Hello peeps, how are you all? Our last interview was with Abida Sultana who is the owner of Uusinool and successfully doing an online crocheting business. This week, I have an another inspiring woman with me. Leela Gomathi is a stay-at-home mompreneur who is successfully doing online business. Her online bookshop 'Booktoonz' is very popular among young moms. I find her interview very interesting and inspiring. I hope you will also feel the same. Here you go!
If you are such an inspiring person who wish to featured in this website, please send a mail to contactknowthestar@gmail.com.
I am Leela Gomathi From Tenkasi, Tirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. I own an online children book shop named Booktoonz.
I am an electrical engineer with specialization in power plant Engineering. I worked in power plant detail engineering sector for some time and now a mompreneur. My parents are Late.Mr. Vallinathan who was a banker and Mrs. Shenbagalakshmi, a housewife.
My Husband V.Veeramani, working in Power sector and my sweet little munchkin Varun is two years old and we live in Bellary Dt, Karnataka.
The books are broadly categorized according to age: 0- 4 years; 4-8 years; and 8 – 12 years.
The books offered advance with each age and skill level, starting with highly Interactive and engaging Board books with pop-ups, sound, flip-flaps, touch and feel books for age group 0 - 4 and then progresses to Lady Bird and read at home books and graduates to Young Adult Books.
Booktoonz delivers books all over India.
It happened gradually. Initially, I had no intention of working from home or starting a venture. In fact, no one in my family has a business background. The initial plan was to get back to work once my kid starts the school. But you never know what motherhood has in store for you.
I wanted to have an absolute zero screen time for my kid until two years. Hence my search for interactive and best-selling board books started but the alarming factor was the price.
Further research led to the idea of Importing pre-owned books and then the brainchild called Booktoonz was born.
The Good words from the customers in form of reviews and recommendations is the turning point. Many have taken an extra step to add their family and friends to the group and helped us to reach a respectful membership.
The basic Idea is to rekindle the spark of reading from a tender age, for which the response from parents is amazing. The small group is now grown into a strong 3600+ members in a short span.
Once my son was ill and hospitalized, and I had to almost shut down the work for two weeks. But the customers understood and they waited patiently for me to return to work. It was overwhelming to see those unknown friends wishing my son a speedy recovery.
Work from home is always seen as a fantasy world but it is not so. There are lots of distractions and disturbance unlike an office set up. Especially with a toddler around, perfect scheduling of work is a herculean task. However, I manage to stick to my time and there are days where I had to postpone the work and end with catching up late hours.
1) Hire a help wherever possible.
2) Never ever compromise on the quality be it the condition of books, packing till delivery at the home of the customer.
3) Smart work can save a lot of time
4) Never let your passion wither out
5) Take a break when you need
Initially, it seemed unmanageable. But I got an excellent support from my mom which allows me to concentrate on my work peacefully. I have hired an associate to share the time-consuming works. Slowly getting a hang of it. I make sure I take two days off to take care of household works and for a family and a “me” time.
I get lots of feedback from customers, almost from all of them. Mostly praise and several valuable suggestions for improvement which I have always implemented for betterment.
There are lots and lots of plans in mind and it needs time and energy to implement. I am looking forward launching a first of its kind website for Booktoonz for which the background works have been started already.
There is a dream to promote Booktoonz as a notable brand for kid’s books which I am sure will happen one day.
Facebook Group link (To buy books) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Booktoonz/
Facebook Page link - https://www.facebook.com/booktoonz/
Pinterest link: https://in.pinterest.com/Booktoonz/
Email id: abooktoonz@gmail.com
If you are such an inspiring person who wish to featured in this website, please send a mail to contactknowthestar@gmail.com.
About you:
I am Leela Gomathi From Tenkasi, Tirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. I own an online children book shop named Booktoonz.
I am an electrical engineer with specialization in power plant Engineering. I worked in power plant detail engineering sector for some time and now a mompreneur. My parents are Late.Mr. Vallinathan who was a banker and Mrs. Shenbagalakshmi, a housewife.
My Husband V.Veeramani, working in Power sector and my sweet little munchkin Varun is two years old and we live in Bellary Dt, Karnataka.
