BANGALORE: Meet Asha Satish. She is very proud to be a homemaker. Except that she is no longer one. Her interest in making masala powder is now a successful business venture. She is all set to spread the aroma of homemade masala powder not only across the country but also abroad. Proud of her journey in the last 18 months, Asha has every reason to smile — her turnover is Rs 4.50 lakh.The story started last year when one of her well-wishers advised her to prepare garam masala last year. In her generosity, she prepared 25 packets of garam masala which she distributed among her relatives and friends. The taste of the masala was an instant hit with people hankering for more. Her masala made Asha popular among friends at Hanunmanthanagar, her area of residence, and in proportion, the demand for the powder too increased. “I made 25 packets of garam masala and 25 packets of chat masala. My initial investment was `500. I was surprised to see my friends asking for more packets,” recalled Asha.After shifting her residence to Nagarabhavi, she continued to make various masala powders under the brand name Aashi Masala. Her entrepreneurial venture did not go unnoticed for she was soon selected for US Goldmansachs ‘10,000 women training programme’. “I was selected for the MBA course and I won the award for the best business plan on completion of the course. I was one among the three women selected for the training from South India,” said a very proud Asha.After tasting success in her venture, Asha asked her husband Satish Chandrarao to join her venture. “My husband took voluntary retirement from a public sector company when that unit was not performing well. I requested him to support my venture. My children and husband help me a lot to market my products. Now, my husband is very happy to work with me,” she said.The brand name grew in value and that helped her to find sponsors such as Canara Bank and AWAKE among other organisations. They helped her to put up stalls at various exhibitions.Asha soon expanded her product range from masala powders like roti masala, sabji masala, chole masala, sambar powder, rasam powder, vangi bath masala to instant mixes. “I am planning to prepare these products on a large-scale and distribute masala powders not only in Bangalore but also in the neighbouring states. Many NRIs from the USA have asked me If I can export the masala powder to the USA. I am contemplating the move to export and open a masala powder manufacturing unit shortly,” she signed of on a confident note.
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