From Homemaker to Successful Entrepreneur: Ranjeeta’s Journey in the Masala Business

Ranjeeta, a 32-year-old woman from Indira Colony, Faridabad, lives with her husband and three school-going children. Her children study in a government school, while her husband works as a welding labourer, with a modest earning that barely meets the essential needs of the family. Ranjeeta wanted to help in improving family’s economic situation and dreamt of starting her own venture in spice making, which was inspired by her father’s masala business. However, she lacked the knowledge and confidence to initiate a business on her own. After a household survey conducted by Impact360 Foundation, Ranjeeta was identified as a potential beneficiary for its Entrepreneurship Development Program at Faridabad. She was selected to participate in 5-day Entrepreneurship Orientation Training by I360 and during the course, she learnt, basics of entrepreneurship and business opportunities, access to credit, market, and business finances and operations. On completion, she prepared her business plan, which was selected for support with a small incubation grant. She procured assets like mixer grinder, weighing machine, and whole spice masalas to helping her kickstart her masala business.   With a small initial capital support Ranjeeta began her entrepreneurial journey. At the beginning her income was Rs. 300 per day, but with consistent effort and application of business learnings, her income steadily increased. Today, she sales Rs. 2000 per day, with higher sales during festive and Sunday sales touching Rs. 3,000. She runs her business from a rented shop. Her monthly income now is more than ₹10,000, while during festive seasons and Sunday sales, it rises to ₹12,000–₹18,000. Additionally, she has established a distribution chain of packet masalas to local shops and ensures morning deliveries, having a daily customer footfall of 50 people around. It was not all a comfortable journey always. Ranjeeta encountered hurdles, limited stock capacity due to space and resources, moisture damage during monsoons and delays in customer servicing as she had only one mixer grinder. Despite these, her family’s support and her determination kept her going. Ranjeeta promotes her products through WhatsApp and Facebook stories and Word-of-mouth publicity. She maintains strong ties with wholesale distributors in Badarpur for sourcing raw spices and does her own packaging, ensuring quality and trust among customers. Recently, Ranjeeta expanded her venture by opening a second shop in A.C. Nagar, managed by her husband after 3 PM. This new outlet attracts around customers daily, generating an additional income of Rs. 700 per day. Her future plans include purchasing another mixer grinder to serve customers faster and adding products like papad and pickles to diversify her offerings. Ranjeeta’s journey exemplifies the power of training, mentorship and determination. From being a homemaker dependent on her husband’s income, she has transformed into a successful business woman. Today, she can provide better facilities for her family, manage daily expenses, and fulfil her personal and familial aspirations. With her significant contribution, the family has escaped the poverty trap and moving up the pathway to prosperity.