Kees Rosales (Wardrobe Crew)

This is a creative niche! Steps to start:1. Format – Decide whether you’ll do live puppet shows on Zoom/YouTube or pre-recorded stories. 2. Audience – Schools, parents, and NGOs working with children. 3. Production – Invest in quality puppets, green screen, and decent audio. 4. Revenue – Ticketed online shows, YouTube monetization, or subscriptions. 5. Marketing – Collaborate with schools for online events and festivals. Since digital storytelling is growing, puppet shows can stand out as both fun and educational.

Eco-friendly utensils are in high demand due to the plastic ban. To start:1. Raw material sourcing – Work with bamboo growers in Assam, Tripura, or Kerala, or tie up with local sawmills. 2. Machinery – Small woodworking machines for cutting, polishing, shaping. For bamboo, you need slicing and curing machines. 3. Treatment – Bamboo must be boiled and dried to prevent fungus. 4. Products – Spoons, forks, plates, and reusable straws. 5. Certification – Apply for FSSAI if selling for food use. 6. Markets – Sell to cafes, catering businesses, eco-friendly stores, and online on Flipkart Green or Amazon Saheli. Start with a small catalog and gradually expand.

I run a small embroidery unit in Pune. My tip: never compromise on quality threads—cheap threads fade after one wash and hurt your reputation. Focus on bridal trousseau, kidswear, and corporate uniforms because margins are higher there. Also, collaborate with local tailoring shops—they get steady clients but don’t always offer embroidery. This partnership ensures regular orders without heavy marketing. If you’re into digital embroidery, platforms like EmbroideryShristi offer design files and guidance.

Starting an embroidery business can be both creative and profitable. Here’s a step-by-step approach:1. Decide your niche – Hand embroidery, machine embroidery, or computerized embroidery (digital designs). 2. Investment & tools – A good embroidery machine costs between ₹50,000–₹2 lakhs. For small-scale, start with manual machines. 3. Skill & workforce – If you’re skilled, you can start solo. Otherwise, hire artisans (many rural women have this skill). 4. Raw materials – Source threads, fabrics, hoops, and beads from wholesale markets. 5. Sales channels – Sell via Instagram, WhatsApp, and exhibitions. Also consider Etsy or Amazon Karigar for global customers. 6. Clients – Tailors, boutiques, and wedding designers are your best first clients. Start small with custom orders, and reinvest profits into advanced machines as you grow.