How a Local Startup is Creating a Movement with Recycled Handmade Paper Bags

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 26, 2020

Starting a business in a competitive market isn’t as royal as it seems. The very weighted word “entrepreneur” can give you goosebumps but the people who are on the ground knows the hard work behind starting and running a business. Coming up with a creative idea, draining all the savings or taking loans, starting a business, creating regular marketing ideas, managing team and a lot more. Even after doing all these, the profit cut is uncertain.

As a local media portal we wish to highlight more local entrepreneurs and ring their story to the limelight. We are here today sharing insights and the journey of a local start-up from Shillong as we speak with the founding team.

Please share about your business, what it does, when it started and some key highlights.

K11: The name of our start-up is ‘Kyrshanlang Iwei Ia Iwei’ a.k.a ‘K11’, it taken from the khasi word which means ‘support one another’. It is an initiative started among friends with a motive to tackle the issues of plastic bags and unemployment. Established on the 1^st of July 2019, the team consist of 5 board members and we provide job opportunities to local youth on a commission basis, at the moment we employ 12 individuals who are engaged with the paper bag making process. We provide our customers with eco friendly paper bags made up of recycled papers and decomposable handles such as. jute rope, different types of leaves, waste papers, clothes etc. The more our consumers uses our paper bags we closer we get to realising our goal of minimizing the harmful effects of plastic on our environment and at the same time also provide more employment to the people of our state, that is how the support chain builds up each day. We are currently working to get in touch with various self help groups from different parts of the state in order to lay our support chains even to rural areas as well. At the Moment we have 2 active workshop cum Office located in Rynjah and Lapalang.

Kyrshanlang Iwei Ia Iwei handmade paper bags shillong

Please introduce the founding team to our readers.

The team is led by 5 board members:

Aiboklang Marbaniang – President
Paul Young Lyngdoh Mawphlang – Secretary
Wankitbok Khyrriemujat – Treasurer
Donboklang Ryntong – Book Keeper
Lendy Lance Ryngnga – Member

What was the idea behind launching this venture?

The main reason behind the start of this venture was because we witnessed the effects of Plastic on our environment and also the Increasing rate of Unemployment in our State.

What is the specialty of venture?

What makes our venture special is that we provide the costumers customizable paper bags along with printing of the their logo, and it is handmade so it is strong, durable and eco friendly.

K11 Paper Bags is locally accessible in Meghalaya which means the Consumers can avail them in smaller quantities.

What do you wish people take away from their experience with your products?

We wish that people can have an experience of fine quality paper bags and that they can rely on a Paper Bag as they rely on a plastic bag.

What’s your wow moment till date?

It was on the day we received an email that we have been selected to be the Top 50 Entrepreneurs of the Meghalaya CM’s E-champ 2019, and the aftermath that we saw was even more mesmerizing as we noticed our sales growing after the recognition that we have been able to achieved from E-champ.

Any message that you would like to share with our readers?

It is okay to be different and to think differently, government jobs can give you security but being your own boss can give you happiness along with securities.

During this pandemic there has been an increasing rate of Start-ups but most of them failed because they lack consistency and self esteem. Our venture started from scratch, at the very beginning of the idea stage two of our members were only at the age of 19. By God’s Grace we have been able to move forward and own 2 Workshops, employ people and most importantly we have been able to witness our products paving its way to the different parts of the city and the state. Everyone has their own dreams and Imaginations but what matters is “The Individuals who make it Happen”.