Situations in life are not the same for everyone. And as the saying goes, difficulties shape us.
I know it is easier said than done, but some people rise from difficult situations like a flower in the desert. Young Sudharani Marndi, sitting in her home in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, making handmade greeting cards for her teachers on Teacher’s Day, never thought what future holds.
Fast forward to the present, Jhunuk Crafts by Sudharani Marndi is not just a startup but the symbol of a victory against societal norms for A Perfect Future or Job. Today, she earns ₹40k per month by doing what she loves—making handcrafted gift items.
Story Time
It was not so long ago when young Sudharani couldn’t afford to buy premium and expensive greeting cards for her teachers, and that broke her heart. Instead of complaining and making a fuss about it, she decided to craft greeting cards herself. Though it was not as luxurious as an Archie’s card but it was full of love and respect for her teachers.
We know teachers value our emotions and not the price tag of our gifts.
However, Sudharani realized her interest, and often she was making one thing or the other. Slowly, she started getting small orders too. It was all fine until the time she had to decide career.
Her father, a land revenue officer, wanted a secure future for her daughter. Working as a government employee, for him, a government or a banking job were the only good and available option for his daughter.
He was not ready to listen to any third option, especially craft. So, she took up science and entered college. However, her passion for craft never faded, and she started getting orders from her college mates too.
Not his fault, because our parents want us to be safe, not for themselves, but for us. And his interference in Sudharani’s career and job pushed her to take up the job of a receptionist at a clinic. But like father like daughter. Where he was not ready to move from his opinion, Sudharani’s heart was affixed on her crafts and her dream to start something of her own with it.
Eventually, she realized she cannot ride both the boats. It was getting difficult to prepare and fulfil orders along with the responsibility of a full-time job.
The Bold Step
It was time to take the stand, and Sudharani did the same when she quit the job within 1 month. Obviously, abba nahi manenge wala scenario tha, but just like Farhan, she needed to prove herself and her decision right.
Only if you remember the scene when Farhan’s father was throwing his camera, kuch waisa hi yahan bhi hua, when Sudharani’s father was so enraged when she left the job. He also threatened her, saying he would throw her craft materials and all.
However, with time, things changed, like they always do. Nothing is still, and a father’s heart is softer than a mother’s.
And this is how Jhunuk Craft took shape in 2015. With no formal training and only experimenting and trying making things from waste (paper cups, plastic cups, cardboards, newspapers, tetra packs and more). Mostly, her craft materials were sourced from her kitchen.
This not only shows her creativity but also her eco-friendly approach towards things. She has created handcrafts with more than 100 different items.
Strategic Pricing
Jhunuk Crafts products cost from Rs 20 to Rs 1000, depending on the item and material used. For example, a bookmark will cost Rs 20, while a photo frame or name plate will cost more.
After a long journey, Sudharani has finally reached a point where her venture is earning her a revenue of Rs 40,000 per month. She also receives bulk orders from both offline exhibitions and online orders.
Going International
With her unique approach and great products, Sudharani gained traction, and she receives international orders from Japan and the USA.
Now that is BIG! 🌍
Challenges and Solutions
An entrepreneur’s journey is always full of challenges, but the one doing something against his/her family’s expectations has to face mental stress more than the others.
This is what happened to her, where she had to maintain a balance between her conservative family’s expectations, emotional distress at home, along her ambitions.
Easy to imagine, but hard to fulfil because when internal turmoil is not setting, how can a person face external challenges with a fresh mindset?
But she never lost hope, and with every sale, she slowly moved ahead towards her aim of establishing herself through her work. Eventually, after marriage, she found great encouragement from her husband, and that was like fuel to her vehicle, and she never slowed down or turned back.
Today, from her home in Srikakulam, she is effectively balancing her responsibilities while following her entrepreneurial tasks. She has dedicated hours for both parts of her life.
Finally, after all these years, her father is no longer angry with her. Instead, he supports her, handles the orders, and values her decision. As said earlier, parents are not against kids’ decisions or career choices, they just don’t want to see us poor and struggling.
