Overcoming initial challenges, Preetam made his shop a go-to place for the youth. Preetam's message for aspiring entrepreneurs is to persevere and take the initiative, even when conditions are unfavorable.

Preetam Mukhopadhyay is a twenty-five year old man. He runs a shop named ‘Shivam One Stop Solution.’ The shop is situated in the suburban area of Dakshineswar, Kolkata.

Preetam mentions that managing a shop in this area is challenging due to a limited customer base and several other constraints.

Preetam explains that he established his business in 2017. When he completed his degree in Computer Science Engineering, his family encountered financial difficulties. In response, his father suggested that he either seek employment or pursue further studies like  M.Tech or MBA.

Preetam decided that rather than investing in higher education, he could initiate his own business venture. Consequently, he launched a modest shop in 2017. However, he felt dissatisfied with the meager income it generated.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, but surprisingly, it paved the way for his success. Initially, Preetam's customer base mainly comprised students, a few office-goers, and occasional teachers. However, as schools transitioned to online learning, his business faced challenges. That's when he diversified by selling popular products like Cadbury and Coke, which appealed to the younger crowd. His small shop, once limited to stationary items, transformed into a multi-product store. With a wide array of branded items, it became a bustling hotspot for the younger generation.

Preetam says that success doesn't depend on circumstances when you put in the effort, maintain quality for your customers, and create a shop that appeals to young people.

His next move was getting into the ice-cream business. People usually think ice cream is only popular in the summers, and the area wasn't doing well until he started. He turned ice cream into an everyday favorite, says Preetam.

Starting new ventures brings new challenges. This time, it was the second wave of COVID-19, and people were once again confined to their homes. His recently launched business wasn't doing well until he decided to introduce a home delivery service.

He charged only INR 20 for delivering essential items to people's homes, along with ice cream. His shop was unique because he was the only shop owner who could sell ice cream consistently. His shop became the most successful one in the entire area, says Preetam.

For those aspiring to start their own businesses, he has a valuable message: “Conditions may not always be in your favor, but it's your responsibility to make them work for you. To run a successful business, you must remain committed, have strong determination, and be patient in your pursuit of success. Trying to imitate others may not bring you the same level of success as taking the initiative yourself."