It has been almost one and a half years since I started a small business called soaps-a-licious! I make handmade and customizable soaps where customers can choose from a number of scents, colours and shapes.
I’ve always dreamt of being a businesswoman. One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw an advertisement for a soap making workshop and asked my parents if I could sign up.They agreed and that is how my soap journey began! The workshop was great and I realised how much I loved making soaps. I researched about soaps and it struck an idea. I should have a small business! After talking to my parents, I decided to start my own business in July 2020! Initially I got orders from my friends' parents and more relatives. But my biggest breakthrough was when I got a bulk order from a gift shop - Archies! I was very hysterical and nervous. Since it was a huge order, I didn’t want to mess anything up. It proved to be a successful venture. Following that, I started getting a lot of orders. Today, I have a profit margin of about thirty-thousand rupees.
As a small business owner, I was involved in all aspects of my business including marketing, photography and even delivering my product. These situations helped me develop many new skills. There were many people who tried to discourage me and make me feel vulnerable on the topic of my business and sometimes I fell prey to their taunts, but with time learnt to not pay attention to the people who bring me down and divert my attention to what and those I love. Soaps-a-licious also taught me to constantly improve and reinvent myself. The most important thing this business taught me is ‘Success comes to those who work’. This is truly the number one lesson that I have learnt as a teen entrepreneur. Every time I put in some effort, I get a proportional amount of results and successes in return! As quoted by Colin Powell, “A dream does not become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination, and hard work!”
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