Several members of our community have inspiring tales that motivate us. We may read books on success and self-help, yet we seldom know these stories. Through our series on Women entrepreneurs, we aim to highlight the women from the community who have made it big by the dint of their talent and hard work.
After five years of working as a merchandiser for a design company, Deepshikha Pasrija, a resident of Ajnara Homes, quit her job to take care of her son. As she did not feel comfortable sending her son to daycare, she started looking for work-from-home options. Finally, in October 2020, she decided to follow her passion and set up a crockery store in her flat. Says she, “Since childhood, I was interested in decorating my house with different decorative items and glassware. So by this, I followed my passion for decorating tables, corners and kitchen spaces."
A postgraduate in designing, she uses her knowledge to gather glassware and ceramics from manufacturers and sells them in retail. "We started from a centre table, today we are having more than 300 kinds of designs, and a dedicated room to display our works. Currently, we have a wide range of ceramic crockery, soup cup sets, pickle set, snack bowls, cutlery, pen stands, stylish glasses, wine glasses, whiskey glasses, tequila shots glasses, and more. We are against plastic use. That's why we do not keep plastic materials for selling purposes", says she. Deepshikha runs her business under the name 'Ruhan ceramics' as she considers her son lucky for her.
Deepshika is grateful to her husband who takes care of their five-year-old son while she talks to the customers. Never did she think her venture would receive so much love from the people. Now, people from far-off places contact her for her unique ceramics. Her products are delivered in almost every society and sector of Noida. Soon they are planning to launch items on an online platform as well.
Khushboo Jain, a resident of Cherry County, and a native of Rajasthan is famous not just in her society but throughout Noida for her authentic Rajasthani cuisine.
One day, Khushboo prepared carrot halwa and thought of sharing the photograph in her society's group. Soon, she saw that the picture gathered attention and people started requesting her to deliver. Soon, 1 kg halwa was finished. People complimented her a lot which gave her confidence. To test her destiny, she prepared Tikki the very next day and the same scene repeated. This became a pattern and thus she started her kitchen. Her business of food and sweets slowly took off, wherein her husband supported her at each step.
Her Rajasthani cuisine includes Panchkuta, Ker sangri, Kabuli veg layered pulao, dal bati churma, pittod ki sabji, Rajasthani kadhi chawal, Kishmish ki sabji, gatte ki sabji, rich dryfrutis ki sabji, Bajre ki roti with lehsun ki chutney, Raab, Onion Katchori and the most delicious sweet of Rajasthan, Ghewar.
Talking about her journey, she says," It's been 4 years since we came to Noida from Rajasthan, and from 4 years I am into this. There was no plan as such to start something or to work from home, but it's what destiny had planned for me. Today I love this feeling that my food is loved and appreciated by one and all".
Now she takes pre-orders for parties and for sweet dishes. She prepares the special sweets and halwa on special request and also takes orders for birthdays, kitty parties, and housewarming functions. She also serves daily tiffins to bachelors and residents nearby which include simple home-cooked meals.
Meet Ruby Seth, a resident of Hyde Park, who runs a high-end fashion boutique in her home. Ruby sells luxurious gowns, sarees, suits, classy dresses from her space. Her in-house boutique is famous among other societies too. People from Noida extension and New Delhi reach her in sector 78.
She could have opened a big showroom but she wanted to give all her attention to her son as she wanted to be available for him. This thought gave birth to the high-end sassy 'Ruby’s Palan creations boutique'.
The boutique sells lehenga choli, Indian gowns, Chaniya choli, Velvet material, Zardosi work suits, gota patti work lehengas, Pure Silk, chiffon and wedding gowns. Rubi also helps small-scale businesses by promoting them.
Although she believes there is slow growth in a home business, there is greater satisfaction as she can dedicate her time to her son as well. "I am happily giving ample time to my son as well as my boutique too, I am satisfied today."
