GROWING GROWING MICROENTERPRISE TO MICROENTERPRISE TO

MAINSTREAM ECONOMYMAINSTREAM ECONOMY

Sharing experience & Lesson LearntSharing experience & Lesson Learnt

… ….Shahinoor Rahman.Shahinoor Rahman

Introducing myselfIntroducing myself

Sequences:Sequences:

Beginning from Home.Beginning from Home. Introduced to BWCCI.Introduced to BWCCI. Setting Up Own Factory.Setting Up Own Factory. Product Development & Quality Product Development & Quality

Assurance.Assurance. Hindrance – in the process of Hindrance – in the process of

Growing.Growing. How to overcome.How to overcome.

Beginning From HomeBeginning From Home

Started Home Based Business in 2005 in order to gain Started Home Based Business in 2005 in order to gain financial solvency and to earn own identity.financial solvency and to earn own identity.

Became a member of BWCCI, a well reputed institution in Became a member of BWCCI, a well reputed institution in our country which extends all necessary support and our country which extends all necessary support and cooperation to the women entrepreneurs & SMEs. Here, I cooperation to the women entrepreneurs & SMEs. Here, I received various training, business related consultancy, received various training, business related consultancy, financial support and learnt different business development financial support and learnt different business development tools and techniques which helped me to a great extent to tools and techniques which helped me to a great extent to gain skills and confidence to add new items in my product gain skills and confidence to add new items in my product line. It also helped me to network with others and grow my line. It also helped me to network with others and grow my business.business.

Continue…Continue…

Beginning From HomeBeginning From Home continues…….continues…….

Initially, focus was on boutique and Initially, focus was on boutique and handicrafts.handicrafts.

Gradually. Handmade carpet was included Gradually. Handmade carpet was included in product range. in product range.

HandmadeHandmade CarpetsCarpets::

Beginning From HomeBeginning From Home continues…….continues…….

To make my business more sustained and To make my business more sustained and successful, I also attended various training, successful, I also attended various training, seminar, workshops, fairs & summits within the seminar, workshops, fairs & summits within the country and abroad to learn, share experiences, country and abroad to learn, share experiences, develop communications and to remain updateddevelop communications and to remain updated..

Setting Up Own FactorySetting Up Own Factory

Established own Factory in 2006 at Established own Factory in 2006 at Savar.Savar.

Started with only 10 looms & 30 Started with only 10 looms & 30 female workers.female workers.

Scarcity of skilled workers for Scarcity of skilled workers for weaving carpet.weaving carpet.

Organized skill development Organized skill development trainings for local artisanstrainings for local artisans

Establishing Own Company Establishing Own Company continues…continues…

Workers are trained and Workers are trained and motivated at regular basis.motivated at regular basis.

Free Accommodations are Free Accommodations are arranged for workers living in arranged for workers living in far distance.far distance.

Workers are offered extra Workers are offered extra benefits and attractive benefits and attractive package.package.

Production in full sewing.Production in full sewing.

At present, 80 skilled workers At present, 80 skilled workers are working in 30 looms with are working in 30 looms with the weaving capacity of 30 the weaving capacity of 30 meter/hourmeter/hour. .

continue ……continue ……

Product development and Quality AssuranceProduct development and Quality Assurance

It’s a very important aspect to grow a It’s a very important aspect to grow a business up to the mark.business up to the mark.

More attention is given in designing More attention is given in designing the product and developing the the product and developing the quality because at the end of the quality because at the end of the day, it is the ‘day, it is the ‘productproduct’ with ‘’ with ‘QualityQuality’ ’ which matters.which matters.

An Example:An Example:

An exclusive sample (carpet) was An exclusive sample (carpet) was developed with SONY logo for an developed with SONY logo for an Electronics Manufacturing Company.Electronics Manufacturing Company.

Sample development process took Sample development process took about six months and high cost.about six months and high cost.

The sample was approved by Top The sample was approved by Top management to offer it to their management to offer it to their customers as a gift for every sale of customers as a gift for every sale of their LCD TV.their LCD TV.

They placed an order for 2000 pieces They placed an order for 2000 pieces within six months lead time. Satisfied within six months lead time. Satisfied with the delivery, they gave repeat with the delivery, they gave repeat orders which continued round the orders which continued round the year.year.

It was the largest volume order ever It was the largest volume order ever placed for a single design, in the placed for a single design, in the history of handmade carpets in history of handmade carpets in Bangladesh.Bangladesh.

Hindrance in growing & Measures to OvercomeHindrance in growing & Measures to Overcome

Getting adequate clients was a major concern at the initial Getting adequate clients was a major concern at the initial stage. stage.

To overcome : extra effort was given to improve product To overcome : extra effort was given to improve product quality, develop design and bring varieties in products. quality, develop design and bring varieties in products. Products were displayed in all the prominent shopping Products were displayed in all the prominent shopping malls, furniture marts, etc.malls, furniture marts, etc.

Difficulties in organizing the rural workers/artisan in the Difficulties in organizing the rural workers/artisan in the process of growing the business was acute.process of growing the business was acute.

Workers’ potential areas were identified and trainings were Workers’ potential areas were identified and trainings were organized need wise. Moreover, they were motivated by organized need wise. Moreover, they were motivated by given incentives for their hard work.given incentives for their hard work.

continue…continue…

Hindrance in growing & Measures to OvercomeHindrance in growing & Measures to Overcome

continues…..continues…..

Fund crisis was always a barrier in Fund crisis was always a barrier in expansion and planning for new expansion and planning for new investmentsinvestments..

BWCCI and Bank support in this regard is BWCCI and Bank support in this regard is mention worth. To make a business mention worth. To make a business sustained and successful, Bank support sustained and successful, Bank support is very essential. Bank can support to a is very essential. Bank can support to a great extent to minimize fund crisis.great extent to minimize fund crisis.

Hindrance in growing & Measures to OvercomeHindrance in growing & Measures to Overcome continues……continues……

Lack of support from family and Lack of support from family and others, especially for a woman in others, especially for a woman in business in prevailing social condition business in prevailing social condition like ours is a common concern.like ours is a common concern.

Through hard work, determination and motivation Through hard work, determination and motivation one can overcome such problem and gain one can overcome such problem and gain success the way I did.success the way I did.

A look at my productsA look at my products

Participation in Global Summit of Women in Germany & Participation in Global Summit of Women in Germany & ChinaChina

Thank you all for your patienceThank you all for your patience

www.shanooscollection.comwww.shanooscollection.com