Pooja Kanth’s Journey: From Homemaker to Successful Home Business Owner

Pooja Kanth, a former HR professional, found herself at a crossroads when she decided to quit her job to spend more time with her toddler son. After years in the workforce, she couldn’t stay idle, so in 2015, her husband gifted her a smartphone, sparking the idea of starting her own home business.

With a passion for arts and crafts, Pooja delved into the world of handmade decorative products, particularly macramé art. Macramé involves intricate knotting techniques to create various items like plant hangers, wall hangers, and table runners using materials like cotton twine and jute.

Pooja’s journey began with humble steps. She started by watching tutorials and practicing her craft using materials she procured from local stores. Recognizing the potential, she decided to empower underprivileged women in her area, located on the outskirts of Delhi. Her mission was rooted in her own childhood experiences of poverty, where her mother supported the family through tailoring.

Pooja established “Pooja Ki Potli” in 2015, combining her passion for macramé with a social mission to create livelihood opportunities for women in her community. She began marketing her macramé products on social media and e-commerce platforms, initially investing just Rs 5,000.

Over the years, Pooja expanded her business to include craft supplies, do-it-yourself kits, and various home décor items. She has trained approximately 500 women, many of whom have started their own businesses after learning from her.

Pooja’s efforts have paid off, with Pooja Ki Potli’s annual revenue growing from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh between FY21 and FY23. The business now receives orders from both online marketplaces and corporate clients. Pooja keeps her profit margins low to ensure fair wages for her workers.

Her commitment to maximizing employment has led to the in-house production of wooden materials used in macramé products and the addition of handcrafted bags to her product range. Pooja Ki Potli now offers around 100 different products across various categories, with prices ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 3,500.

Pooja’s inspiring journey from a corporate job to successful entrepreneurship has not only given her a better work-life balance but also empowered countless underprivileged women to become financially independent.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The News Minute