Tanish Agarwal: As a student of class 11 living in Assam, I researched about the machines, types of businesses, how much margin is achieved and many such details about the business sector, during March 2020. Completing the research in July, I purchased the necessary machinery required for printing on customised products and started my business since then. I sell customised products like t-shirts, mugs, etc., which I print and design.
Initially, finance was a great challenge since I had to invest around Rs. 1,00,000 for this business and I had only 30-40K rupees that I had saved, so far. I had to take a loan to cover the rest of the investment expenses, which I am now repaying every month. As it was the lockdown period, I couldn’t travel and somehow, I connected with 5 retailers out of which one is from Ulhasnagar, Mumbai. I purchased the machine from him and settled the payment around June, before starting my business in July.
It was difficult to get customers during the initial days since people had trust issues to pay advance for their products, sourced from a new startup. Customers were also tensed about courier problems, which made it difficult to run the business initially. Now, things are getting better and people are gradually trusting me and my services. I would suggest every one of my age to try and do something similar and to have the courage to start up something like me and make use of the available resources since it changes the whole dimension of life; you learn a lot when you face the real world.
Sooner, I plan to take this business forward on a large scale and purchase the different types of machines available for customising products so that I can expand my business. Also, I plan to take my business on an offline basis too, apart from the online one that I’m doing as of now. Never compare the age with things that one should do, at a particular age. Just see the person’s abilities and push them forward. Make use of every moment that you live instead of wasting them.
