They are college students, but unlike several of their peers whose life revolves around college, exams and outings, these city girls — all 19 to 20 years old, are entrepreneurs in their own right, earning pocket money and contributing at home too.
For Anusha Raghunath, Vigram Shreya Goud, Mamatha Varma and Bhavana Rachapudi, work is a “temporary” avocation. Best friends of nine years, Shreya and Anusha turned business partners, while Bhavana decided to forgo job offers with MNCs to start her own venture. Mamatha moved on from odd jobs of working with people during events to start her own company.
“It’s been a year now that we began The Gleeful Casket,” shares Shreya, who specialises in making handicraft gifts. Greeting cards, match box messages and explosion boxes are some of the products they make.
Anusha Raghunath
“We never planned to start off like this. It was just chance that pushed us here. We made something for a friend and he liked it. He recommended our names to others and we started getting orders.
With a product range from Rs 500 to Rs 3,500, her partner Anusha says that people are willing to spend money for a personalised touch. “Our customers range from 17 to 30 years of age and everyone has something they like. Both of us plan everything and shop for the materials together,” she says, revealing “We make around Rs 40,000 a month, depending on the season.”
Their competitor in the business is 19-year-old Bhavana Rachapudi’s Giftionary, where products range from Rs 999 to Rs 6999. “Handmade crafts have always been my favourite and it was how I gift my friends. I always preferred personalised gifts better. Also, I didn’t want to ask my family for pocket money and decided to turn my passion into a profession,” she shares.
Bhavana is studying interior design and her customers. “I take up bulk orders for events too. It can be tough at times. I work more than 10 hours a day, but it’s fun,” she says, who makes mementos, scrapbooks, photo bouquets and candles.
Mamatha is more of a people’s person and thus, took up events. “I have always wanted to surprise people, and I decided to take that up as a profession. I wanted to be independent as soon as possible and that’s why I decided to collaborate with a group of friends to add events to my work list. I make up to Rs 30,000 a month and am involved in wedding related functions, parties, and sometimes, stage events too,” she says.
