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Natasha Siddiqui, a 30-year-old woman who completed her education up to the 10th standard, is currently separated from her husband.She has two sons and two daughters, and following the separation, they reside with Natasha’s parents. Natasha shares the house with her two married brothers.Previously employed in a government organisation where she managed paperwork and coordination, Natasha found it challenging to manage expenses in the joint family setup.She realized that her job alone was insufficient to support herself and her children without burdening her parents or brothers.
Understanding the importance of securing her family’s future, Natasha became determined to take charge of her life.
Determined to improve her financial situation, despite her full-time government job, Natasha ventured into the fabric business.
She started by purchasing unstitched fabrics from local markets and offering them to women in her community, providing them with the convenience of shopping from their homes. To enhance her business skills and operations, Natasha attended a meeting hosted by HomeNet Pakistan(HNP)in her area. There, she learned about the Financial Inclusion of Home-based Workers’ Enterprises through Business Booster Loan and Trainings (FBLT) project. This initiative focused on empowering women through training, mentorship, and financial guidance, including access to business booster loans on favourable terms.
Inspired by the project’s principles, Natasha decided to formalize her fabric business, naming it ‘Yoll’s Fabrics’.
Natasha’s lack of business acumen initially led her to spend more than she earned. It washerethat the Foundation Level Training of FBLT became in valuable.
The Foundation Level Training provided Natasha with essential business skills,including developing a business model, establishing a brand identity, maintaining records,managing inventory,purchasing according to demand, time management, and honing communication skills. This training underscored the significance of understanding market dynamics, particularly the principles of demand and supply.
Natasha reflected on her past practices, noting, “Initially, I would simply purchase fabrics based on seasonal availability and personal preference. I struggled with negotiating prices and identifying fabrics that were in vogue or suited customer preferences.” However, the training transformed her approach. She now emphasizes investing in materials, colours, and designs that align with current trends and customer demands. She has also learned to educate her customers about the latest fashion trends and improve her sales techniques.Moreover, she now calculates her profits by factoring in not just the fabric cost but also transportation and time expenses.
Armed with Foundation Level Training, Natasha has become adept at securing favourable deals and optimizing her sales strategies.
Natasha used to frequent wholesale markets but refrained from buying fabric in large quantities due to uncertainty about selling the entire stock. Her cautious approach led to minimal savings on purchases. Realizing the potential benefits of bulk buying, Natasha sought financial assistance. The FBLT program connected her with HBL Microfinance Bank for a loan application. Given her limited bank experience, HNP’s team supported her in various banking processes, including opening a bank account, obtaining an ATM card, preparing loan application documents, and securing a guarantor. Subsequently, she was approved for a loan of PKR 100,000.
With the loan, Natasha purchased a variety of fabrics in bulk,enabling her to sell at a higher margin.She diligently managed her profits by allocating a portion to her bank’s monthly instalment and reinvesting the remainder in additional fabric purchases. This strategy, reminiscent of her learnings from the Foundation Level Training, evolved into a sustainable business model.
Prior to undergoing the Foundation Level Training, Natasha’s monthly income was limited to PKR 10,000. However, by implementing the teachings from the training and adopting new methods, she has significantly increased her profitability, now earning a consistent profit of PKR 25,000 per month,which surges to PKR40,000 during festive seasons such as Eid or weddings.
“These trainings have helped me take better care of my children. They not just go to school now but are also taking tuition for the subjects they need help in, ” shared Natasha. “HNP has not just taught me about business but also how to raise my kids in a better way.”
Looking ahead,Natasha envisions expanding her business beyond her home by renting a space in the market for her warehouse. In this expanded space, she plans to not only sell fabric directly to customers but also supply unstitched clothes to other shops in the area. Additionally, she aims to employ more women to assist her, empowering other women in the community to improve their
lives and achieve financial independence.
YOLL’S FABRICS, LAHORE, PAKISTAN – CONTACT: 0324 6370235
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