Basanti Pradhan, owner of Bodhi Brikchya Nursery, didn’t think she would ever become a successful entrepreneur especially after suffering a huge lose in a garment business but she says her passion to succeed was the reason why she persevered. Today, besides the nursery, she also owns a flower shop at Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, a finance company, and a sweets house. 

But back in 1990s when she started her journey in business, she says she was trapped in such a financial crisis post the failure of the garment business that floriculture seemed like the only option because it didn’t need a large investment or manpower. “We now export flower bulbs to USA, Holland, Japan, and Germany,” she says adding that they started with planting seeds in a shed on half a ropani of land and sold flowers to locals. “It was a slow journey but business picked up when my clientele expanded to include foreign customers as well,” explains Pradhan. 

Pradhan has come a long way but says she has a longer way to map out because of all the competition in the market today. “It surely feels good when a client is loyal and wants to continue doing business with you even after years of doing business together but old clients aren’t enough. You have to build new ones constantly if you want to survive and thrive,” she says. And Pradhan is of the opinion that marketing your business and making new customers are the hardest aspects of being an entrepreneur. 

Then, of course, there are the challenges. Pradhan mentions that, in the floriculture business, using land to its maximum potential and protecting flowers against the unpredictable weather can be really difficult, and that there are many hurdles to navigate around on a daily basis. “You can’t ever stop working when you are an entrepreneur. You have to constantly be on your toes and also be able to think quickly and make decisions spontaneously,” she says.

However, she says that her journey has been a pleasing one because of all the support she got from her family. “A little help from the government wouldn’t hurt but support from home is really crucial when one wants to start and sustain a business,” she says. Pradhan also believes that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be innovative and begin with a creative idea or concept. 

“If you want to open the same business as your next door neighbor then there’s a high risk that you might not make it,” she says explaining that entering directly into the competitive market in the very first day itself is never a good strategy. According to Pradhan, one should always begin with something unique and small. “A humble beginning followed through with hard work and dedication will surely lead to success,” says the hard and smart working woman who is also a board member of Federation of Women Entrepreneur’s Association Nepal (FWEAN). 

Besides being an entrepreneur, Pradhan also wants to share the knowledge of floriculture and thus holds regular trainings and holds workshops for the women who are interested in learning the skills. “Sharing your knowledge and experiences not only helps others but it also makes you reflect on your mistakes and become wiser businesswise,” she concludes.

(The Week Bureau)

 
• domination through determination
 
• basanti pradhan
 
• bodhi brikchya nursery