Destitute women, Elderly People,Slum dwellers, rural poor, physically challenged etc are people who suffer for no fault of theirs but it is their destiny that they have to wait for some support and assistance, else remain unshielded and thus demoralizing their confidence levels in the society as they are left defenseless. However an effort to employ these people and make them self sufficient to make a living without feeling like a burden on others can be a major contribution both in their lives, their families and also to the economy as more and more people can sustain on their own income no matter what conditions they are in. Cottage Industries would be a great platform for such people as they can work from their homes itself and they could have no boundaries when it comes up to imagination. Cottage industries involve a minimal investment too and can reach thousands of people around and this could suffice the needful. Cottage Industry is a specialized form of small scale industry where the production of the commodity takes place in the homes. The machineries or means utilized for the production of the commodities generally are the common ones used at homes. The basic characteristic feature of Cottage Industry is that it is basically unorganized in nature and come under the group of small scale industry type. The commodities that are being produced by these industries are basically consumable ones and are produced through the utilization of the traditional techniques.
While old people and physically challenged have few options of working from home because of their physical state, the women can be a part of consumer Business involving papads, pickles, ketchups etc and also can be in Handicrafts and sewing, pot making ,making baskets, home décor products with wood, clay, cloth, ceramic, fabric painting etc and the field of creativity has no limits which fetch good deal of consumers and if the products are exceptionally good, they may be exported, doing wonders by contributing to the economy and enabling these socially neglected souls to be the ones responsible which would boost their morale too.
Organization Description:
Swastik is a start-up business specializing in hand-made herbal products. These products include herbal therapy packs, soaps, moisturizers, creams, anti fungal treatments, incence sticks etc. All Swastik products are made from herbs that are either garden grown or gathered in local fields or wooded areas when they are at their peak of maturity and the concentration of active ingredients is highest and special care is taken to maintain hygiene to ensure quality products.
Herbal products have grown in popularity with consumers over the past ten years because of their outstanding efficiency with no side effects at all. Where once a customer would have to go to a particular shop to purchase herbal products, now the same products are available at the local supermarket and are more easily accessible with many varieties. The demand has created a cottage industry of supplying herbal products to companies who then market the product under their own brand name.
The project head has seven years of experience in the herbal product industry. She has worked as a Product Manager for Medimix soap. She has maintained her contacts in the industry and has already signed contracts with Ayur and Himalaya to supply herbal therapy packs and raw herbs that could be used after the modifications on a larger commercial basis.
Mission
The mission of Swastik is to create herbal products that heal, sooth and cleanse our customers and make a remarkable difference in their lives.
Objectives
The objectives for Swastik are as follows:
• Achieve sales goal of $120,000 during first year of operation.
• Achieve a regular customer base of 10 companies.
• Increase sales by 15% during the second year of operation.
Market Analysis:
With a growing interest in well-being and good health has sparked a rising demand for Indian-made organic, natural and herbal products worldwide. There is a growing consciousness all over the world for healthy living, good diet and long life. This is where our various organic, natural and herbal products come to the picture. The necessity is quality products in huge quantities to supply this rising global demand. Most organic and herbal products include herbal-based food supplements like pills and tablets, herbal vitamins, fruits-based soap, virgin oil, herbal facial treatments, organically grown fruits and foods, natural cosmetics, and many other similar products that can reach millions of people with no target on a specific age group or any Geographic location to be targeted. Reaching the common people can open wide avenues as the herbal products are encouraging in itself, however they need to be distributed efficiently for people of various different classes and should not be limited only to a particular strata.
The combined Herbal Products market was over $220 000 dollars in 1996- the year in which herbs reached the Corporate sector challenging its confinement only in Grandma’s tricks. This huge market is expected to grow over $1 Million by the year 2010.
Swastik competes with professional research organizations, and many local small scale industries focusing on the viability of using herbs as a profitable business with least risks and gaining a great deal of customers. Although other alternatives to Swastik exist, none have proven their manufacturability, scientific research, quality, or commercial viability. Even the most promising alternative to Swastik, that is the Aroma Magic, only dominates a 33% of the customers; Swastik reaches close by winning the faith of over 31% of the Market in this very short duration.
Financial Analysis:
Cottage Industries do not demand a heavy investment that makes it feasible and the output is encouraging enough. The pricing strategy for Swastik is based on the reduction in risk. The base price for licensing the technology is $60 000. This fee entitles licensees to complete documentation, raw materials, set up of adequate environment and the like. Finally, a royalty of 20 cents per manufactured goods is payable monthly by the licensee.
Management Team:
Executive officers of the Team are as follows:
Name Age Position
Pravat Kumar Satpathy 57 President and Chief Executive Officer
Ms Usha Yagnik 49 Vice President
Following them is a team of 40 members assisting the hundreds of workers in the process with one team leader per section taking the responsibility of production on time and maintaining the organization’s values and objectives that majorly focus on providing 100% herbal Products with no adulterations and the hygiene of the work place has to be maintained. The number of employees is expected to increase in the various branches all over the country since no work- experience for these vulnerable people is mandatory as Training from the scratch would be provided. Professionals would provide the necessary training and the physically challenged employees would not be burdened with difficult tasks on their part and responsibilities would be flexible and provided accordingly since more than making money, our objective is to make these people self sufficient.
PROMOTION
Upon completion of tested, functioning prototypes, Swastik will begin making a difference in the lives of the people in Karnataka and the neighboring states and very soon the Green Revolution of using herbal Products will dominate the Chemical Cosmetic Industry and with the standards in Quality and commitments maintained, they might reach the export sector especially to Middle East where herbal Products have faded in existence. The products would be exhibited in places like Lal Bagh Botanical Garden and other such places exhibiting and encouraging natural products. Stores like Health and glow and various malls should have a separate sector for Swastik Products and complimentary gifts and samples must be encouraged. There is little doubt that the display community will be nothing short of shocked by what they see about the product and realize its effects in a short span of time.
The launch of Swastik Products has been published in nearly every relevant newspaper, men’s and women’s magazines in the display industry. In the course of publishing both critical and product specific articles, relationships with key media contacts have developed. These relationships will be leveraged to gain third party endorsement of this breakthrough revolution of trusting nature more than artificial chemicals. In the end, however, it is the customer satisfaction that will speak so loudly that relevant interested customers will have to listen and try the product to believe in it.
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