“Main chahti hoon ki Ghansor ki har dulhan Indore tak jaane ki zarurat na samjhe, har service yahin mile, mere haathon se,” says Swati Shrivastava softly, her hands steady as she adjusts the zari border of a crimson lehenga, its silken folds catching the afternoon light that filters in through her veranda in Ghansor, a small forest-fringed town in Madhya Pradesh.
Outside, the slow rhythm of rural life hums, cycle bells, temple bells, the clink of chai glasses. Inside her home-turned-boutique business, dreams are stitched into bridal outfits for women from nearby towns who travel in for fittings, gossip, and Swati’s eye for detail..
She’s 46, a mother, and a self-made businesswoman. But what makes her story remarkable is what she’s building next. Between client orders and household chores, Swati is now a student again, enrolled in a professional makeup course, determined to become Ghansor’s go-to bridal stylist.
This is Swati’s boutique business success story, and it begins not in a big-city salon, but in a home she transformed into a thriving workspace.
A One-Stop Shop for Every Bride: The Boutique Business Born at Home
Tucked along the main road of Ghansor, Saivardan isn’t just a boutique; it’s an experience. It’s where young brides walk in, anxious and excited, and leave with everything they need for the big day: bridal lehengas, sarees, matching jewellery, stitched blouses, and even fashion advice from Swati herself.
For over 22 years, Swati has run this business from home, quietly building a name in her town. What makes Saivardan unique isn’t just its inventory. It’s the warmth, the personal attention, the affordability, the local sourcing, and the community it employs.
Four to five women work with Swati, especially during peak wedding seasons, and she even offers tailoring training to girls in the neighbourhood.
“Yeh sirf dukan nahi hai, yeh ek naya raasta hai unke liye jo ghar se bahar nikalna chahti hain,” she says.
Balancing Sarees, Struggles, and a Strong Will
Swati’s journey hasn’t been without roadblocks. She lost her father early in life. She lives with her three children and elder sister, managing both household and business responsibilities alone and with grace.
From early morning household chores to customer fittings by noon, from bank runs to sourcing inventory from Jabalpur and Surat, she does it all. Sundays are for deep cleaning, prepping food, and catching her breath, if she’s lucky.
Her daughters are both engineers; one of them has recently got married. Her son is still in school. She manages every single household and business expense.
“Pehle ghar ka kaam karo, phir jo chaahe karo”, thats what society often tells women like me, she says. Swati’s response? She finishes work, then does what she truly wants. Because she says, it’s better to quietly lead rather than get caught up in distractions.
New Dreams, New Skills: The Makeup Artist in the Making
Swati’s boutique has everything a bride might need, from carefully stitched bridal lehengas to last-minute blouse fittings. Everything, except makeup services. And her customers noticed.
Time and again, they’d ask her, “Aap makeup bhi karte ho kya?”
At first, she’d politely decline. But the question kept coming. And somewhere in the middle of these casual queries, a thought began to take root.
The turning point came during her daughter’s wedding last year. Swati had to hire a professional makeup artist from a neighbouring town, someone who charged ₹35,000 for the complete bridal package. “Tab laga, main khud ye kyun nahi seekhti?” she says. “Itna paisa dene se better hai, main khud ke kaam aaun. It’s always good to keep expanding, keep learning.”
Instead of outsourcing or hiring someone, she decided to take it on herself. At 46, Swati enrolled in a 6-month professional Makeup & Hairstyling course through Airblack, proving that learning doesn’t come with an expiry date.
Professional training, however, comes at a cost. To fund her course, Swati turned to Mahila Money. She was approved for a ₹25,000 business loan, her first-ever formal credit. That decision did more than just support her new ambition; it also marked the start of her financial journey, helping her build a credit history brick by brick.
“Main naye tareeke se kaam seekh rahi hoon – mobile se loan lena, online payment manage karna, aur ab toh online padhai bhi shuru kar di hai, sab digital ho gaya hai. Pehle mushkil tha, ab samajh aa gaya hai,” she shares, smiling.
A Boutique Owner Who Knows Her Customers and Her Numbers
Swati isn’t new to business; she’s just new to credit. With average monthly revenue of ₹25,000–₹30,000, and net profit margins reaching up to 50%, she runs a lean, efficient operation. She has no rental expenses, no unnecessary overheads, just dedication and smart planning.
Her sourcing? Lehenga from Surat. Jewellery and accessories from Jabalpur. Payments? From hesitant cash clients to digital UPI transactions, she now manages confidently.
Her clients? Brides, their friends, mothers, sisters, mostly walk-ins and referrals from loyal customers.
“Ab customers bhi kehte hain, online kar dete hain payment,” she laughs. “Pehle mujhe hi lagta tha main nahi kar paungi.”
Living on Her Own Terms and Uplifting Others Along the Way
Swati’s personal life is just as rich as her professional one. She’s part of a kitty group of nineteen women, meeting to sing, dance, eat, and celebrate life in themed gatherings. It’s her slice of joy, away from business ledgers and household routines.
She also runs a side art page, @Tanu’s_Art, where she shares her love for thread bangles, handmade decorations, and paintings. For a woman managing the weight of an entire household and a business, this creative space is her self-care.
And through it all, she remains grounded, neither fearful of societal expectations nor deeply disrespectful of others’ journeys.
What’s Next for Swati’s Boutique Business?
With her Airblack makeup training underway and new skills being added to her belt, Swati is preparing to offer complete bridal transformation services – outfit, jewellery, stitching, and now, professional makeup.
Her dream? To become the most trusted bridal expert in her area, offer more women jobs, and help her children dream bigger.
“Main girti nahi hoon. Agar thak bhi jaati hoon, toh rukti nahi hoon,” she says.
Final Thoughts
Swati’s boutique business story isn’t one of overnight success. It’s a quiet, steady rise – through every saree she rents, every bride she styles, and every woman she trains, she’s building more than a business. If you’re a woman like Swati, managing a home, dreaming of more, and looking to grow, your boutique business success story could be next.
Want to take the next step like Swati?
Join our Loan Open House, every Monday to Friday, 12:00–12:45 pm on the Mahila Money app. Talk to a real loan representative, get your questions answered, and explore loan options to help your business grow.
Read more success stories:
How Hyderabad Makeup Artist Nisha Earned ₹1 Lakh in 2 Days
How a Single Mother Entrepreneur Found Her Calling as Dr. Mital, the Skin Doctor
How Tehseen Built Three Businesses with Small Business Loans for Women Entrepreneurs
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
Bohot accha laga yeh padhna! Passion ko follow karke jo self-made journey banayi hai, woh ek misaal hai.