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New Delhi [India], August 18 (ANI): The <keyword id="19921618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Confederation-of-All-India-Traders" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Confederation of All India Traders" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Confederation of All India Traders">Confederation of All India Traders</keyword> (CAIT) on Sunday anticipated a <keyword id="22830196" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="festive-trade" source="keywords">festive trade</keyword> of over Rs 12,000 crore across the country during the <keyword id="21167659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rakhi" source="keywords">Rakhi</keyword> festival. The trade body said that the markets are witnessing a massive rush for <keyword id="22828356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rakhi-shopping" source="keywords">Rakhi shopping</keyword>, and people are very enthusiastic about the festival. It urged customers to celebrate the festival with Indian goods. Observing the demands for <keyword id="22830197" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indigenous-Rakhis" source="keywords">indigenous Rakhis</keyword>, the trade body stated that customers prefer indigenous Rakhis over <keyword id="22828357" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-Rakhis" source="keywords">Chinese Rakhis</keyword> during this year's festive season. "For several years now, only indigenous Rakhis have been sold in the country, and this year too, there was neither demand for nor any presence of Chinese Rakhis in the market," the CAIT said in a note. Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT's National General Secretary and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk stated that the business during the Rakhi festival will reach Rs 12,000 crore, compared to last year's trade of approximately Rs 10,000 crore. In 2022, the business was around Rs 7,000 crore, in 2021 it was Rs 6,000 crore, in 2020 it was Rs 5,000 crore, in 2019 it was Rs 3,500 crore, and in 2018 it was Rs 3,000 crore, as per Khandelwal. Khandelwal and CAIT's National President, B.C. Bhartia, mentioned that this year, a special feature of the Rakhis is that special types of Rakhis have been made from famous products of various cities across the country. According to the CAIT representatives, the customers are also demanding Khadi Rakhi made in Nagpur, Sanganeri Art Rakhi from Jaipur, Seed Rakhi from Pune, Woolen Rakhi from Satna in Madhya Pradesh, Bamboo Rakhi made from tribal items, Tea Leaf Rakhi from Assam, Jute Rakhi from Kolkata, Silk Rakhi from Mumbai, Date Rakhi from Kerala, Pearl Rakhi from Kanpur, Madhuband Maithili Art Rakhi from Bihar, Soft Stone Rakhi from Pondicherry, Flower Rakhi from Bangalore, and more. There is also high demand for Rakhis that display national pride, such as Tricolor Rakhi, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Rakhi, Bharat Mata Rakhi, as per the CAIT representatives. They added that the designer Rakhis and silver Rakhis are also selling well in the market. The CAIT representatives expected festive sales of over 4 lakh crore due to the extended period of the festival this year which will be celebrated from August 19 to November 15 on the day of Tulsi Vivah. "This year's festive series will begin with <keyword id="6385850" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="raksha-bandhan" source="Orion">Raksha Bandhan</keyword> and continue through Janmashtami, the 10-day Ganesh Utsav, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja, and other festivals, culminating with Tulsi Vivah. During this festive period, the business community across the country is fully prepared to meet consumer demands, and traders have stocked up adequately on all products," CAIT added.

Rakhi festive sales expected to surge over Rs 12,000 crore across country: Confederation of All India Traders

