In Salem, Tamil Nadu, a 26-year-old ambitious jewellery designer, Monisha Ganesan, is busy crafting silver ornaments, shaping her destiny. Her journey began as a childhood fascination, admiring the jewellery that adorned her mother. “I would sneak in and try wearing it,” she remembers. Despite societal pressures pushing her towards a conventional path, Monisha followed her heart. “I wanted to be a jewellery designer, helping people customise and choose what’s best for their big occasions,” she recalls.
“I didn’t know what I was walking into, unsure how it would work out, and I didn’t have any contacts in the business either. But I followed my heart,” she bravely states, narrating the challenges of establishing herself in a market where consumer trust is a rarity.
Undeterred, she convinced a local ornamental shop owner to display her creations, and to her surprise, the entire collection sold out. “The response I was getting was unexpected. I had faith in my work, but I didn’t think it would become this big,” she reflects on the initial success.
As Monisha’s unique designs and exceptional craftsmanship garnered attention, her business also started witnessing a surge in demand and orders.
She realised that this was not a one-person job. Four more crafters were employed, aiming to reach the highest possible step on the ladder. Monisha decided to open up her store, too. Now that she had enough profits and orders, she was ready to take the risk. “As we’d go to a jewellery store to collect a cheque or finalise a new order, I’d look around and wish that one day I had a shop to my name until that finally came true,” she narrates.
Monisha was more driven than ever. She was ready to expand her venture and take up new challenges. As the orders increased, she needed better quality raw material at a bulk rate, but her savings had been used up in opening her showroom.
Financial constraints threatened her expansion plans, but Monisha found a solution in Mahila Money, a fintech platform tailored for female entrepreneurs. “Traditional banks usually ask for collateral and have many high-end processes, but applying for a Mahila Money loan for INR 40K was hassle-free,” she reveals.
“I had the will and the ambition to achieve what I want, but having the financial backbone from the platform made me more willful to run towards what I’ve been wanting to achieve,” she expresses gratitude as Mahila Money played a crucial role in supporting her. Today, Monisha’s business income has grown by 20%, and her showroom is expanding as well. “Mahila Money has helped me more than I could express,” she emphasises.
As Monisha continues to shine and carve her path in the world of silver, we eagerly anticipate her next steps and cheer her on with the spirit of #JiyoApneDumPe — living life on one’s terms and conquering new horizons!
If you are a #JiyoApneDumPe woman entrepreneur who wants to take your business to new heights and needs working capital and entrepreneurship resources, speak to us on Mahila Money. Apply for a loan of up to 25 lakhs to fuel your business growth by downloading the Mahila Money App or visiting our website http://www.mahila.money.
