From street selling to a fixed shop: a bakery’s journey in Chitrakoot

In Karvi town of Chitrakoot district, a small bakery has taken shape through a gradual, trial-and-error journey rather than a single decisive leap. The business today sells cakes and related bakery items to local customers, and has begun exploring wholesale supply, but its beginnings were modest, rooted in street-level selling and family support.

The unit is run by Ayush Kesharwani, a resident of Karvi, Chitrakoot district. After completing his graduation in BBA from Gramodaya University, he began working on small business ideas at a local level, moving through neighbourhoods to sell products and understand customer demand. Over time, his focus narrowed to bakery items, particularly cakes, which he felt offered steady margins and repeat demand.

Learning by doing

Kesharwani’s early exposure to trade came from his family environment. He belongs to a business community where commerce was familiar, and conversations around buying, selling, and maintaining trust were part of daily life. That background shaped his decision to start early, but it did not eliminate the difficulties of entering a competitive local market with limited experience.

In the initial phase, competition was a challenge. Established sellers already had loyal customers, and his young age often worked against him in gaining credibility. He relied on what he had observed at home and tried to apply those lessons carefully, paying close attention to product quality rather than quick returns. Customer response, he says, improved once consistency became visible in taste and service.

“The focus was always on quality, not on how much I was earning in the beginning,” he says.

Support at a growth stage

As demand increased, the need for working capital became clearer. Kesharwani applied under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM YUVA) Yojana, viewing it as a way to stabilise and expand operations rather than transform them overnight. The assistance helped him invest further in his bakery setup and consider widening his reach beyond a single retail outlet.

The scheme, he notes, also brought a sense of reassurance at a point when the business was growing but still vulnerable. With additional capital, he began planning a shift towards wholesale supply alongside retail sales, adjusting the scale of operations step by step. References to the CM Yuva Yojana appear mainly in this context, as one of several supports that enabled the business to move forward without incurring heavy personal risk.

Balancing ambition and caution

Before settling on the bakery, Kesharwani experimented with other small ventures, including food stalls, to understand what suited his market and skills. That period of experimentation shaped a cautious approach, where expansion followed demand rather than aspiration alone. He remains open to diversifying again, but only after ensuring that the current operation remains stable.

Looking back, the journey reflects a shift from uncertainty to routine. What began as local selling with limited resources has evolved into a business with clearer processes and predictable daily work. The early struggles have not disappeared entirely, but they now sit alongside a sense of control. For Kesharwani, that balance, built slowly over a few years, defines the present stage of his enterprise.