Smt. Nagalakshmi is an inspiring woman who has not let age or other societal expectations stop her from pursuing her passion for cooking and selling homemade pickles and masalas. She started her business as a hobby, selling her products to friends, family, and neighbours. However, as she gained more recognition and demand for her products grew, she decided to take it to the next level and make it a full-fledged business. She obtained the necessary licence and started her own brand, “Surya Iyangaar Homemade Products”.
Despite being 65 years old, Smt. Nagalakshmi is still going strong and is balancing both her family and her work. She has been involved in making pickles and various spices for over 20 years, and her experience and expertise have made her a household name in Bangalore. Her father and brother were also involved in business, and she believes that business runs in the family.
One of the challenges she faced as an entrepreneur was marketing. She had a limited understanding of marketing and needed to develop her skills in this area to effectively promote her products. She learned about the ffreedom app while watching a TV serial and decided to download it to expand her knowledge and skills in marketing.
The ffreedom app offers a variety of courses, including courses on Demand, Supply & Distribution, Pricing & Accounts, Franchising, Branding, Marketing & Customer Support, Registration, Ownership, and Permission. Smt. Nagalakshmi took the Pickle Business course and the E-commerce course to develop her marketing knowledge and to market her products on e-commerce websites and other modes of marketing.
She implemented some marketing strategy changes and packaging differences that she learned from the courses and saw an increase in profits. She now earns 10% to 12% profit from each bottle, thanks to the changes she made. In November 2021, she took a license from FSSAI as a brand, further establishing her business as a legitimate and credible one.
Smt. Nagalakshmi currently maintains a WhatsApp group where people can directly place orders for her products, and payments are made through digital transactions. After the payment, she takes 2-3 days to prepare the order with the help of two maids in her house. Word-of-Mouth advertising has been her primary source of new customers, and she currently has around 200-300 customers in her WhatsApp group. Most of her customers are people who like to eat spicy foods.
The marketing opportunity for her business is bright, and she has plans to set up a store exclusively for pickle shops, sell pickles in the local and wholesale markets, and sell her products online, especially on e-commerce websites like Amazon and BigBasket. She believes that by continuing to expand her business and exploring new opportunities, she can reach a wider audience and increase her profits.
What is truly inspiring about Smt. Nagalakshmi’s story is about her passion and determination to pursue her dreams despite her age and other challenges. She has shown that with hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt, anyone can become a successful entrepreneur. Her success story is a testament to the ffreedom app’s motto, “To Empower Every Individual to Earn a Livelihood”, as it has helped her develop her marketing skills and grow her business.
Her story is one of perseverance, passion, and success. She is an inspiration to anyone who wants to pursue their dreams, regardless of age or other societal expectations. Her story also shows the importance of learning and developing new skills to adapt to changing market trends and customer preferences. The ffreedom app has played a vital role in empowering her and providing her with the necessary tools with the rise of e-commerce, Nagalakshmi realized the potential of selling her homemade products online. However, she didn’t have the knowledge or skills to navigate the digital space. That’s when she turned to the ffreedom app for help.
Through the app, Nagalakshmi learned about various e-commerce strategies such as setting up an online store, optimizing product listings, and driving traffic to her website. She also learned how to use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote her products and engage with customers.
Armed with this knowledge, Nagalakshmi started her own e-commerce store and began selling her homemade products online. She used social media to promote her brand and even offered discounts to her followers to encourage them to try her products. Within a few months, she started receiving orders from all over the country, and her business began to grow.
Nagalakshmi’s success story is a testament to the power of education and perseverance. She didn’t let age or lack of knowledge stop her from pursuing her passion. Instead, she sought out resources and tools to help her achieve her goals.
The ffreedom app played a crucial role in empowering Nagalakshmi to take her business to the next level. Its mission to “empower every individual” resonated with Nagalakshmi and many other entrepreneurs like her who have used the app to learn new skills, improve their businesses, and achieve financial independence.
In conclusion, Nagalakshmi’s story is a shining example of how education and empowerment can help individuals achieve their dreams. Her passion for cooking and dedication to her craft has led her to create a successful business that not only provides for her family but also brings joy to her customers. The ffreedom app’s commitment to empowering individuals like Nagalakshmi is truly inspiring and offers hope to millions of people who are looking to improve their lives through education and entrepreneurship.
