Meltem Atahan Bostancı: Started her own business despite difficulties

Meltem comes up with new ideas to develop her business, paying attention to people’s needs. She learns utilities to make her own designs for labels and magnets. She was able to reopen her business one year after the earthquake. Now she also sells stationery products in a part of her workplace. 

Here is Meltem’s story of growing her business; 

After graduating from university, Meltem started working in the accounting department of a company. But she wanted to start her own business. “I couldn’t do it by working elsewhere, I had to start my own business. Women can do it if they want to, I wanted to show that.” She saw that a place selling party and decoration materials was being taken over, and with the support of her husband and brother, she took over the shop. She continued to work for the company for the first year, while her brother took care of the shop. At the end of the first year, she took over the business herself. Although it was not easy for him to supply products, introduce himself to the customers and make them familiar with a new face, he soon mastered the whole process.

“Thank God we are alive. After the earthquake, I decided to move forward in my business only by my own decisions.”

“Çok şükür yaşıyoruz. Depremden sonra işimde sadece kendi kararlarımla ilerlemeye karar verdim.”

It was difficult after the earthquake. She could not save everything from her workplace. Two months after the earthquake, one of her former customers contacted her and asked for products. She thought she could supply from out of town and after this first sale, she stocked the products at home and started selling again. Due to power outages, she could not actively reach people on social media and WhatsApp, but she announced that she started selling products with home delivery whenever she could. She participated in the neighborhood bazaar. 

She saw the banner of mavikalem at the bazaar. “My computer was rendered unusable in the earthquake. I thought, ‘How much easier my work would be if I could get computer and printer support’ and so it was.” Meltem states that her income has increased with the support provided; she is almost reaching the level before the earthquake.[MOU1] She is learning new programs to make her own designs. Instead of working with an external designer, she can now design products such as labels, magnets and invitations herself. Thus, it provides faster service according to the requests of its customers and reduces its expenses and increases its earnings. At the same time, she can keep all her records more organized and secure.

Meltem’s social media account where you can follow her work and reach her: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melis_sus_parti/

Adres: Subaşı Mahallesi Atatürk 3 Caddesi No:140 Antakya- Hatay