Home ›› 16 Oct 2022 ›› Nation
An entrepreneur of Bogura, Jannatun Kanon turned her fortune around by selling organic foods via social media platforms.
Kanon decided to start her e-commerce business after her husband’s business collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In order to support her household, Kanon started selling homemade food products by using the social media platform Facebook.
Her endeavour paid off and the business soon gained traction as her homemade products became popular. According to the proprietress, the business currently makes Tk 8-10 lakh annually by selling various products all over the country.
Jannatun Kanon, daughter of Zillur Rahman of Natore district, got married to Aliuzzaman Saikat of Bogura Sadar in early 2020. Her husband’s wedding decorations business took a fall during the pandemic and the newlywed couple became worried about the financial loss.
Kanon however did not lose hope and started looking for ways to provide for the family. Her business began with selling organic mustard oil on a small scale on a Facebook page.
The sales grew gradually and now Kanon’s e-commerce business offers 16 different organic food products at a low-profit margin. Her products include mustard oil, ghee, honey and other similar food items.
In response to a question, Kanon said that the name of his online business page is Kanon Organic Foods on Facebook. Buyers place orders by contacting the mobile number given on that page. The business offers three-times money-back guarantee if the product turns out to be bad.
Kanon said they have not yet been able to place their own mustard oil-making machine, or rear cattle and farm bees to produce ghee and honey themselves.
However, they buy the mustard seeds themselves and are present during the oil-making process at the mills to ensure top-notch quality. The ghee and honey are also collected from trusted traders for the same reason.
Kanon further said that they have not received any complaints about their product quality so far and they make a profit of 10-20 per cent of their annual sales.
In response to another question, she said they have both advanced payment and cash-on-delivery systems. For advanced payment, the buyers can pay via bkash, nagad or bank deposit and for cash-on-delivery, they send the product by conditional courier. So far they have not had to face any hassle with product payments.
Saikat, Kanon’s husband, said he does the primary resource buying, couriers, and accounts for their business. Saikat claimed that his goal now is to institutionalise Kanon’s business, increase the size of the business and start a larger marketing operation.
In response to a question, Saikat said an application has already been made to Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in this regard. Besides, they are taking necessary steps to export the product abroad. They are trying to implement the necessary steps to set up a showroom, oil-making machine, and production of ghee at home.
“However, the main obstruction to undertaking a large project is the huge amount of money required for it. If we get government grants, it will be much easier to turn my wife’s dream business into a reality,” he said.
Kanon’s e-shop offers wood-press-made mustard oil, black cumin oil, ghee, organic, black cumin flower honey, mixed dry fruits, honeydew nuts, seasonal dates and sugar-free sugarcane jaggery, garlic pickle, mango pickle, chia seed, maize powder, lentil powder, basmati rice, wheat flour and other products including different types of organic spices.
Kanon was selected as one of the 1,000 women entrepreneurs from all over Bangladesh to receive a grant of Tk 50,000 in the “Smart Women Entrepreneurs Grant Giving Ceremony” held recently at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.
Along with looking after her business, Kanon decided to continue her studies and is now a second-year student at Govt Azizul Haque College. She is also the proud mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old child Mostakim.
The proprietress said that with the help of the government, many women entrepreneurs can expand their businesses and make an impact on the economy.
“My business is popular because we offer organic food products with the assurance of pure quality in the current market full of adulterated products. Small businesses like ours need government grants to stay afloat since we make a minimal profit,” she said.
Women and e-Commerce Trust (we) has given inspiration, courage and support to Kanon regarding her business like many other women entrepreneurs.
Kanon further said that boosting small businesses not only benefits people by providing organic unadulterated food but also creates employment opportunities.
Bogura’s Singra upazila Women Affairs Officer Mst Sumi Akhter said the government has various projects, training programmes and support systems for the economic empowerment of all women entrepreneurs.
“I am aware of Jannatun Kanon’s impressive e-commerce business. If she applies for assistance, we will try our utmost to provide all possible cooperation.
