In the small towns and villages of india , children go to school every day and college students are also growing in numbers. All of them need pens, notebooks, school bags and registers. farmers and shopkeepers also use registers for daily accounts. This is why a stationery shop with these items can be a very good small business idea for rural youth in Assam, West bengal and other parts of India. It does not need a very big education but it gives steady income if managed well.
Why Stationery Shop is a good idea
Education has spread widely in rural places of districts like Hailakandi, cachar, Malda, Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri . Parents want their children to study better and even rural schools are strict about uniforms, books and writing materials. Every year during school reopening, demand for notebooks, bags and pens goes up. During the exams students rush to buy extra registers, admit card covers and geometry boxes. unlike many other businesses, stationery gives income round the year and it is a respected business because it helps children learn.
How Much investment is needed
A small stationery shop can be started with Rs40000 to Rs80000. The money goes into these things:
- Rent of the shop ( Rs2000 to Rs4000 in smaller towns).
- furniture like shelves, glass counter and a chair.
- First stock of pens, pencils, notebooks, registers, erasers and bags etc.
- Some extra for small expenses like electricity, light board and packing covers.
If you also want to add printing, photocopy or lamination later that will need another Rs40000 to Rs60000.
How to manage the Initial Investment
Getting government loans in rural areas is not very easy. Schemes like PMEGP or Mudra yojana are available but banks sometimes take long time to approve application. For starting quickly many shopkeepers arrange investment in three ways:
- Savings : whatever is saved from farming or family work.
- Borrowing from relatives , small interest free help from uncles or brothers.
- Local cooperative credit society – many towns have cooperative banks which give loans of Rs20000 to Rs50000 for small businesses.
This way even without big government loan, one can collect enough money to open a shop.
How to stock the shop initially
At the beginning it is important not to keep too much variety. Expensive items may not sell fast and money will get stuck. Instead the stock should focus on:
- Basic pens and pencils – medium price which most students will buy.
- Notebooks of different sizes – 100 page, 200 page and long registers.
- School bags – not too costly, strong but affordable for rural parents.
- Geometry boxes, erasers, sharpeners and rulers etc – especially before exams.
- Account registers – for farmers and shopkeepers.
Later once customers increase, you can add fancy files, art supplies, calculators and office stationery.
Whom to contact for Supplies
In Assam wholesale stationery goods are available at Silchar Fatak Bazar, Hailakandi Bazaar and Guwahati Fancy Bazar. In West bengal, the main wholesale hubs are Kolkata Burrabazar, Malda Market and Siliguri.
For first stock, it is better to go to wholesale market look around yourself and buy directly. The prices are much lower, and you can choose from many varieties. Slowly when your shop becomes stable, you can contact company distributors like Navneet, Camlin, Classmate etc, who supply goods to small towns directly.
How to create a Distributor list?
A smart way to run a stationery shop is to build relations with the distributors. Many companies are ready to place their goods in your shop on a consignment basis, you do not have to pay full money at once. You only pay after the goods are sold.
Steps to create a distributor list:
- visit wholesale markets in Silchar, Guwahati or Malda and ask for distributor contacts.
- call or meet the company salesmen who often visit rural areas to promote their brand.
- Keep a small diary with names, phone numbers and what products they supply.
- slowly, invite them to put their racks in your shop, like a pen company stand or a notebook brand shelf.
This way, you can fill your shop with more products without spending all money upfront.
Licenses and Permission
To open a stationery shop, you need a trade license from the panchayat or municipality. The cost is usually between Rs1000 to Rs2,000 per year. If your turnover grows and you start dealing with big companies, you may also require a GST number but in the beginning many small shops run without it.
Problems and struggles in the Beginning
Like every business your stationery shop also has some struggles:
- Low profit margin – a pen may give only Rs2 to Rs3 profit. So you need many customers.
- Competition – small shops at weekly haats may also sell pens and notebooks.
- Unsold stock – fancy bags and costly files may not very sell quickly.
- Seasonal demand – during school admission and exams sales are high, other months may be slower.
But if you keep regular items and maintain trust, people will prefer your shop.
Extra Services for Growth
Many stationery shops in rural areas also add extra services:
- photocopy and printing, if possible.
- Binding of notebooks and books ( very useful) .
- Mobile recharge and SIM selling.
- Helping parents with online school form fill up.
These services bring more people inside the shop and increase income.
Last Words
A stationery shop is a steady and respected small business for the rural youth. It needs limited investment, simple permissions and strong relation with wholesale suppliers thats all. The main thing is to understand what people in your area need most students, farmers and shopkeepers and keep those items ready.
In towns like Hailakandi, silchar, Malda or Jalpaiguri, many young entrepreneurs have started stationery shops that support their families because of no govt jobs or very few private jobs. For anyone thinking of self employment in rural Assam or West bengal, this is a good path to start.