Here’s how Madhavi and her grandmother grew their cotton wick business from ₹15K to ₹25K with a Mahila Money business loan.
One of Madhavi’s most cherished childhood memories would be spending quiet evenings with her amamma (grandmother). Right after coming back from school, she would join her grandma in rolling cotton wicks for their evening family prayers. She would never miss this moment, it was a time of shared stories and learning, a simple ritual that connected two generations. What started as a bonding activity has become a small business. Together, the grandmother-granddaughter duo still stit together and create hand-rolled cotton wicks – brightening homes. Madhavi, now a financial consultant by day, finds joy in continuing this trend along with her granny, turning a shared craft into a growing business.
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A Bond wrapped in Cotton
Financial consultant Madhavi still remembers how the idea to turn her grandmother’s skill into a business was almost a luck. “Every day after school, I would rush back home and roll wicks with my grandma. She’d tell me stories-of gods and goddesses, and sometimes little things from her own life. It was our time. Never in my dreams did I think that one day we’d be business partners.” For Madhavi, her grandmother’s stories and teachings have shaped her entrepreneurial journey. The few minutes spent together every day have given a purpose to her life. She states that whenever her grandmother rolled the wicks in silence and narrated stories to her, she would encourage her and appreciate her knack for making perfect wicks. That few words of appreciation settled long in this young entrepreneurs mind.
The emergence of a home-based business
With time, their hobby graduated. Madhavi saw potential beyond tradition; she visioned a business. “I’d noticed how our wicks burned longer and steadier compared to store-bought ones,” she explained. “I thought, if our family loves them, maybe others would too.”
It started as a bonding activity and has gradually grown into a small-scale manufacturing business of cotton wicks from the confines of their modest ‘verandah‘. The business of the duo has become an indispensable source of income for them, bringing in around ₹15,000 a month. No shop around their neighborhood or local wholesaler can do without their hand-rolled wicks. What makes their business special? As Madhavi says, “It’s about quality and care in every pack.”.
The Roadblocks and Supports
Madhavi often found herself helping her grandmother late into the night or over the weekends as she had to also manage a full-time job. Their business was growing and so was the responbilities. Her grandmother needed help, especially during the festive season. But hiring help meant additional expenses, and Madhavi was conscious of her family’s needs. “I knew we needed to scale up, but I also didn’t want to drain our savings,” she shares.
A friend introduced her to Mahila Money, a financial platform that has been supporting countless women entrepreneurs. Madhavi attended a Mahila Money loan session held on their app every Mon-Fri, 12:00pm – 12:45pm. The live session provides an open forum to answer queries and explain the loan process. “The support team was so helpful. They cleared my doubts, and I felt ready to apply for the ₹25,000 loan,” she shared. Madhavi decided to take a business loan, she filled up her loan applicationn online and submitted her documents. The most encouraging part according to her was how she was not asked to present any collateral or a male signature. She received her loan on her name and describes the experience as “simple and encouraging.”
Fueling Growth and Inspiring a Brighter Future
After receiving the loan, Madhavi’s immediete plan was to hire a help and ease her amamma’s workload. Since the orders were pouring in, an extra pair of hand will always help them scale up. “Now, I can invest in a bit more material and bring in extra hands, so my grandma doesn’t have to do it all by herself,” she said, visibly relieved.
The loan also opened up future possibilities that Madhavi hadn’t previously considered. She thought not only to increase the production capacity but also to bring in women from her community. “If this goes well, I’d love to bring in other women who can benefit from this work too,” she reflected. “This business now gives me the platform to uplift others around me.”.
Looking Ahead: Spreading Light, One Wick at a Time
As each wick is rolled with love and care, it tells her story—a story of warmth and women supporting each other. For Madhavi, this business is not just about making money; it’s about sharing smiles. As she moves forward, this young entreprneuer just wants to keep growing, one step at a time, with her granny by her side.
With Diwali season and festival just round the corner, Madhavi and her grandmother were gearing up for the rush. They knew that their efforts did not involve mere pre-festive preparations; they were an offering and proof of her grandmother’s precious wisdom and an inspiration for others who aspired to build great businesses out of passion.With the Mahila Money business loan, this New Year brings renewed hope to Madhavi’s dreams, not only lighting up her own home but also paving the way for future women entrepreneurs who are brave enough to pursue their aspirations.
“The loan didn’t just help my business,” Latha says with a smile. “It reminded me that there’s a whole community out there, ready to uplift each other. I hope we can spread this light to many more homes.”
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If you are a woman entrepreneur who wants to take your business to new heights and is in need of working capital and entrepreneurship resources, come speak to us on Mahila Money. For more such #JiyoApneDumPe live conversations, download the Mahila Money App on Play Store or visit us on www.mahila.money