A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

<ul><li>The <keyword id="1400873" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Khadi-Village-Industries-Commission">Khadi Village Industries Commission</keyword> (KVIC) saw a 25% jump in sales to ₹75,000 crore. </li><li>KVIC’s sales are twice that of the largest consumer goods company in India, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). </li><li>The growth in KVIC sales volume can be attributed to the increase in demand for khadi products. </li></ul>The Indian government’s retail division that boasts exclusively of ‘Made in India’ consumer products — Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) — saw a 25% jump in sales in the year ending on 31 March, 2019. In comparison to India’s largest fast moving consumer goods company, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), KVIC’s sales stood at ₹75,000 crore — twice that of HUL’s at ₹38,000 crore. A large part of this explosive growth has come from khadi or handmade products, which grew at their fastest rate ever in the last four years. Khadi in vogue KVIC’s growth in sales is largely due to a rise in demand for khadi products — like papad, honey and cosmetics. Together they accounted for 4.3% of all sales. And, then there’s khadi itself. KVIC is not only selling it in stores but also <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/spinning-on-khadi-weaves-a-success-story-rs-3200-crore-sales-in-fy19/1527425/">supplying</a> to bigwig fabric companies like Raymond, Arvind Mills and Aditya Birla Fashion. They’re also tying up with state-owned companies — like ONGC, Oil India and even the Indian Post Office — to give out gift coupons to employees, and use khadi for uniforms. Not to mention that khadi is reportedly ‘chic’ fashion in the current era in part due to its comfort. Indian millennials <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/khadi-the-fabric-for-india-s-fashionable-and-young-1451881-2019-02-09">look</a> at khadi as an icon of sustainable fashion. Actress Kangana Ranaut is one of the many Indian celebrities who promotes homespun fashion at global film festivals. Make in India and Buy Indian Khadi, a hand spun and hand woven cloth, was one of the weapons of Mahatma Gandhi’s fight for freedom from the British. As a part of the Swadeshi movement, he inspired his countrymen to buy products made by Indians to support the local economy, than allowing Britain to market its own. Today, KVIC is the statutory body responsible for the planning, promotion and organisation of the programmes that aid the use of khadi across. Their growth is also fueled by the current government’s push for local manufacturers with the ‘Make in India’ programme. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/local-phone-manufacturing-saves-india-3-trillion-through-make-in-india/articleshow/65517201.cms">Local phone manufacturing saves India ₹3 trillion through Make in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-invites-manufacturers-for-6-5-billion-p-75-submarines-contract/articleshow/69883990.cms">Indian government kick-starts ₹450 billion project to make six submarines under Make in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/made-in-india-apple-iphones-wont-be-cheap-enough-for-indian-users/articleshow/67285223.cms">‘Made-in-India’ Apple iPhones may get cheaper but they probably won’t be cheap enough for Indian users</a>

Indians are buying more Khadi than Hindustan Unilever products

<ul><li>Actor <keyword id="6354603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kamal-haasan" source="Orion">Kamal Haasan</keyword> has launched his fashion label ‘House of Khaddar’.</li><li>The idea behind House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts <keyword id="10459" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="khadi" source="Orion">khadi</keyword> as a textile.</li><li>The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India. </li><li>The fragrance line is inspired by the ancient use of scent in every religious ceremony or prayer.</li></ul>Actor Kamal Haasan has entered the the fashion industry with the launch of his label ‘House of Khaddar’. The superstar presented his clothing line ‘<keyword id="10634721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kh-house-of-khaddar" source="Orion">KH House of Khaddar</keyword>’ and the ‘KH memoir’ fragrance line to the members of the media and VIP guests present at the function held in Chicago. A portion of the proceeds from pre-release sales at the event were donated to Pivoting in Heels, a Non-profit organisation Haasan supports. <div type="twitter" handle="ikamalhaasan" handlename="Kamal Haasan" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/932972987925520385/tUTtlK6x_normal.jpg" favoritecount="9672" retweetcount="1835" status="Our weavers chance to loom large. Dear West, follow the thread it will reach you to our history. Bravo khaddar says… https://t.co/qaUDNA0IHn" createdat="1637025085000" id="1460415176675524609"></div> The idea behind House of Khaddar is to create a clothing line that flaunts khadi as a textile. The generic image that Khadi holds in most people’s minds is about to be shattered as House of Khaddar aims at showcasing the fabric in a chic, cool and modern avatar that will appeal to the youth of the nation. The label also aims at uplifting and bettering the lives of the handloom weavers in India. The fragrance line is inspired by the ancient use of scent in every religious ceremony or prayer. Commenting on the brand, designer of 'KH House of Khaddar' <keyword id="10030110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amritha-ram" source="Orion">Amritha Ram</keyword> says, "This is part of the big fashion dream every designer has because it is a validation of your work and this opportunity coming from Kamal Haasan makes all the difference. It means the boss believes that the product is desirable enough to translate itself to the market. The greatest joy for me in putting together this collection is to be able to create a kind of a fashion democracy. We as a brand want people to understand the concept of inclusivity and fluidity. These are increasingly important conversations, given our current environment. Sustainability has to be on your mind as a designer today; it’s our responsibility. If we consume less, the world will become more sustainable." On launching his debut fashion line in Chicago, Kamal Haasan says "Chicago is a special city with rich history. The desi culture here speaks for itself. We needed the right city to showcase our brands. The population here understands both fragrance and clothing more than anywhere else in North America.” When asked about collaborating with any celebrity or athelete to endorse KH Brand Line, He says "If the celebrity and or athlete shares our vision and can maintain the brand standard we would keep in consideration. We want to make sure we collaborate with the right individuals to gain the right scope for both lines of business."

