By Shankar Kumar Turha
SHILLONG:
Taking up entrepreneurship through innovation and experimentation has become a common trend with the new generation, who are eager to foray into unknown territories to carve a niche space for themselves in the business world, so when Manjita Dhar, a resident of Shillong planned to follow the same steps, there were thousands of questions brewing inside her mind on how to venture about it.
Manjita, who went to Pune after her graduation for higher studies, was working in Mumbai into creative world of films and advertisements before moving to Shillong during the lockdown– a difficult phase for her that made her realise that entrepreneurship was the only way forward to fulfill her future dreams and aspirations.
For Manjita, whose world in a way revolves around food and experimenting with different types of cuisines, starting up her own cafe was always a dream—a place that would allow people to sit together, converse over a great cup a tea, a place unlike other in the town.
Speaking to The Meghalayan, she says that this constant urge of doing something resulted in ‘Chaiko – Chai Lovers Unite’, the first of a kind exclusive tea joint in Shillong which targets the younger generation by offering a variety of tea handpicked from across the country, that people in the town may not be aware of.
For Manjita, however, the odd looked enormous as Shillong is saturated when it comes to flourishing business ventures, but there was no looking back once the idea materialised and things were in place.
“Chaiko happened over the lockdown, when I decided to move back to my hometown, though returning was difficult since there was no film industry which I was working for in Mumbai. So, I used to wack my brains thinking and the only thing which kept me going throughout the process was a good cup of chai,” says Manjita as she offers masala chai to me.”
“Later on, towards the end of second wave of Covid, when shops started opening up, I was craving to step out of my house and have a good cup of Chai as I use to do in Mumbai. The tea shops there are known as Tapri, serving tea in small cups known as cutting chai, I loved the flavour—which I could not find here in Shillong,” Manjita recounts during the course of her conversation.
Being disappointed at not finding such places in Shillong, Manjita realised why not start something similar in Shillong? Which is yet to be introduced to the varieties of tea served in metro cities—and thus the idea was born to revamp the tea culture in Shillong and start a place for all tea lovers.
Manjita while deliberating at length on Chaiko, recollected on the fact that Shillong being a Hill station, and chai being a traditional drink could actually not fail as a business, and therefore it was a safe option than other things—hence investing on it would in the long run bear great results.
As Manjita makes me glance through the menu while I query about customer’s response, she says that it’s been a year now, and customer’s response has been good. “Customers are trying and loving the different varieties of tea we offer; they are very kind and have been very supportive to my small business. There are regular customers who have been sharing about the café with their friends and families through recommendations,” she says with a smile.
With the bottom line ‘A lot can happen over Chai’, she pointed that a number of big and small Chai chains have come up, and their USP is their originality and uniqueness, and Chaiko looks forward to unique models to ensure business growth.
A closer look at the menu, and you find different varieties of tea such as Kulhad Wali Masala Chai, Cardamom Tea, Haldi Wali Chai, Lemongrass Tea and other such teas which are not common in Shillong, that is sure to make you try each one of them.
Manjita says that though the trend of having these kinds of teas are not very common in Shillong, it will certainly become vogue in days to come, with so much external influence.
Deliberating on the idea of successful business, Manjita says that good reputation and connection with customers is important to transform any business—and with the help of social media so much can be done to promote any kind of venture.
Manjita now plans to expand her small café and reach out to more people through promotions and recommendations, keeping sustainability in mind that is integral to business.
“The Monetary elements do not bother me now, the core focus area is to establish the outlet to draw considerable customers, who can genuinely like what Chaiko offers—once this is achieved, the business will automatically pick up,” Manjita asserts as we close the chat over a hot cup of tea.
Located at Jail Road, Chaiko lies within walkable distance from Police Bazar, and is a must try for tea lovers wanting to indulge into some of the best tea recipes from across India. A cozy small room illuminated with vibrant lighting, the place has everything about tea on its platter!!!