As we wrap up Season 02 of CulturallyOurs, we are in awe of each and every entrepreneur we have spoke with via the podcast and even connected with via our ‘Entrepreneurial Lessons In The Field‘ series. If Season 02 has taught us anything, it is that entrepreneurship takes on many different forms – be it product, service, for profit, non-for-profit, social and even community based business projects.
Today we are sharing entrepreneurial stories from the field of a very differnt kind. These entrepreneurs don’t have social media or Facebook pages or even a business plan. Yet each is hugely successful in their own right and making a different in their lives and that of their families. Their stories taught us some key business lessons that can be applied to any industry and to any entrepreneur out there.
So what do a chef, an organic farmer and a florist have in common?
These are three successful entrepreneurs living in the outskirts of a big metro city, Chennai India. None of them have a college degree – in fact, two out of the three haven’t even gone to school. But yet, they run thriving businesses that support their family and put food on the table. Karthika Gupta, the founder of CulturallyOurs had a chance to meet and interact with these women and shares their entreprenurial success stories!
From Karthika,
During a recent stay in India, I had a chance to observe and interact with these three women. I watched them for a couple of days and was definitely intrigued with their business model. They had a steady stream of customers who were loyal to the point where they could not imagine life without these women. But these women were neither arrogant nor did they flaunt their successes. In fact, they were so genuine and down to earth that even I wanted to become a loyal customer – I just had to figure out a way to get food, flowers and fresh vegetables shipped across to the states ?
These women are not millionaires and nor do they have aspirations of becoming one. But each of them has something much more valuable than money itself – job satisfaction and genuine passion for their profession. They came to work every morning with a smile on their face, a skip in their step – ready to make the most of their day. What was their secret? I just had to know. I chatted with them over the course of my visit and what I learnt was so basic, yet so thought provoking!
Insight #1 Really know your customers and anticipate their need before they know it
Meet this beautiful lady named Tangamani who is an organic farmer. Tangamani does not own a farm but she sells organic produce that she buys from nearby farms who don’t have the man power to go door to door to sell their produce. She makes her rounds bright and early in the morning – her products are 100% organic, freshly picked from the farm (most even have the morning dew still on them). Tanga’s secret – she really knows her customers and makes a mental note on what they buy each day. Somehow magically her next day’s produce is a complement to what her customers bought the previous day.
Insight #2 Earn your customers’s trust. Be true to them by providing them with the very best products – nothing else will do
Mangla is the flower lady who bought fresh flowers to my doorstep everyday. The house smelled divine after she left. She was certainly the expert. She really knew her flowers and took her role as the subject matter expert very seriously!
I love the Indian Jasmine flower. When I go home, I hound my mom everyday to buy me some so I can put them in my hair and feel beautiful 🙂 One day, I saw that Mangla had some and I asked her for it. But Mangla refused. She said “No, these are not good today and they will not last more than a few hours. I will bring you better ones tomorrow”. I had to do a double take. Here was a vendor who did not want to sell me a faulty product. She could have made some easy money off me but instead she was honest and was not afraid to say NO!
Insight #3 Built a strong brand & a community of loyal customers – they will follow you for years to come
Meet Lakshmi and her adorable side kick, her daughter. Lakshmi is a chef/cook. She goes to homes in the neighborhood and cooks fresh food for the families. She also runs a food cafeteria out of her home. Lakshmi is an amazing cook. She is the best for those who want fresh food that is exactly how your mom makes it :). But she is more than a great cook – she is very personable, reliable and trust worthy. There is a waiting list of families who want Lakshmi to come cook for them. She is known through out the community and has created quite a niche for herself.
None of these entrepreneurial lessons is new yet these women, who don’t have any formal education in entrepreneurship, have mastered these basic concepts and are incredibly successful. Each has their own definition of success. They don’t have fancy tools like websites, social media, business cards – they ARE their brand and their business. Each has a superior product/skill, they have street smarts and have wonderful personalities that shine forth in their daily interactions with their clients!
{Words and photos by Karthika Gupta; Website: Karthika Gupta; Instagram: @karthikagupta}
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