Kamal Haasan launches his fashion brand ‘KH House of Khaddar’ to revamp khadi's image in the market

When it comes to <keyword id="2302365" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="village-industries">village industries</keyword> and <keyword id="10459" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Khadi">khadi</keyword> units, one doesn’t generally assume that they would be worth big bucks. However, the last year’s sales of these low-profile segments have managed to cross the mark of Rs 50,000 crore for the first time. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/fab-india-actually-gave-khadi-abreather-by-establishing-its-own-brand-heres-why/articleshow/57219443.cms">Fab India actually gave Khadi a breather by establishing its own brand. Here’s why</a> One could assume that the rise in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/strategy/government-is-considering-mandating-khadi-for-office-wear/articleshow/51324639.cms">khadi</a> sales is because of the immense support it gets from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/politics/PM-Modi-Promotes-Khadi-Cleanliness-In-Maiden-Radio-Address/articleshow/44191399.cms">the government</a>, but the same can’t be said about products like honey, soaps, cosmetics, furniture and organic food items, which have surprisingly seen bumper rise in demands. Most of these products are produced in village industries run by women. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/guess-who-replaced-mahatma-gandhi-and-is-the-new-face-of-khadi-udyogs-calendar/articleshow/56498528.cms">Guess who replaced Mahatma Gandhi and is the new face of Khadi Udyog’s calendar</a> As per Khadi &amp; Village Industries Commission (KVIC) data, sales of village industries produce, also called <keyword id="1745375" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="gramodyog">Gramodyog</keyword>, grew 24% in last fiscal, managing to reach just under Rs 50,000 crore. Meanwhile, sale of khadi products saw a rise of 33% from previous fiscal. The rise in khadi and village products can be cited to consumer preference, which is increasingly shifting towards natural products. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/culture/sabyasachi-mukherjee-just-launched-the-udaipur-collectionand-it-looks-absolutely-stunning/articleshow/57450307.cms">Sabyasachi Mukherjee just launched ‘The Udaipur Collection’ and it looks absolutely stunning</a>

Happy surprise! Sales of Khadi and village goods have crossed the Rs 50,000 cr mark

<ul><li>The Indian government is mulling over increasing the import duty levied on round bamboo sticks or raw <keyword id="1267576" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="agarbatti">agarbatti</keyword> sticks to slow down the imports from China.</li><li>The surge in imports from China and <keyword id="13486" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vietnam">Vietnam</keyword> has started hurting India's ₹60 billion agarbatti industry. </li><li>The surge in demand for Chinese agarbatti has forced to close down 25% of the units of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, threatening people of job loss. </li></ul>The Indian government is looking to increase import duty on raw agarbatti sticks to fight away the growing popularity of Chinese incense sticks. A surge in imports from China and Vietnam <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/government-in-huddle-as-fragrance-of-chinese-agarbattis-spreads-far-and-wide/articleshow/70885500.cms?from=mdr">has started hurting India's ₹60 billion agarbatti industry</a>, reported Economic Times. This duty increase if it happens, will undo the country’s errors of the past. India had reduced the import duty on raw agarbatti sticks under Indo-Asean free trade agreement from 30% to 10% in 2011. Later, it was reduced went down to 5% in 2018. As a result, raw agarbatti imports rose by a massive 1641% to ₹54 billion in 2018. The duty changes affected the indegenous industry which mostly comprises of MSMEs. Due to cheaper imports, they had to cut down prices to ₹48 per kg from ₹70 per kg. This is yet another body blow to a homegrown sector, as the country itself is in the throes of a slowdown. However, the surge in demand for Chinese agarbatti resulted in the closure of 25% of the units of Khadi and Village Industries Commission. As many as 2 million people are employed by the industry. The domestic market is concentrated around Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. While the sector has been exporting to the Gulf, Africa and Europe, they are being beaten down by competition in the domestic market, which is key for their survival. The domestic demand is at around 1,397 tonnes a day which Chinese products are eating into.