About your business:
I started Booktoonz as a Facebook group bookshop in May 2016 with as low as 50 members, most of them being my friends. My shop sells a hand-picked collection of Gently used children books in mint condition, imported from UK, US and Australia. Since the books are pre-owned, they are extremely affordable. All the books are of impeccable quality, Original prints and in immaculate condition. The reusability of these books makes this business model sustainable and eco-friendly.The books are broadly categorized according to age: 0- 4 years; 4-8 years; and 8 – 12 years.
The books offered advance with each age and skill level, starting with highly Interactive and engaging Board books with pop-ups, sound, flip-flaps, touch and feel books for age group 0 - 4 and then progresses to Lady Bird and read at home books and graduates to Young Adult Books.
Booktoonz delivers books all over India.
Why did u choose work from home career?
It happened gradually. Initially, I had no intention of working from home or starting a venture. In fact, no one in my family has a business background. The initial plan was to get back to work once my kid starts the school. But you never know what motherhood has in store for you.
I wanted to have an absolute zero screen time for my kid until two years. Hence my search for interactive and best-selling board books started but the alarming factor was the price.
Further research led to the idea of Importing pre-owned books and then the brainchild called Booktoonz was born.
About ur turning points and milestones in ur business:
The Good words from the customers in form of reviews and recommendations is the turning point. Many have taken an extra step to add their family and friends to the group and helped us to reach a respectful membership.
The basic Idea is to rekindle the spark of reading from a tender age, for which the response from parents is amazing. The small group is now grown into a strong 3600+ members in a short span.
Difficult times u faced and how did you recover:
Once my son was ill and hospitalized, and I had to almost shut down the work for two weeks. But the customers understood and they waited patiently for me to return to work. It was overwhelming to see those unknown friends wishing my son a speedy recovery.
Difficulties u face daily in working from home:
Work from home is always seen as a fantasy world but it is not so. There are lots of distractions and disturbance unlike an office set up. Especially with a toddler around, perfect scheduling of work is a herculean task. However, I manage to stick to my time and there are days where I had to postpone the work and end with catching up late hours.
Top 5 lessons u have learned from this business which u want to share with everyone:
1) Hire a help wherever possible.
2) Never ever compromise on the quality be it the condition of books, packing till delivery at the home of the customer.
3) Smart work can save a lot of time
4) Never let your passion wither out
5) Take a break when you need
How are you balancing work and personal life?
Initially, it seemed unmanageable. But I got an excellent support from my mom which allows me to concentrate on my work peacefully. I have hired an associate to share the time-consuming works. Slowly getting a hang of it. I make sure I take two days off to take care of household works and for a family and a “me” time.
Share some of the client's feedback you have received:
I get lots of feedback from customers, almost from all of them. Mostly praise and several valuable suggestions for improvement which I have always implemented for betterment.
Future Plans:
There are lots and lots of plans in mind and it needs time and energy to implement. I am looking forward launching a first of its kind website for Booktoonz for which the background works have been started already.
There is a dream to promote Booktoonz as a notable brand for kid’s books which I am sure will happen one day.
How to contact u if anyone is interested in working with u or buying from you?
Facebook Group link (To buy books) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Booktoonz/
Facebook Page link - https://www.facebook.com/booktoonz/
Pinterest link: https://in.pinterest.com/Booktoonz/
Email id: abooktoonz@gmail.com
From the Editor's Desk:
Wow. What an amazing and inspiring work Leela does! We really wish her all the best and would definitely be looking forward to interviewing her once her dream website 'Booktoonz' starts functioning. The fast growing facebook group shows how much dedicated you are. You are really an inspiring woman. You are a role model for every woman who wants to do something meaning at home. All the best for all your future endeavors.
If you are such an inspiring person who wish to featured in this website, please send a mail to contactknowthestar@gmail.com.
If you are such an inspiring person who wish to featured in this website, please send a mail to contactknowthestar@gmail.com.
Good evening
ReplyDeleteI heard about the book toonz from the Facebook page. .
it's Amazing. .
It's not the business . You just pick up a kids back to reading .habit
Thanks sabari rajan ji for your encouraging words
ReplyDelete