Shazia from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, started making soap at home and gained recognition. This small project, which began about two years ago, has grown into a full-fledged business. Shazia prepares about twenty different types of soap using ingredients such as aloe vera, neem, roses, rice, honey, saffron, charcoal, and Multani clay. The starting price of her products is 50 rupees, and orders come from different parts of the country through social media and online platforms.
The idea for making soap arose from skin problems. According to Shazia, residents of Hatakhedi found that their skin became very dry after using regular soap, forcing them to apply body lotion immediately after showering or washing. This issue prompted her to look for an alternative to traditional soap.
Shazia researched information on making soap from natural components and received training at the Agricultural Sciences Center. There, she was taught how to make soap from aloe vera and Multani clay. After this, she began conducting her own experiments and gradually created various types of soap.
After completing the training, Shazia first made soap from Multani clay. She offered it to her family and neighbors to use. Since people liked the soap, repeat orders began to arrive. Shazia notes that her initial goal was not to make a large profit but to deliver her products to people, so she set a price that local residents could easily afford. Gradually, she began preparing soap according to customer preferences, and now many buyers reorder it when it runs out.
Currently, Shazia produces about twenty types of soap, including varieties with aloe vera, neem, rose, rice, honey, saffron, charcoal, and Multani clay. In making the soap, she uses glycerin, rose water, milk base, goat milk base, milk powder, Vitamin C, and other components. The starting cost of her goods is 50 rupees. Shazia emphasizes that she wanted her soap to be accessible to local residents. Constant orders and positive customer reviews have given her the strength to develop this venture.
Shazia now sells her soap both offline and online. She shares videos of her products on Instagram and YouTube. According to her, her products are also available on platforms like Flipkart and Meesho. Shazia receives orders from various places, including Delhi, Kashmir, and Hyderabad. Her greatest joy is when customers reorder the soap after using it.
Shazia's story demonstrates that even from home, one can start a small business based on education, continuous effort, and understanding customer needs. Her work is in a developmental stage, and she strives to bring her products to a wider audience. Nevertheless, it is important to present claims about the quality of the soap and its effect on the skin based on factual ingredients and existing evidence. Before claiming that a product is completely chemical-free or cures skin problems, its composition and properties must be verified.