Growing sales of Chinese agarbattis is not appeasing the Indian government

If your father was a government employee who didn’t have a uniform, you probably remember him ditching the formal clothes on Fridays and wearing a casual T-shirt and a pair of jeans to the office. However, if reports are to be believed, Friday dressing in government offices could only mean one thing now, wearing Khadi. 
 
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is thinking to appeal to the government to encourage its 35 lakh employees (not counting railways and defence personnel) to wear clothes made from the hand-spun fabric at least once a week, so that the production can get a boost and weavers across the country can be benefited. 
 
"We are discussing this with the government and we will make an appeal. Employees can wear it to work on just one day," KVIC chairman VK Saxena told TOI. Even though the employees would be given a choice to wear hand-woven fabrics, the basic idea is to increase sales. 
 
"Even if everyone buys one Khadi garment, imagine the rise in sales," said an officer. 
 
On another note, KVIC is contacting companies like Fabindia and Raymond to retail high-end Khadi at some of their outlets. KVIC has also suggesting pushing Khadi for uniform in government schools, defence forces, railways and Air India. 
 
"We are not seeking charity. We are competing on the basis of quality and price," said Saxena pointing to a Rs 40 crore railways tender that KVIC recently received. 
 
<a href="http://www.utsavpedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/DSC00046.jpg">Image source</a>

Your Friday Office dress-code could soon be only Khadi

In a bid to scale up its numbers and stay ahead of its rivals, <keyword id="6365619" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hindustan-UniLever">Hindustan Unilever</keyword> (<keyword id="44863" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="HUL">HUL</keyword>) has created 15 teams for each category with separate targets in sales and innovations. Each team, named as Country Category Business Teams or CCBTs, will run as independent groups and people will get an opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial side. "These are led by CCBT heads; most of them would be in early 30s and are fully empowered to deliver the plan for the year. This has unleashed huge amount of trapped capacity. Our job is to mentor and coach them. The functional representatives in the CCBT represent the function and in turn dovetail CCBT agenda with the functional agenda,” HUL's managing director Sanjiv Mehta told ET. HUL has time and again changed and revised its strategy to mop up sales. The move also comes in the wake of <keyword id="6356684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="patanjali">Patanjali</keyword>'s rise to a Rs 10,000 crore company. Many FMCG companies have tweaked their strategies and ventured into yurveda sector. HUL launched Lever Ayush last year and soon a new brand Citra, an organic skin care brand from Indonesia, will be under its umbrella. "We sensed that 'natural' will become a big play nearly 15 years back but it was a bit ahead of time. Natural as a phenomena is not just restricted to India but we are seeing this in different parts of the world and are manifested in different ways such as chemical free, organic, herbal, khadi or Ayurveda,” said Mehta.

