Winners do different things differently. Ask these entrepreneurs

When it comes to starting out on their own, city women are exploring some unique concepts like selling luxury chocolates, or dead sea products, or organic cosmetics.

“There is a lot of market potential in these domains,” they exclaim, explaining that it is mainly working professionals and the corporate crowd that extensively go in for exotic products.

“People generally don’t find products like yoga belts, dead sea mud, or witch hazel day cream in stores. So they buy them online through us,” says Maura Chari, managing director of Wellness Ocean, a holistic e-commerce firm based in Adugodi, that sells yoga and meditation kits, organic makeup, and aromatherapy products.

Novelty is a big factor that draws in buyers, says Priyanka Singhania, founder of Zoroy, which retails luxury chocolates like coverture chocolates containing cocoa butter, Belgian Pralines and Truffles.

Having started a chocolate boutique at Church Street in June, Singhania now plans to open 20 more boutiques across India.

“The concept is different from a typical chocolate store. Here you can choose the box, packaging and not just the variety of chocolate,” she says.

Singhania started the business from her home, and now gradually the manufacturing takes place from a unit near Bannerghata Road. She admits that it is mainly connoisseurs of such products who are key buyers.

“And of course corporates for gifting purposes. In fact, about 80% of my business comes from corporates, since chocolates is a big category for gifting,” says Singhania.

The women are now looking at expanding their ventures. “We are exploring the franchise model for expansion and also looking at funding options,” says Singhania.