Page 32 - Plastics News January 2022

FEATURE

costs and profit margins using an Excel Pivot owner. It was a 4,000 square feet plot
sheet and uploaded the product photos Like many others, Amruta also saw and the owner built a shed structure
on the site. Within a week I got my first videos on YouTube about setting up over it. In October 2018, we did the
order. Tasting success on one platform, companies but soon realised it is not as groundbreaking ceremony. I sourced
Amruta soon enrolled on several other easy as it is made out to be. Also, some machinery from Nashik, purchased
ecommerce platforms and the business of the businesses they had shortlisted material and finally in January 2019, setup
took grip,” Amruta said. had very less profit margins. the plant with the help of a consultant.”
“When I actually started production
“I have this ‘never give up’ attitude which “We decided to make a product which is under our brand name ‘Beestofix’, I
has helped me tide over all difficult consumable and required in retail as well had only one employee and we were
situation till date. I joined ecommerce as industrial sectors. We started studying able to have only two or three batches
platforms in February 2017 and did a about adhesives, how they are made and of production per month. Companies
business of Rs.1.5 lakh in just a quarter. machinery needed to produce it. We also were not ready to part with their existing
Next year in 2017-18, it went up to Rs.13 analysed the tape industry, the payment suppliers. Numerous customer visits,
lakh. It boosted my confidence but the cycle period, inventory costing, profit slowly building trust and initially offering
next year in 2018-19 it went down to margins, etc. Companies manufacturing our product free for trial are the things
Rs.4 lakh as things took a different turn,” adhesives were not catering to local which worked in my favour. But now I
Amruta said. markets and were export-oriented have completely stopped giving any free
completely. I sensed a huge opportunity
Manufacturing dreams here. I thought if I could look for local trials and I am proud to have achieved
Early success in ecommerce space companies whose monthly consumption this in just two years. The first production
order was delivered on March 30 and
sparked a debate in Amruta’s home. is 50 to 60 tonnes and tap just one second big order was received within 15
Amruta wanted to expand her existing tonne of it, then I can setup and get days. Since then, we have never looked
business, while her in-laws and husband my business running,” Amruta stated. back,” said Amruta.
were of the view that she should dream “Setting up an adhesive manufacturing
big and setup a manufacturing plant. But plant is not an easy task. So, we looked Explaining the reason behind naming her
Amruta was clueless about everything – for consultants from Pune and Mumbai. product as Beestofix, Amruta says, “No
right from what to manufacture, how to Some consultants supported while some one works as hard as a honeybee. The
setup a plant to how to approach new sympathised or ridiculed as they thought hexagon shaped structure of beehive is
customers. we could not bear the huge costs involved the best fixed bond – using least material
in the process. One consultant helped to hold most weight – known to us and
Says Amruta, “When I visited Bhosari me in starting the business on a small hence we derived the name ‘Beestofix’
MIDC, I saw several small suppliers scale, but on the condition of complete from the words bees and best fix.”
providing spare items to big units. I advance payment. Instead of bulk orders,
started researching the companies that I paid only for some barrels and supplied Customer acquisition
were functional in industrial areas in and those to local companies,” she added. Getting large-scale companies as
around Pune and opportunities which I As of today the Sales and revenues for customers was the next big challenge
could encash. I noticed that packaging Industrial adhesive - 70 tonnes daily, for Amruta. “I used to stand near
industry is big and the tape market is Printing ink – 1,000 kg per month, their production line for hours. Once
huge within this industry segment. Also, Colour pigment – 1.5 kg per month I demonstrated my product’s efficiency
there were not many chemical industries to a customer and they were surprised
around Pune. There are big companies Fresh start with the good quality outcome as
in Pune who are tape manufacturers but As Amruta focussed on the adhesive compared to their earlier suppliers. That
they had to source tape adhesives, etc business opportunity, she lost focus was the moment when I got the first big
from out-of-state-located companies. on the ecommerce sales of electronic order,” Amruta said. Adding further,
There was no local supplier. Besides products and accessories. Amruta says, she says, “I realised that since most
this, we made a list of 25 such business “I identified a plot in Chimbali area in competitors were based out-of-state,
opportunities.” Moshi and did an agreement with the I should capitalise on my strengths of

32 PLASTICS NEWS JANUARY 2022