The women employed are generally not very educated, not experienced any kind of work except household routine work, widowed or financially needy. By training these women and providing them a steady source of income, A.R Enterprises is pivotal in helping women to become financially independent. They work from home very easily. On average, A.R Enterprises have 100+ workers in a year. They have 2 additional workshops in slum areas.
Education and sports
Belaa Mitthani, the CEO of A.R Enterprises sheds light on her journey to become one of the most prominent female entrepreneurs in the manufacturing industry. She graduated from Navgujarat Commerce College in Ahmedabad, with a degree in commerce. Not only was she accomplished in academics, but she was also a state-level volleyball player.
Idea for the business
On talking to Belaa about her business, she says that the idea for her business was not momentous or a spur of the moment decision, but rather something that just developed and amalgamated over the course of time. Making things was her hobby, so she used to make brooches for her parlor in 1995. After she closed her parlor, she continued to make hair brooches and products at home during her free time for both fun as well as monetary benefits. By then, she also thought of supplying her products to other parlors to expand her business and when this happened, she also started hiring and training other people, leading to the establishment of A.R Enterprises in 2001. Today her business is a thriving and expanding wholesale company that continues to grow. After establishing in 2001, it took barely 6 months to capture a huge market in Ahmedabad.
Productivity that helps revolutionize the company
Belaa talks about the productivity of her company and how she manages to ensure efficiency. She says that the company has developed its own system to get maximum output. This helps calculate product output in minutes. Each day, but they maintain an action plan according to workers’ strengths. They also have a systematic form from raw materials to half-finished goods to finished goods and packing to final delivery.
On addressing A.R Enterprises’ competitive advantage over other companies, Belaa continues to possess her optimistic demeanor. And also says that their products are handmade and have more beautiful and diverse designs. She also refers to how the company enhances the finishing of the product, while also keeping it cost-effective. But they invent new raw materials to use, and improve and develop a marketing strategy.
Employee satisfaction and office culture
In her quest to help women, Belaa ensures that A.R Enterprises provides a family atmosphere for the workers. But she helps them gradually increase their production scale, develop their skills, encourages healthy competition by providing incentives, and felicitates them each year.
She allows the workers to work from home. Approximately 70% of the workers work from home.
“We work like a family, respect each other, co-operate with each other, support each other in all activities. The company also provides facilities for transportation and helps them during any emergency in their families. I love each of my workers, and take care of their health. I always motivate them,”
Belaa says
Awards and recognition
- In 2010, the company received GCCI the most precious award” Garima” in manufacturing category by Anandiben Patel, the CM of Gujarat at that time.
- In 2013, the company received woman appreciation award by Smruti Irani from BJP.
- In 2015, a quality mark woman awards was received from Chandan Chatterjee of CCD.
Life outside work
Belaa talks about her life outside work by mentioning her hobby of reading books. Some of her favorite ones are “Think and grow rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The 5 am club” by Robin Sharma, “Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, “Magic book” by Rhonda Byrne, “Change your paradigm” by Bob Proctor, and “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by Robin Sharma. Her biggest idols and motivators are Bob Proctor, Siddharth Shah, and Robin Sharma.
Future goal
Belaa says that the future goal of her company is to achieve scaling of 2.5 crores. As the company has been founded on the ideals of empowering female workers. She also hopes to provide more female workers with jobs in the coming years. And also help them become more experienced and financially independent.
