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Shika Creations - SME Business of the Year Award Winner 2024


Name: Smrithi S

Business Name: Shika Creations

Establishment (Year): 2016

Location: Coimbatore, India

Award Category / Industry: 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧

Sub - Category: Handcrafted Jewellery and Home Decor

Social Media: Instagram


Company Detail:

Shika Creations was founded by Smrithi S, a 9th-grade student from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This brand markets handcrafted eco-friendly terracotta jewelry and home decor products. The company is deeply passionate about preserving and promoting the traditional Indian craft – Terracotta.


Driven by dedication and passion for spreading Indian craftsmanship worldwide, Shika Creations finely handcrafts sustainable products with perfection and a trendy touch to meet the satisfaction of a wide range of clientele. The team strives hard to meet the fast-changing trends of the world, constantly working on innovations and blends, making the products avant-garde. Through its broad spectrum of creations, Shika is satisfying more than 15,000 customers across India and 13 other countries through online marketing. The products are not only marketed across India but also to the US, Melbourne, Singapore, Sweden, Canada, Malaysia, Germany, Switzerland, etc.


Their success in marketing products through online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown was documented and appreciated by the media.

Shika Creations has been dedicated to empowering women across India by providing training in terracotta jewelry making. The company has trained over 450 unemployed women and students in this handicraft and helped them start their ventures.


Shika Creations is now a 13-member team committed to serving customers with utmost quality and perfection. Every rupee spent on the products of Shika is shared by many homemakers striving hard to become financially independent. Shika Creations has revived the traditional handicraft – terracotta and given new life to this art to fit the requirements of the trending fashion world.


Unique Selling Proposition / Competitive Advantage:

Revolution in the field of handcrafted terracotta jewelry

  • First to introduce blends with conventional terracotta jewelry like real kemp-stones, pearls, silver, kundhan stones, etc.

  • First to bring in trendy collections to suit the liking of modern and young women.

  • First to introduce a complete bridal set in terracotta with a total of 11 pieces.

  • Brought in new product lines like home decor, fridge magnets, caricatures, and many other seasonal products.


Eco-friendly and Sustainable

  • Products are guilt-free as the raw material is natural clay.


Customizable

  • Products are customized with perfection and utmost quality to the satisfaction of customers.

  • Customizations include patterns, products, and colors according to customer requirements.

  • The company’s motto is: “We will do anything and everything in clay.”


Shika Creations employs a distributive manufacturing strategy where each team member specializes in crafting specific components of terracotta products. By having experts dedicated to areas like bead-making or creating intricate jhumkas, the company ensures that every piece produced meets the highest standards of quality and perfection.


Achievements and Milestones of the Company:

Journey and Milestones:

2015 - Learnt terracotta jewelry making2016 - Became passionate about terracotta craft and started taking it forward as a business

  • Tied up with craft shops

    2017 - Explored online marketing and introduced terracotta blends

    2018 - Displayed in local carnivals

    2019 - Introduced export range and empowered women through training

    2020 - Built the team

  • Tied up with NGOs to impart skills to rural women

    2021 - 2022 - Researched to improve durability

  • Participated in national B2B fairs

  • Re-branded Shika (re-designed logo, packaging, brand values, etc.)

  • Registered under MSME

  • Obtained GST number and Import Export License and Artisan ID Card from the Ministry of Textiles and Handicrafts, India

  • Motivated school and college students on Student Entrepreneurship


2023 - Launched Website - www.shikacreations.com

Expanded into the global market

  • Collaborated with other brands (Kota Gold, Prashanti Sarees) to increase market reach

  • Collaborated with wholesalers and resellers (Jumkey.com, Down2Earth - US-based)


Awards and Recognitions:

  • Recognized as an Artisan by the Government of India

  • Home-preneur Award (Student Edition) - 2019

  • Global 3rd winner in the Global Student Entrepreneur Award by EO - 2022

  • Inspiring Women Award – Budding Entrepreneur Category – 2022 by Vasanth T.V. Channel

  • Pudhumai Penn Award by Tanishq - 2022

  • Recognized as a Woman Making Waves by Tally Solutions – 2022


Success in the business during the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown was documented by the media widely (Around 20 newspapers and channels):

  1. Dinamalar Newspaper 26.05.2020 and Dinamalar.com

  2. Puthiyathalaimurai TV

  3. News J TV

  4. Update News 360.com

  5. Update News 360 Facebook

  6. Behindwoods Youtube Channel

  7. News 7 Channel

  8. PSG Tech E-club Live Interview

  9. The-amphitheater.com

  10. BBC Facebook

  11. BBC News Tamil

  12. BBC Instagram

  13. Tamil New J Channel

  14. Mediawoods Youtube Channel

  15. Tamil Samayam Channel

  16. Yourstory.com (Tamil)

  17. Rani Diwali Malar Magazine

  18. Kumudham Snegidhi Magazine

  19. Dinamalar


Showcasing in Exhibitions:

  • ‘Value X Carnival 2019’ and ‘Coimbatore Shopping Festival 2019’

  • ‘Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Expo,’ organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) in April 2022

  • ‘International Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Expo,’ Mumbai in August 2022

  • 'Fashionista 2024' at Vivanta by Taj, Coimbatore


Growth and Revenue:

In 2016 - 20 products, 2 categories, 10 customers

In 2024 - 1600 products, 1500 products, 30 categories, >15,000 customers globally

Average 30% growth YoY and a profit margin in excess of 40%.


Tons more to come… This is just the first wave!


A customer’s review:

Best value for the cost, reliable products/services, best service, understands needs, most innovative products/services.


Community / Society Service:

Empowering women for sustainable livelihoods.

  • Trained 450+ students and unemployed women on this craft-making through online, offline, and recorded videos.

  • 80 trainees started their ventures.

  • After training, they are absorbed into Shika's team and provided employment.


The company has conducted free workshops for rural women through NGOs, partnering with Bosch India Foundation to train 25 women in Kallipalayam village and with M.rm M.rm Foundation to train women in Shravayal village, all aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods.


Motivating school and college students on Student Entrepreneurship (delivered 20+ lectures).



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