Sangeeta Pandey Builds a ₹3 Crore Business with Fancy Boxes and Eco-Friendly Cow Dung Diwali Lamps

Sangeeta Pandey Builds a ₹3 Crore Business with Fancy Boxes and Eco-Friendly Cow Dung Diwali Lamps
Housewife Sangeeta Pandey turned a Rs 1500 investment in a sweet box manufacturing business into a Rs 3 crore company. She now employs over 100 women.
Sangeeta Pandey, a homemaker from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, transformed her life and her family’s financial future through determination, innovation, and sheer perseverance. Starting with just ₹1500, she built a thriving business worth ₹3 crore, becoming a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs across India.

The Beginning of a Dream
A decade ago, Sangeeta was facing significant financial struggles. To support her family, she took a job that paid ₹4000 a month. However, juggling work with motherhood proved to be a challenge. On her first day at work, she arrived with her nine-month-old baby and faced criticism from her colleagues. Realizing that traditional employment wasn’t suitable for her, Sangeeta decided to explore alternative ways to earn a living.
The Spark of an Idea
Sangeeta’s turning point came when she noticed a local business producing candy wrapping boxes. Recognizing an opportunity in the packaging industry, she decided to start her own venture. With ₹1500, she bought raw materials and created 100 boxes within just eight hours. Though initial sales were slow, she remained determined, constantly improving the quality and design of her products to meet customer demands.
Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Up
Sangeeta faced numerous challenges, particularly financial constraints. To scale her business, she took a bold step and mortgaged her gold necklace for ₹3 lakh, which allowed her to purchase a truckload of raw materials. This decision boosted her production capacity, enabling her to cater to larger orders.
To expand further, Sangeeta took loans totaling ₹85 lakh to establish a dedicated factory. This move not only increased her production capacity but also provided employment opportunities for over 100 women in her community, empowering them to achieve financial independence.
Early Struggles and the Birth of an Idea
Coming from a humble background, Sangeeta had faced severe financial difficulties. Despite holding a postgraduate degree from Gorakhpur University, her responsibilities as a mother made it difficult to take up a conventional job. As her family’s financial situation worsened a decade ago, Sangeeta made the decision to work from home. It was during this challenging time that she came up with the idea of making fancy sweet boxes.
With an initial investment of just ₹1500, Sangeeta bought raw materials and began crafting these boxes. She delivered her first 100 boxes on her bicycle. Although she faced criticism and numerous setbacks, she remained undeterred, always striving to improve the design and quality of her products.
Growth and Expansion
As her business gained momentum, Sangeeta traveled to Lucknow to source better-quality materials at more competitive prices, which increased her profit margins. She then took a ₹35 lakh loan to set up a factory equipped with modern machinery. This allowed her to streamline operations and scale up production.
She also replaced her initial delivery methods with electric rickshaws and tempos, further improving her business’s efficiency.

Empowering Women
Today, Sangeeta’s company employs over 100 women and produces a variety of products, including organic cow dung lamps for Diwali. Her relentless dedication has not only ensured her children receive top-tier education but also cemented her place as a successful entrepreneur.
Sangeeta’s business now caters to a wide range of clients, including Purvanchal stores, pizzerias, bakeries, and sweet shops. Her story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination to succeed.
An Inspiration to Many
From crafting boxes on her bicycle to running a ₹3 crore business with a global presence, Sangeeta Pandey’s journey is an inspiring example of hard work, innovation, and the power of perseverance. Her efforts have empowered her family, created jobs for women in her community, and paved the way for a bright future.