Challenge to change the industry
Ms Tania is young women entrepreneur leading ‘Karigar’, a leather products brand. She has overcome quite a few challenges with the spirit to succeed, and has received numerous recognitions and awards as a prominent Bangladeshi entrepreneur. Cocoro conducted an interview for Ms. Tania at her industry.
Cocoro: I heard you started business right after graduation from a special school for learning leather products. Did you already have a strong will for business when you were student?
Tania: It was when I was 13 years old that that a mock business experience was conducted at a school event. And this gave me an opportunity to start my business. At the event, I designed a ceramic plant pot and sold it to a customer. My interest to be a entrepreneur got stronger after seeing these customer’s delighted face when they saw my product. Afterwards, I entered a special school to learn about leather technology. I could not concentrate on the lectures because a lot of new ideas of creating new bag and shoes came into my mind during the classroom. It became good memory: I got scolded by teacher.
Cocoro: I guess it was hard way until your business got in success.
Tania: In Bangladesh, it is quite challenging for women to start a business. Especially leather products, which is recognized as men’s work. My family also showed a strong opposition to it. In the traditional society, there was discrimination against shoemaker, so some of my relatives even kept away from me. My father passed away so young, and I did not have brother. There was always a challenge whenever I tried to do something.
For example, when I visited a real estate agent to look for a factory, they ignored me only because I was female. However, I did not give up and visited the agent over and over. Finally I got success in borrowing a small place. This is only one example, and there were plenty of similar experiences. It was rare for things to go smoothly.
Almost everyday, I was insulted and sexually harassed when I went to the market to buy raw materials for the products. I always convinced myself and thought ‘I am doing a good thing. Nothing wrong’. It was a really hard time, but the experience made me stronger.
Cocoro: Karigar has a good reputation. How did you expand your business?
Tania: I started from market research. I focused on leather products used for company’s selling purposed including leather binder, bag, and small articles. I found from research that there were a lot of companies using leather products to sell. However, most of the products were imported from overseas such as China.
This is niche market no national makers advanced, but there is plenty of demand. Even though I did not have brand, but technically my products could compete with those imported products. I had a advantage in terms of national maker, I was sure that I could develop this field.
I visited a farm with designed sample products, but there was succession of failures. More than 90% of the farms declined my products, and they even casted me verbal abuse. Nevertheless, I continued to make an effort to improve the products and heard their needs. As a result, trust between me and them was nurtured. After two years passed, I got a contract with British American Tabacco, the major foreign company. This was turning point, and my business has been expanding since then.
In the initial point, it was me, one factory worker, and sewing machine to run the company. Now that there is 60 employees in this company, and we deal widh various kind of leather products such as bag, shoes, leather jacket, and wallet. And three retail stores were established to sell Karigar brands. Furthermore, we undertake original equipment manufacturing(OEM) nationally and internationally. We got various prizes. Newspapers and TV introduce us frequently. Then my relatives started to accept me who used to oppose.
Cocoro: What drives you to start business even though you knew you will experience hard time?
Tania: It was because I wanted to change the leather industry and society itself. My goal was not just to sell leather products, but also grow the industry itself with my skill. Most of leather industries is family owned, but I would like to change the trend and bring new leather compnay style managed as a organization.
It was difficult to achieve this goal by myself, so I formed an association so that we can share skills and designs to raise the level of the entire industry.
Cocoro: After 10 years, how do you think Karigar will be changed? And do you have any expectation to Japan?
Tania: Now we focus on national market, but, after enhancing skills and production management ability, we would like to advance into global market.
I expect for japan to support skill development including sewing skill, packaging, and manufacturing equipment. For example, it would be good opportunity if we could send Bangladesh factory worker to Japan for training. The fund would be raised by leather production associations. After the trained worker come back to Bangladesh, it would be great to transfer his skill not only to my company but also to the whole industry.
[Editor notes]
Ms. Tania is 32 years old, an young women entrepreneur. She joins public activities such as being director of Bangladesh women chamber of commerce and consultant for private sectors development on World Bank and other international organizations. ‘This is all thanks to the trustable employees’ she said. I was impressed by strong will and high aspiration.
