Interviews from the day:
The event, held at the Bangladesh Centre on Manchester Road on Saturday, brought together women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian backgrounds to showcase businesses built around family recipes, handmade crafts and creative hobbies.
For several of those taking part, it was the first time they had ever sold their products to the public.
Among them was Sarah, who recently launched dessert business Bite & Bloom after years of encouragement from family and friends.
She said: “I didn’t know how to start or how to take the first step.
“I just saw Repi’s post, and that encouraged me to do it.”
By the middle of the afternoon, Sarah had almost sold out of her signature tres leches cakes, brownies and desserts, marking an encouraging start for a business that had only recently moved beyond her own kitchen.
The event was organised to provide a platform for women looking to turn their talents into small businesses.
Organiser Zahida said many aspiring entrepreneurs already have the skills but often lack the confidence to get started.
She said: “They have to break down more barriers.
“They need confidence, and this is what we hope to achieve today, to give them the confidence and really start them out in business.”
Stalls featured handcrafted resin gifts, personalised keepsakes, homemade desserts, traditional South Asian chai and food prepared to raise money for Prospect Hospice.
Although each business was different, many had grown from hobbies, family traditions or recipes passed down through generations rather than formal business plans.
Arry Zuberi introduced visitors to her new venture, Chai and Chat, which was inspired by conversations during the Covid-19 lockdown.
She explained that the idea was to recreate the experience of people coming together over a cup of chai to share stories and support one another.
She said: “It’s a meeting point.
“You and I can sit, we can talk about the chai, we just share stories.”
Throughout the afternoon, stallholders supported one another by sharing customers, exchanging ideas and encouraging new business owners.
Co-organiser Repi Begum believes creating opportunities like this is one of the best ways to help businesses grow.
She said: “This is how you do it.
“You give them the platform. Whether you sell or you don’t sell, the point is you get to meet people.”
She added: “You hold each other up.
“I’m a firm believer of straightening each other’s crowns.”
Organisers hope the event will inspire more women to take their businesses beyond community events and into markets, craft fairs, care homes and festivals across Swindon.
For many of those who took part, the day was about far more than making sales. It was an opportunity to prove they could turn a passion, hobby or family tradition into the foundations of a successful local business.