This is what Hindustan Unilever is doing to achieve higher sales; beat Patanjali

<ul><li>Vipul Shukla from Lucknow rebuilt his family’s Ayurvedic venture, Meghdoot Herbal from a local gem to nationwide digital phenomenon on <keyword id="6354742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flipkart" source="Orion">Flipkart</keyword>.</li><li>Rina, a 35-year old entrepreneur from Gujarat whose passion for creating unique women’s ethnic sets led to establishing a successful business. </li><li>Smita Kulkarni from Bangalore, co-founder of StoneSoup, a social enterprise dedicated to converting waste into value. </li><li>Piyush Aggarwal from Mathura transformed adversity into an opportunity during the pandemic and built a venture specialising in organic agarbattis and dhoop products.</li></ul>Embarking on a journey that resonates with innovation and success, we unveil the compelling stories of entrepreneurs hailing from diverse regions across Bharat. These entrepreneurs, navigating the dynamic realm of e-commerce, have soared to new heights fuelled by firm dedication to their craft and unwavering support from Flipkart. And their stories symbolise innovation-driven growth. These inspirational entrepreneurs showcase the potential of e-commerce to carve unique paths in their industries, embodying the festive spirit that brings forth new avenues. As we delve into the motivating journeys of these entrepreneurs, we celebrate the dynamic spirit of these innovators who have not only embraced the digital age but have thrived in it. Bridging Tradition and Modernity Seller name: Vipul Shukla Business: Meghdoot Herbal Location: Lucknow In 1985, Vipul’s grandfather invested all his hard-earned savings to establish ‘Meghdoot Herbal’, a small Ayurvedic enterprise in a remote village near Lucknow. This modest venture provided local employment and gained recognition from the UP Khadi and Village Industries Board (UPKVIB). Vipul, an IIT (BHU) graduate, later embraced the family legacy, aspiring to expand Meghdoot Herbal’s reach nationwide by transforming it from a brick-and-mortar presence to a digital phenomenon. Seeking partnership with Flipkart, Vipul navigated this transformation seamlessly, leveraging the platform’s onboarding process and training. Speaking about his venture, Vipul said, "As an Ayurvedic products business owner, I am convinced that the widespread appeal of our products is rooted in the longstanding tradition within Indian households to embrace herbal and traditional remedies. With the invaluable support extended by Flipkart which provides us with comprehensive training and customer insights, we are further enhancing the reach and effectiveness of our herbal solutions to millions of customers with the help of online platform." Now, with an extended customer base and e-commerce exploration, Meghdoot Herbal thrives, symbolising a harmonious blend of heritage and innovation in the e-commerce landscape. Weaving success in threads Seller Name: Rina Business: Rajvi Creations Location: Gujarat Another inspiring story is that of Rina, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Surat, Gujarat, who embarked on a remarkable journey in the competitive apparel industry. Armed with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a passion for crafting women's ethnic sets, she faced initial hurdles due to her limited knowledge of fabrics and related materials. Transitioning into e-commerce about two and a half years ago, Rina chose Flipkart as her platform of choice, leveraging its reach to grow her business. With a team of 11, she meticulously crafts rayon viscose ethnic sets and has earned popularity on Flipkart with over 4500 listings and 1700 daily orders. Her commitment to quality and affordability, especially during festive sales, has solidified her success. Rina credits the platform for uplifting her journey as a woman entrepreneur. “My ultimate goal is to elevate my growth on this remarkable platform. I envision a bright and prosperous future for my business, and Flipkart's partnership is a vital part of that journey," she added. Rina’s success story exemplifies the 'Innovator' motif, showcasing how her collaboration with Flipkart has transformed her business and captured customer loyalty through a seamless blend of fabric curation, quality and affordability. Flipkart’s Samarth program has played a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurs nationwide, creating awareness of the potential of e-commerce and fostering positive change. Transforming waste into value Seller name: Smita Kulkarni Business: StoneSoup Enterprises Location: Karnataka StoneSoup, a Bengaluru-based social enterprise founded by Computer Science engineer Smita Kulkarni and IIM Kolkata alumna Malini Parmar, transforms waste into value. After a decade in the IT industry, Smita, now a neighbourhood activist, realised the inadequacies of existing waste management infrastructure. In 2015, StoneSoup was born, to offer easy sustainability solutions to citizens. “We needed to deliver sustainability at people’s doorsteps for the idea to really grow roots. And what better way to reach the masses than a platform like Flipkart!,” Smita said. StoneSoup joined the Flipkart Samarth program – a move that opened up StoneSoup’s products, including compost kits, menstrual cups, and cloth sanitary pads, to over 500 million customers on India’s homegrown marketplace. Over 110 women have benefited so far from the employment generated through this partnership, including those with disabilities. All StoneSoup products are ‘Made in India’. The reusable pads are, in fact, handmade by women from 20 Self Help Groups across small villages and towns in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The firm’s initiatives have helped divert 12 million pads from landfills, composted almost 10 tonnes of wet waste, and reduced plastic bags usage by five million. Smita emphasises the switch to a sustainable lifestyle not just for the planet but for future generations. StoneSoup's commitment to social inclusion and waste reduction reflects a powerful intersection of environmental consciousness and <keyword id="107737" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entrepreneurship" source="Orion">entrepreneurship</keyword>. The incense of success Seller name: Piyush Aggarwal Business: Shank Mathura Location: Uttar Pradesh Flipkart became the lifeline for Piyush Agrawal, transforming him from unemployment to becoming a successful entrepreneur. After losing his job during the pandemic in Mathura, Piyush armed with a renewed purpose, conceived the idea of “Shankh Store.” Recognising the pilgrimage-heavy environment of Mathura, he focussed on handmade incense sticks and locally sold products. His instincts were spot on and his entrepreneur mindset helped him set up his business from scratch. Partnering with Flipkart, Piyush’s brand, Shankh, now offers organic agarbattis, dhoop sticks, and dhoop cones. “After getting onto the Flipkart platform, I started getting orders from all corners of the country. What I used to earn monthly, I began to earn weekly,” reveals Piyush. The platform’s reach elevated Piyush’s earnings, enabling him to expand from a home-based operation to a small manufacturing unit. Proud of his achievements, Piyush aims for a monthly revenue of ₹1 crore and dreams of seeing his products in homes across the country. Disclaimer: This article is generated and published by the Insider Studios team. You can get in touch with them on insiderstudios@businessinsider.in

