Slice of Life: ‘My wife pushed me into taking up the family business’

I  manage a family business. It was run by my grandfather and then by my father, and now I’ve taken it up. We’ve been selling clay items for at least 50 years now.

My wife also comes from a family that runs the same business. I used to work somewhere else earlier; she pushed me to take up the family business. She told me, “These clay pots are a part of our culture, and someone needs to carry it to the future.”

These days, people are aware of the cultural importance of clay products. Even doctors encourage eating and drinking out of clay vessels for health benefits. But, despite even the intent to use them, many people are hesitant to buy clay pots. This affects business. Not just mine, others’ as well.

Over the last two or three years, I’ve noticed that people just don’t have money to spend. It’s nearing Pongal, and we usually sell a lot around that time and I have to work from 8 am to 10 pm to make the best out of the opportunity. This year, however, this do not look good. I’m not even sure if I’ll get two customers today.

Think about it – when I barely have money to get myself a drink, what makes you think I’ll buy anything that isn’t absolutely necessary for the house? All my customers think along these lines. 

And because of their situation, I’m hesitant to buy stock, which comes from potters near Tiruchy, and this affects their business too. It’s a vicious cycle and we are all caught up in it.