Eking out a living: More women turning to entrepreneurship

ISLAMABAD: Despite comprising over half of the population, women are conspicuously absent from the workforce. But by utilising their skills in handicrafts, some women entrepreneurs have been able to create a revune stream for themselves and their families.

In the capital, it has become a lifeline for hundreds of otherwise unemployed and less educated women and the trend for the past few years has shown upwards climb.

Women create small items as per their expertise and capability. Some sew clothes, other make small cosmetic items, some make crockery.

However, vending is not easy and they often find themselves competing with men and companies. This means that not every woman can be a successful entrepreneur.

Beside courage and determination, one must know and asses the risk in their chosen trade. Having a good network is key, apart from interacting with well-connected people and communicating with customers to keep them coming back again and again.

Moreover, one needs to be able to conduct market research on the industry they are trying to serve and be able to identify trends and to size up the competition to create their niche.

Female entrepreneur Nosheen Ali attested that it was indeed a tough job which requires expertise. Moreover, she said that competitiveness amongst vendors for access to customers should be strong.

The power to negotiate, though, is critical, she added.

"You must know how to negotiate for lower prices with suppliers, and higher prices with customers, and for better investments, with investors," Ali explained.

Another vendor, Afsheen Safdar, said that women who did not have any skill or knowledge, are left with no other option than taking up a trade.

"I must say that now we are able to solve our finances through this financial resource,” she said, advising, "Have confidence in your ability and courage; No one will invest in you if you do not believe in yourself," she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2018.