Innovation remains at the heart of entrepreneurship fueled by Flipkart’s unwavering support

New Delhi, Mar 3 () The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) from Tuesday started selling its stock to bulk buyers at discounted rates of up to Rs 5,000 per candy in a move to help the industry get raw material at cheaper prices. State-run CCI in an order said the discount is being offered on a purchase up to 15,000 bales of cotton to MSME spinning mills, KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) units and cooperative spinning mills. Industry players said that discounted rates will give much-needed boost to the already raw cotton starved Indian industry which has been reeling under severe pressure due to the high raw cotton prices. The CCI is selling cotton pertaining to crop year 2018-19. The discount scheme will be application from March 3 till April 30 this year, the order said. The CCI is offering a minimum discount of Rs 3,200 per candy for the purchase of 100 bales per day and maximum discount of Rs 5,000 per candy for the purchase of over 4,500 bales per day especially to MSME spinning mills, KVIC units and cooperative spinning mills. However, for other bulk buyers, the minimum discount has been fixed at Rs 3,200 per candy for a purchase of 500 bales per day, while maximum discount of Rs 5,000 per candy for purchasing more than 1 lakh bales per day, the order said. The discount scheme is applicable on CCI processed stock and is in supersession of bulk incentive scheme for stock of 2018-19 season, the order added. Commenting on the development, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) Chairman T Rajkumar said sale of cotton at a discounted rate will give a much-needed boost to the already raw cotton starved Indian industry which has been reeling under severe pressure due to the high raw cotton prices and declining export of cotton yarn. He also said the move will really give an impetus to the industry to regain and increase its share of exports in international trade. The industry body said export of cotton yarn in the current fiscal declined by more than 30 per cent due to which there was a very limited demand of raw cotton which discouraged not only the cotton spinners but also CCI, which could not sell the cotton procured in the 2018-19 season to the tune of 9 lakh bales on drop in cotton prices. This year, the CCI has already procured over 60 lakh bales of cotton at a minimum support price, the cost of which is much higher than the market price. Hence, the CCI has been quoting higher prices than the market price and practically there was no off-take of cotton from the already cash-starved cotton yarn industry due to the low demand in domestic as well as global market, Rajkumar added. RSN LUX MR

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