While pursuing her fashion designing course in Italy, Nidhi Yadav thoroughly studied the business model of the iconic brand, Zara. Inspired by their success, she decided to replicate it in Aks, a brand of Yuvdhi Apparels, founded by Nidhi on May 14 with small seed capital of INR 3.5 lac and a small warehouse of less than a thousand units. Aks has its headquarter in the Millennium City of India, Gurgaon, and has an integrated network of printing, dyeing, stitching and manufacturing units in the Pink City, Jaipur. The Brand has grown to 200cr revenue without any external funding and they are serving more than a lakh customer in a month and aiming to reach 500cr in 3 years.
“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” – Diane Mariechild
People who think wisely and act wisely to achieve their dreams, smilingly and successfully, are the true champions in the business world. Success is guaranteed regardless of one’s breed, background, or gender if one’s dreams are purposeful. Women entrepreneurs now ‘have it all,’ running profitable enterprises while caring for their families at home. This trend is fueled by the e-commerce industry, which allows women to work from the convenience of their own homes. Thanks to the various funding sources accessible today, many women entrepreneurs realise their aspirations.
In India, women in business are a relatively new phenomena. Women entrepreneurs are motivated to start businesses by a combination of forces that urge them to work independently and stand on their own two feet. The driving aspect behind this is a sense of self-determination in their life and profession urge.
Women entrepreneurs today are no less capable than their male counterparts, and their unwavering energy serves as an inspiration to millions of aspiring entrepreneurs, both men and women. Suchi Mukherjee of LimeRoad, Sairee Chahal of Sheroes, Richa Kar of Zivame, Shraddha Sharma of YourStory, Mehak Shahani of Wedmegood, and Anisha Singh of mydala are just a few of the successful women entrepreneurs who have tapped into India’s burgeoning startup culture. Today, no one can dare dismiss women entrepreneurs since business is all about making wise decisions, where boldness trumps brawn and passion trumps potential.
The majority of female entrepreneurs have a defined strategy for scaling up their firms and future growth goals. These women believe that if they could hire talented individuals and be given adequate financial support, they might do a lot better.
Today, a significant number of women sellers use e-commerce platforms to sell in a variety of industries, including health care, home furnishings, jewellery, handicrafts, and fashion garments, among others. The simplicity of working from home, worldwide accessibility, and financial freedom that comes with it are the critical reasons for the growth of the internet marketplace as a favourable platform for women entrepreneurs. The ability to sell online has benefited a number of small companies established by women in gaining access to a new set of clients for a low cost. In addition to the initial boost in revenue, exposure to new markets and clients has contributed to the evolution of new products and services within these companies.
A conducive economic environment
Challenges no longer hinder women from achieving their goals because the atmosphere, as well as the situation, is becoming more permissive for them. In both local and foreign markets, favourable economic policies and user-friendly communication technologies are offering new vistas and gates for ambitious women leaders. Surrounded by a plethora of entrepreneurship prospects, Women are giving their male colleagues a run for their money in the age of the startup revolution. Their business talent has been further catalysed by the increasing adoption of the Internet and smartphones.
Furthermore, many state governments across the country are putting in remarkable efforts to support female entrepreneurs by providing suitable incentives and funding schemes for female-led startups. As a result, creating a successful business is no longer a daunting task for women with game-changing ideas and thoughts.
The era of novel opportunities
The country’s current economic situation is packed with opportunities, and those who take advantage of them will enjoy the benefits. Now is the time for women to seize the opportunities presented by the Startup India Program. First and foremost, one must be confident in one’s aims and ambitions, as India’s startup culture has already seen a historic shift favouring female entrepreneurs. Beyond gender, ideas, regulations, and people all play a role in determining a company’s fate.
The contribution of women entrepreneurs in the service industry is progressively and regularly expanding, from wedding planners to interior designers, dieticians to business advisors. In addition, in India’s startup culture, a plethora of chances in developing industries such as public relations, digital marketing, programmatic advertising, and e-education give a plethora of entrepreneurial options for women with strong business acumen.
An improved transition
The startup culture is increasing the country’s GDP and empowering women by providing them with more entrepreneurial options in both the actual and virtual worlds. They effectively sell their items through e-commerce sites, and intelligent shopping applications further assist their growth, thanks to the present digital revolution.
They no longer need a large sum of money to start a firm, nor do they want a luxurious office space to carry out their operations; instead, they can control demand and supply with a laptop and smartphone. As a result, it would be an exaggeration to say that startup culture has ushered in a new age for India’s young and ambitious female entrepreneurs.
Enhance socio-economic status
E-commerce platforms have helped many women build their enterprises. Women have gained a powerful sense of financial freedom and social empowerment due to the e-commerce boom. Their increased household income translates into more independence and decision-making authority at home. Having entrepreneurial mothers, wives, and daughters transforms the way women are seen at home and in society, improving women’s socioeconomic status.
Future of E-commerce in India
By allowing customers to meet merchants and vice versa, the E-commerce business is bringing the world closer together. Because of its flexibility and technology, women entrepreneurs can run their businesses fully online. The e-commerce market in India is particularly attractive due to the country’s high internet penetration and rapid rise in online users.
As indicated by the growing number of online suppliers and purchasers, India’s e-commerce future seems bright. To make the most of India’s e-commerce growth, entrepreneurs, particularly those at the bottom of the pyramid, might enormously benefit from mentorship, technical assistance, and business guidance.