The new wave of ‘vocal for local’ proved to be a boost for Indian entrepreneurs. It has promoted local businesses during COVID-19 and given customers the ability and motivation to shop locally with ease. This rebranded version of ‘Made In India’ has our support, and every month, TC46 will spotlight small businesses and ventures you can champion and back easily through online and offline purchases.
Artists, entrepreneurs, visionaries and experts, Indian women are shattering glass ceilings and breaking out of boxes. Success, tied with skills and hard work, is what makes those featured in our list today an inspiration for many. And the journey, for these women of incredible talent, are stories that must be told.
This week, here are some brands we’re cheering on; check them out!
Baked Goodies By Little Miss Muffin
Little Miss Muffin was born out of pure curiosity and the itch to create. Iona Dsouza’s passion led her to discover her baking skills and become an aspiring home baker at the age of 19. Back in 2013, cakes were customised all the time and there weren’t really many hands in the market who customised cupcakes. This intricate but delicious way of storytelling received a lot of support beyond friends and family, and the home bakery of Little Miss Muffin began to be known for the ability to bring imaginations to life on cupcakes.
Today Iona is a self-taught home baker and fondant artist who has been driving Little Miss Muffin alongside her corporate career for the last seven years. The brand continues to be her passion project that’s now also a full-fledged family-run home bakery.
The brand makes cupcakes, doughnuts, cakes and customises all of them as per the client’s requirement. The brand’s signature products are the red velvet cupcake, and the cinnamon stuffed Nutella doughnut.
Their audience isn’t categorised by an age group. 90% of the brand’s TG comes to them because they want a unique gifting experience. The other 10% wants to fulfil their sweet-tooth cravings.
A box of six regular cupcakes would cost you Rs 500 and customisation starts at Rs 900. A box of doughnuts costs between Rs 400 and Rs 600.
Social e-commerce is their mode of retailing, Instagram is the primary platform, followed by Facebook. You can find and engage with them online.
If you are also looking to start a food business or tiffin business on a small scale, read these expert tips on how to start a tiffin service from home.
Apparel By Tamarind Chutney
Tamarind Chutney was started by Tanvi Bikhchandani and Charanya Shekar out of a desire to support artisan livelihoods, preserve India’s craft heritage and sell amazing products – all while following ethical business principles.
Previously, Tanvi worked at Central Square Foundation, an education philanthropy fund, where she managed the early learning portfolio and also served as Chief of Staff to the Managing Directors. She holds a B.A. in Economics & South Asian Studies from Columbia University and an MBA from Stanford University. She enjoys hiking, reading, drinking chai and doting on her two dogs. Charanya Shekar is a textile and apparel designer passionate about the craft traditions of India, introducing Indian aesthetics and designs to the world today. She previously worked at Bareek, a men’s apparel brand. She holds a B.Des from NIFT Hyderabad and an M.Des from NID, Gandhinagar.
While they started Tamarind Chutney in 2019, the brand has been many years in the making. They are old friends from school and even though life took them on different paths, the friendship remained strong. Between the sentimental reunions and fun girls’ trips, they often talked about working on crafts together because it united their interests. Finally, in the summer of 2019, the time was right and so it happened! Tanvi was in business school and exploring social entrepreneurship in the livelihoods space, and Charanya was looking to shift from her job. They started working with a few artisans and piloted a collection – and the rest is history.
The brand’s products include contemporary apparel and accessories like tops, dresses, shirts, saree blouses and more. They started with a women’s collection, but have also begun producing men’s shirts and ties, and reusable cotton masks too.
The target audience is millennial Indian women who are looking to shop sustainably or add an element of craft into their wardrobes. The garment prices range from Rs 649 to Rs 3499. All the products are available on their website or on Instagram.
Organic Snacks By Prana Superfoods
Prana Superfoods was founded by Harshita Shakalya in the tribal forests of Pench. With an understanding of Ayurvedic recipes, she created the label to revive ancient recipes with the help of various local women in the area. She trained her all-women staff to manufacture products at par with international standards. These products are shipped every day to various Indian postal addresses from their unit.
Prana is a Sanskrit word for ‘Life Force’. All living beings have a life but the force and the vitality varies depending on various factors. Scientific evidence supports claims that the default natural settings like fresh air, unadulterated food, and natural environments boost health and build immunity. The forests of Pench have these components aplenty, and the desire to share the goodness of a pure life fortified with ancient Ayurveda recipes gave rise to Prana Superfoods in 2015.
Prana Superfoods processes natural, nutrient-rich ingredients like fruits and vegetables, processes them to create various stable and directly usable forms – from oils and scrubs to pickles and marmalades, packages them and ships them across the country. Their primary buyers are people who are aware of the benefits of including healthy options in their daily diet and are at ease when it comes to purchasing good products online. The brand’s products are mostly packed in plastic-free packaging and glass bottles.
They are reasonably priced to encourage trials and repeat orders. You can check them out on their website.
Want us to be VocalForLocal for your brand or know someone whose work you’d like to cheer on? Drop us an email to be featured on The Channel 46 at contact@anvilmedia.in.
