They have products. They have buyers. They have the ambition to grow. But for many women entrepreneurs in Mokokchung, that growth appears to have hit a limit.
At the MMC complex on Wednesday, Women Entrepreneurs Mokokchung (WEM) hosted the third edition of its Craft Bazaar, where an increasing number of vendors and improved product quality reflected steady progress since its inception.
“There have been new vendors this time and it’s a good thing. We also have observed that those vendors from previous edition have been upgrading their product in diversity and quality,” said Sungtiyala, General Secretary, WEM.
Yet, even as participation grows, entrepreneurs say sustaining and expanding their businesses remains a challenge.
“Mokokchung is a very small market, honestly, so craft bazaar such as this is not enough for an entrepreneur to sustain,” Sungtiyala said. “Yes, we do need market linkages and bigger platform.”
Referring to selling beyond Mokokchung, she said that while there are many events in Kohima and Dimapur, the logistics involved make them give a second thought, especially as they do not know how the sales will be.
Many have turned to social media platforms to reach customers, but moving to larger e-commerce platforms presents another hurdle.
“When it comes to e-commerce, we are all selling through Instagram or Facebook. But when we have to sell on Amazon or other platforms, we have to scale our production. So there is a gap. We are still trying to comprehend how to bridge it. But at least we have been able to identify that this is the problem that is being faced by all the entrepreneurs.”
For many, the issue is no longer starting a business but finding a way to move beyond small-scale operations.
Even the possibility of working together to scale production remains largely unrealised.
“We cannot say that we have discussed on that topic specifically, but we have been dancing around the idea for some time,” Sungtiyala said. “But the only thing that is stopping us from executing such idea is that we are short on manpower. We are all running our own brands, so we have to focus on that. And as women, we also have to tackle our home tasks. So it’s difficult for us to come together to execute those things.”
At the same time, scaling production raises concerns about preserving the identity of handmade products.
“Of course, we can always take the advantage of machineries and all. We can scale up like that,” said Talisenla, President, WEM. “But then there’s something people look after, the genuinity, the handmade, the hand-touched, that’s unique. So that genuinity might disappear if we go for machinery bulk productions.”
Sungtiyala noted that the feasibility of mechanisation depends on the product.
“For example, for jewellery making, it cannot be fully automated. It has to be semi-automated. But for products like crochet making, they already have machines in the market which can be used for mass production,” she said.
However, access to such machinery remains out of reach for many.
“Procuring those machines is investment heavy. Functioning at a very small scale industry, I cannot procure those machines, so it’s also stopping me from producing at a large scale,” she said.
“And also when it comes to the uniqueness of the product, if you want to mass produce and also make it unique, then I think at least in one step of the process the owner should be involved.”
Many entrepreneurs also pointed to the risks associated with financing such expansion. Some said that as women running small businesses, they are hesitant to take bank loans, citing the uncertainty involved and past experiences.
One entrepreneur shared that previous interactions with banks had not been encouraging but said she has recently applied for support under the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMFI) scheme and is currently awaiting the outcome.
Beyond production challenges, organisers pointed to structural gaps that continue to affect their work.
“Vendors are all small-time business entrepreneurs. All of us here are with small budgets. WEM members as well as other vendors are sponsoring ourselves. We do not have any government aid,” said Talisenla, President.
Organising the bazaar itself comes with costs that directly affect their businesses.
“When we set up bazaar, physical arrangement is something we look after which comes with a cost. It affects the business and honestly is also discouraging,” she said.
Beyond challenges of production and finance, entrepreneurs said the absence of a proper marketplace continues to affect their ability to sell.
A lack of proper marketplace infrastructure remains one of the most immediate concerns.
“See, daily markets such as vegetable sellers, they can somehow sell it by spreading their products on a mat or on the floor, but that’s something that cannot be done for our products,” Talisenla said. “Therefore, a proper market place, a physical arrangement where we don’t pay much is needed.”
The association has also approached the district administration regarding these concerns.
“We also met with our DC recently and have shared our grievances. He did mention that he will also assess what he can do on his own capacity,” she added.
As for identifying a location, the entrepreneurs remain open.
“Not that as of now,” Sungtiyala said. “Wednesday and Saturday bazaar just started like that and people eventually started picking up and now go there for shopping. Therefore, if only the administration provides us a space, I don’t think accessibility will be a problem.”
For now, the Craft Bazaar reflects both progress and constraint. Participation is growing, products are improving, and entrepreneurs are pushing beyond the limits of a small market.
They are ready to grow. They are already selling.
Yet without the support needed to scale, many find themselves unable to move forward.
The question is no longer whether they can grow but what is still holding them back.