Like most businesses, local entrepreneurs in Nagaland are walking a tightrope due to COVID-19. (Image Courtesy: pixabay.com)
August 21 is World Entrepreneurs Day
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 20
Each year August 21 is commemorated as World Entrepreneurs Day, to celebrate people who start and grow their own businesses in a variety of sectors and also “to create awareness for entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership around the world.”
This year, The Morung Express spoke to some entrepreneurs whose local businesses in Nagaland have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
26-year old Khosato Theluo and 27-year old Thujove Tunyi started KT Enterprise in Kohima in 2019 - an enterprise which deals in supply of mineral waters, paper plates, paper cups, tissues, etc. Although a recent business, the duo was able to have their daily sales with decent profits, until the pandemic occurred.
“With this pandemic we are struggling like most of the businesses. With some shops getting closed and some not running regularly like other days, the demand of our products has gone down drastically and with that, some of our products in stock have expired,” says the duo. The inability to sell their expired products has incurred a huge loss for the two young entrepreneurs. Besides demand, the supply of products has also decreased.
“One of the factories from where we get our products located in the outskirts of Kohima was also shut down by the villagers because of this pandemic, so now we don't even get our products. All this has been a huge bump for our business but we hope and pray to get back to normal very soon,” expresses Theluo.
30-year old Grace (name changed), a beautician by profession, started her own beauty salon in the heart of the capital in 2018.
“The parlour was my daily bread. Although it was not running as good as others, at least I was able to earn my living with it,” says Grace who has been compelled to close down her salon since March.
Under the current SOP, beauty salons and hair salons are restricted from opening in Nagaland. Following the closure, she decided to provide home services, however she was not able to earn much with the restrictions of outsiders in many wards.
“I am taking shelter at my relative's place and borrowing money from them. I can't even go back to the village since I don't have any earnings,” rues Grace.
While the pandemic has adversely affected local businesses, a few businesses have been able to thrive, especially online stores.
21 years old Jungshi Imti, a 5th semester student of Sazolie College runs an online store on Instagram called chichi_n_co dealing in a varied range of products such as apparels, footwear, books and electronics. According to the young entrepreneur, the products are either ‘brand new, thrift or pre-loved'.
“Just when the business was growing, this pandemic happened and I was afraid I was in for failure. But this time it was different. With everyone at home, more people were buying from my store and they were patient enough for me to ship only after the lockdown was lifted. I took every chance to go thrifting when I could and was always looking for ways to help my page grow,” shares Jungshi who specializes in closet clearances which is 'basically selling unwanted stuff from someone’s closet with commissions'.
Except for the delay in shipment (most customers are outside of Nagaland), the pandemic has elevated the growth of the online store. For Jungshi, it has also helped people earn money by clearing their closets for them.
“Now it’s very normal for me to see friends show up to my house with bags of stuff to sell because they are broke. Strangers texts me on WhatsApp with pictures of things they want to sell and it warms my heart to know I’m able to help someone in times of need,” remarks Jungshi.
