Social media increasing outreach of female-owned home-based enterprises

ISLAMABAD: Social media has changed the face of female

entrepreneurs running home-based enterprises in the twin cities as there has
been an increasing trend of household start-ups for food, clothing and other
home-made items where women working from home were selling goods to online
buyers.

Stay-at-home women were not lagging behind working women

in terms of creating their own means of income using social networking sites
such as Facebook and Instagram for selling homemade food or different style of
clothing.

Asma, mother of two running an online food delivery

business in Rawalpindi, said that the idea of generating her own income while
sitting at home was intriguing. “With two minors at home, I can’t go out to
work daily, I created my own Facebook page advertising my food items and received
adequate response initially. But once I established my repute as credible
entrepreneur providing quality food, my business started flourishing,” she said.

Another young entrepreneur, Sara from

Islamabad, said that after completing her education, finding job was difficult
in this economic situation. “At the suggestions of my friends and family, I
started my own line of clothing with a small investment and used Instagram for advertising
for my brand,” she said.

Sara said that she owns a small shop in Aabpara market

now. “On my online outlet, not only I sell my own brand but I also display the
work of women working from home but their work is undermined by big brands and
they are paid with less wages,” she added.