The pandemic has changed the world forever. There isn’t anything that will return to normal or restate the former glory, we all will have to act as per the new normal norms. Businesses have taken a huge blow, both big and small. Recovery is a huge task let alone profits which are a far-fetched dream for some.
But when it comes to business ideas, there is no one better than the Indians! So, while some companies are still in a battle for survival during the pandemic, few seized this opportunity to make a fortune. These companies touched markets that were untouched and were up for grabs.
Let’s see examples of some such companies that have
reigned the new normal to bring in newfound opportunities.
1. Suparshva Swabs
During the nationwide lockdown with the rising number of COVID cases, the demand for polyester testing swabs grew by leaps and bounds. Till March 2020, swabs weren’t manufactured in India and were exported from China and US. With the demand getting high globally, it was becoming hard and expensive to source them for use. This is when a Delhi-based company Suparshva came forward and converted its 100% percent cotton processing lines based in Ghaziabad, into producing polyester-spun swabs on automatic production in a matter of 10 days. The entire development system is in-house and the trials were done in the main production lines. This enabled them to start the production of the swabs the same day they received the ICMR approval. They started making material for at least 2 million polyesters per week and towards the end of the peak season i.e May went on to produce 5 million swabs per week. They even claimed that they can cater to the entire nation’s requirements of swabs for the virus testing owing to the fact that South Asia’s largest manufacturer/exporter of personal hygiene products like cotton balls, buds, and Covid-19 testing swabs. Such a positive idea, isn’t it? Quite literally!
2. Anthyesti
Anthyesti means ‘the last sacrifice’ in Sanskrit. A company founded in 2016 by software engineer Shruthi Reddy Sethi is a company that provides end-to-end funeral services. She had founded the company in order to clean India’s unregulated funeral industry. The company saw unprecedented growth in business during the COVID situation which was never foreseen and was sad. People weren’t able to give the last respect to their loved ones and even had to wait in lines to bury or cremate their loved ones. The company came up with Rs.30,0000 package which was a cheap deal as compared to the other services where people just wanted to make money.
Medical insurance for cremation workers, embalmers, and ambulance drivers are mandatory in Anthyesti which is a rare thing in this industry that usually exploits their workers. The revenue of the firm saw an increase by 20% and the estimated turnover by the end of 2021 was expected to double.
This company is an example of how entrepreneurs adapted to help in dire situations and also made an opportunity out of worsening situations. Such a noble thought paying proper respect to the dead and letting them R.I.P (Rest in Power)
3. ChefJunction
College mates Suryanshu Panda and Epari Pritam saw a gap when the COVID-19 lockdown started. Many people wanted to eat restaurant-style dishes and were exploring their culinary skills. People were sharing all the experiments they were doing with their food as they were hesitant about ordering food to maintain their safety. As more and more people craved for that ‘homemade meal’, these boys founded ChefJunction in August
2020. This Bhuvneshwar based startup has a website that allows users to order homemade meals and a platform for home chefs to make a living. The cravings for ‘Ghar ka khana’ and hesitation of ordering food from restaurants during the pandemic gave birth to ChefJunction. The lip-smacking idea, isn’t it?
4. Custkart
Kundan Mishra saw the web series TVF Pitchers and it changed his life. The story of four friends quitting their job to start a startup inspired him so much that in June 2020, he started a merchandise startup with his brother Abhishek Mishra called the Custkartin Bokaro. Aiming to become the ‘standard’ merchandise retailer of India, this duo started this with the mission of giving livelihoods to people so that they don’t have to leave their families and work somewhere else. It was also their attempt to give back to their society in Jharkhand and become a part of the community of entrepreneurs. This startup sells merchandise like caps, hoodies, and t-shirts to corporates and institutes located in small towns because all the other players only supply such things to the bigger cities. Small town institutes and corporates were left untapped. This was an opportunity in disguise for them. Their handwork has gained them a turnover of Rs 50 lakhs. Custkart now has its own factory where people from nearby also come to work. Now that’s what giving back is all about!
These companies are a few examples of the saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Although the pandemic has been tough for businesses, it hasn’t stopped the confidence of entrepreneurs and as you read this blog, some startups were conceived in the mind and some have already come into reality.
It doesn’t cost to dream, doesn’t it? Go ahead!
The latter part might cost though! ; )
Source of information: https://yourstory.com/
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