Sakiba Mohammed has been running her home bakery ‘Baketree’ in Panjabari, Guwahati, giving tough competition to big brands like Repose and Loyans. Despite having no formal training, she makes everything from cakes and cookies to biryani and haleem. She learned cooking from her grandmother in Shillong during her childhood days.
Quality Over Everything
“Market is very competitive, but my products are different,” says Sakiba. She is working alone without any helpers and makes everything fresh when ordered. Her prices range from Rs. 800-1200 for tea cakes to Rs. 1500-2000 for special icing cakes. Small items like cookies cost between Rs. 30-250, depending on the variety. Her products are becoming very popular because they are fresh and healthy compared to commercial bakeries that store items for long periods.
Journey of Success
After starting her business initially, Sakiba had to stop when she moved to Dubai with her husband in 2000. When she returned after 11 years, her old customers still remembered her tasty items. Now she takes orders through Instagram, Facebook, and friend circles, handling events for 30-50 people. Her chocolate chip cookies, palm cookies, and butter cookies are in high demand. She has won many competitions, including third prize in ‘Dear Friend’ cake baking competition and was among top contestants in Zee Plus’s ‘Home Baker’ programme.
“There is lots of competition in the food business, but if you work with passion, success will come,” says Sakiba. She believes women can run successful businesses from home, especially in the food sector. Being a responsible mother and wife, she manages both family and business well. She gets inspiration from Islamic history, mentioning Prophet Muhammad’s wives – Khadija Bibi who was a businesswoman and Ayesha Bibi who was highly educated. Her message to other women is clear – with talent and desire, every woman can become self-reliant.
For detailed story, please visit: Awaz the voice
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