Employee Spotlights: Kalavathi
Kalavathi has a smile that’s impossible to ignore - when you walk into the office, you can always catch her busy in some work, with a beautiful flower in her hair. In this blog post, we try to share a little bit of her story so you can get to know our powerhouse lady!
After growing up in Indupura, Kalavathi moved to Yelahanka after her marriage. A mother of two daughters aged 17 and 12. Before joining Rose Bazaar, just like Radha (another puja lady), Kalavathi also worked in a garment company. After working there for two years, Kalavathi decided that this work environment was not suited for her.
Vanaja (our first flower lady) told Kalavathi about working at Rose Bazaar. When she heard about the job in packing flowers and making garlands. Kalavathi considered the position and joined Rose Bazaar at the end of April.
The comradery among the people is what Kalavathi loves about Rose Bazaar. “Work doesn't feel like work,” she says. When Kalavathi first joined she wasn't aware of how packaging worked, she only knew the basics of garland making. It was after joining Rose Bazaar that she learned to make more varieties of garlands, “work is good.” Kalavathi now trains other ladies in the art of garland making.
Kalavathi plays a very important role in Rose Bazaar, right from going to the market to get the flowers, making the flower garlands and packing. She has also recently started purchasing exotic and imported flowers - a big step up from when she first joined as was scared of the market! In fact, over time Kalavathi has become an expert on all things procurement and has learned to read the procurement list in English and to bargain for the best fresh flowers! Kalavathi’s husband works part-time with Rose Bazaar as a delivery agent, and when he is out of town it’s Kalavathi who steps in. All in all, it’s a little family affair with Rose Bazaar!
Her family is glad that she found a place where she not only gets along with the people but also that there is no strain on her because of the work she is doing.