…a story that’s truly inspirational
Mysore :
She started doing what anybody does for a living out of no muse but mere necessity. But today, her story can be nothing short of an inspiration to many. Having gotten into something that probably not many women would venture, she has proved that a woman can do anything, if only she has a will to do so.
Thirteen years ago, city’s K.S.Geethashree Rao began her career as a sales and marketing manager for undergarments at a leading branded inner-wear industry in city. With time she did her best to increase the sales of the products of the company and even ensured that Mysore did the 2nd highest sales. However, as the sales increased, the company slowly started dictating terms and ignored Geethashree, although it was because of her hard work that the company gained good profit.
It was then that she decided to quit her job and start an undergarments retail unit of her own – ‘Sugeeth’ in the year 2004. She herself took up the responsibility of sales and marketing for Sugeeth. And today, as a result, her company is doing well, with a total turnover of Rs. 3,00,000 a year.
Talking about the difficulties faced in the field initially, Geethashree explains, “In 2004 I set up my own retail unit, marketing undergarments of different brands in the city. Being a woman, it was no easy job roaming around places from shop to shop, marketing the products. Most companies prefer men to do the marketing job as it is too laborious. But I kept all the inhibitions aside and decided to prove my worth in the area.”
“While on job at the previous company, I had faced all kinds of hurdles like running around shops to take orders and distribute products myself since we wouldn’t find enough labourers to do so and at times, even ended up stepping into Police Stations and court several times to fight bounced cheques. All such incidents thoroughly ascertained me into the field of marketing even before I started my own unit”, she said.
However, “all this can be possible for a woman only when she is willing to come out of her comfort zone, take risks and face all odds that come her way, be it any business, making it successful is no easy task. One has to sacrifice all her desires, but at the same time, also make sure that she has enough time to spend with her family and also take care of personal life,” opines Geetha.
“My children were little too when I started working, but I made sure that I finished my work, and reached home by 5 pm, so that I could help them with their studies and also spend some quality time with them,” said Geetha.
“Today, after thirteen years, I have accomplished my goals, settled and contented, I have now stopped marketing rigorously as I have my own set of customers and have also started taking stitching orders. All of this would have not been possible without the support of my husband and my two sons,”said a proud Geetha.
Her store is located at Jayanagar. —AN
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / August 30th, 2013