit will suit and can be gifted. These women are expecting more opportunities and they are all ready to make the best of them.