“I think women are already empowered in many ways. Their way to analyze & multitask is far superior to men. They only need to realize that it’s high time they create a space for themselves and become vocal about their goals & dreams. ”
Brief introduction about yourself and tell us something about “Cape of Good Soap”? Besides being a doting mother to my 5 yr old girl, I am a media professional and started as an entrepreneur 10 months back with my venture, Cape of Good Soap, which makes customized soaps for a niche clientele across India. Elegant looking nourishing soaps are made from organic and choicest herbs and prompt customer service ensures that interest levels in the brand are always fresh. The creed of the brand is – Personalized, always!
Such an innovative business idea, what ignited the spark in you to start it as a business? This came from the realization that we all are born different & we have different skin demands. However, we resort to the same generic options that are available to us in the markets. How about customizing the soaps and other bath products as per every individual & her needs with choicest of ingredients that the skin actually needs or suits the customer’s personality.
How has been your journey been so far? Also, please share your future goals? The journey so far has been incredibly encouraging with extremely positive response from almost all my clients. I plan to open a one of its kind of chain of COGS stores in India across metros- it’s a novel concept and has not been done before. That’s all I can reveal now as it’s at a very nascent stage.
What all challenges did you face and what were your strategies to overcome them? The first challenge was to make time for my passion. As the business started growing, I needed to devote more time and energy while balancing my full time job and family. I realized that if one is passionate about something, willingly, time also gets managed. Second challenge was to market the products single handedly & expand my client base which got addressed with & through word of mouth once people started using them. I have tremendous faith in my products, as they are unique and every single piece is specially made for the client by me
What are your views on the thought, that as compared to male counterparts, it’s harder and more struggling for females to make a mark professionally? Women have multiple roles to play; hence it becomes difficult for them to balance. And bogged down with pressure, they give up living on their dream. Men on the other hand are more objective about pursuing their goals and don’t give up due to family or societal pressures.
What piece of advice would you like to give to the aspiring youth who wish to pursue their dream of becoming an entrepreneur? I would say, dream is something of your own, go live it. Nobody else can live your dream or life on behalf of you. Don’t drop it because you have to juggle so much. Define it & make it happen.
According to you, what are the top three essential skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Clear decision making, Will to take risks- calculated and spontaneous, both & strong hold on finances
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life? Has the family always been supportive? I feel happy & fortunate that I am able to pursue my passion and have managed to turn it into a lucrative business. My happiness transcends down to my family; my daughter gets excited seeing me make soaps & finds them very edible looking. Both my husband and my daughter are very supportive and try to help me in their own capacity whenever required. My husband in fact helps me out when there are tight deadlines to meet.
What are your views and opinions towards the ambiguous need to promote women entrepreneurship and women empowerment in India? I think women are already empowered in many ways. Their way to analyse, & multitask is far superior to men. They only need to realize that it’s high time they create a space for themselves and be vocal about their goals & dreams.
