This is the story of Geetanjali Vinod Badade, a 39-year-old woman from Mumbai, whose business, Cozie Aura, helps people and businesses gift premium scented candles and customised candles.
About Geetanjali
Before entrepreneurship, Geetanjali worked as a senior executive at Yatra.com. Her corporate career was progressing well until pregnancy. After childbirth, her career paused. Family advice leaned towards giving up her job. Like many women, she stepped back.
She redirected her skills, discipline, and professionalism into building something of her own and built it on her own terms.
Beginning with Merchandise Corner
Geetanjali started her entrepreneurial journey with just ₹20,000.
There were no investors, no fancy setups, and no safety net. With ₹11,000, she bought her first small machine and began making tote bags and simple merchandise. Everything was done carefully, calculating costs, managing time, and ensuring that whatever left her hands was worth the money a customer paid.
Her focus was simple and sharp:
- Maintain quality
- Deliver on time
- Build trust, one customer at a time
She didn’t chase trends. She chased consistency and slowly started selling handmade candles for gifts.
Growing Cozie Aura
As scented candle orders increased and customer feedback started coming in, Geetanjali reinvested every rupee back into the business.
She upgraded her setup:
- Purchased better machines for merchandise
- Added heaters and larger equipment for candles
- Expanded into premium candle-making
With every upgrade, the product quality improved, and so did customer satisfaction. Reviews became stronger. Repeat customers became regular. And word-of-mouth became her biggest marketing tool.
Growth didn’t come overnight, but it came steadily, built on reliability.
The Day Cozie Aura Won a Customer for Life
Every entrepreneur faces moments that test their commitment.
For Geetanjali, one such moment came when a customer demanded very urgent delivery with extremely little time. Logistically, it was difficult. Professionally, it was stressful. But instead of saying no or making excuses, Geetanjali did something extraordinary.
She personally went and delivered the order herself.
That single act of ownership and accountability didn’t just solve a problem; it created a loyal customer for life. It reinforced her belief that business isn’t only about products; it’s about showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
“Discipline Is Everything” in the journey of Cozie Aura
Geetanjali firmly believes that discipline is the backbone of any business. She speaks openly about a hard truth many women hesitate to address:
“When women run home-based businesses, we often put everything else first: children, chores, family, and business last. But if you’re serious about business, then business has to become your first priority during work hours. This doesn’t mean neglecting family. It means respecting your own work. ”
She treats her business like a full-time responsibility with structured timings, clear targets, and professional boundaries even while working from home.
Challenges in the journey of building Cozie Aura
Like most women entrepreneurs, Geetanjali has faced doubts both from society and from customers. People questioned whether she could deliver consistently, whether a woman-led, home-based business could last. There were cancellations. There were mistakes. There were days when things didn’t go as planned. But she does not get demotivated by setbacks. Instead, she learns, corrects, and moves forward without internalizing failure.
“People will doubt you. That’s okay. You just need to believe that you can do it no matter what.”
The Silent Pillar: Support from Her Husband
Behind Geetanjali’s journey stands a strong support system: her husband.
From emotional encouragement to shared decision-making, his support played a crucial role in helping her grow with confidence. Entrepreneurship is often glorified as a solo journey, but Geetanjali acknowledges that having a partner who believes in you makes the road smoother.
Their relationship is rooted in equality, especially visible in the milestones they’ve achieved together.
Cozie Aura Scales: A Business That Touches ₹30–35 Lakhs in Revenue
Today, Geetanjali’s business generates an annual revenue of ₹30–35 lakhs.
This isn’t just a number; it represents:
- Years of discipline
- Trust earned from customers
- Systems built from scratch
Her revenue growth reflects sustainable scaling, not rushed expansion. She prioritized stability over speed, and that decision paid off.
This dedicated focus on quality and delivery has turned a small, home-based operation into a strong, revenue-generating enterprise.
Big Wins That Matter
Success for Geetanjali isn’t just measured in profits. It’s visible in the life she’s built. Some of her proudest milestones include:
- Buying a four-wheeler
- Later purchasing a new two-wheeler
- Co-owning a 2BHK terrace flat in Mumbai with her husband, in equal share
In a city like Mumbai, owning a home is a dream many chase for decades. For Geetanjali, this achievement stands as a powerful symbol of financial independence.
Creating Livelihoods for Other Women
One of the most meaningful chapters of Geetanjali’s journey is employment generation. Today, she employs six to seven women. Because of this:
- The employee’s children’s school fees are being paid
- Women are buying gold bangles
- Families are purchasing Activas
- Homes are running with dignity and security
For Geetanjali, this impact is deeply personal.
“Knowing that someone’s livelihood runs because of the work we do, that is a huge blessing.”
Her business doesn’t just support her family; it uplifts many others.
Her Vision Going Forward
Geetanjali’s current goal is clear and powerful:
- Create more employment for women
- Create more variety of products based on customer feedbacks and suggestions
Her journey reminds us that success doesn’t always come from uninterrupted careers but from uninterrupted belief in oneself.
Geetanjali didn’t just build a business.
She built confidence, community, and change. And that is what true growth looks like.
Buy Cozie Aura candles here:
https://www.instagram.com/cozieaura
Connect with Geetanjali:
https://www.instagram.com/geeta_n_w
If you’d like your journey to be featured in our Meet The Mahilas series, write to us at hello@mahila.money.
We’d love to hear your story and share it with women across India.
