Women Entrepreneurship and SMEs of Online Clothing Business in Dhaka City

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship is the process where women run a small or medium business with different factors of production, undertake risks and provide employment to others. It plays a key role in the economic growth of Bangladesh. This paper aims to focus on the online clothing stores and boutiques of women entrepreneurs by using a purposeful sampling method where in-depth interviews were carried out over a four to five days period. It utilized a qualitative methodology by conducting interviews with nine women entrepreneurs of online clothing stores located in Dhaka city. It also explores how women are influenced by socioeconomic factors, in addition to their role as wives, mothers and homemakers. Some of the meaningful units are abstracted, which were discussed with the interviewees until a basic agreement of terms could be made. This paper is evaluating the position of women in online clothing stores, ideas of new target market and identified problems in this sector. The findings of this paper will help others to develop their business using limited resources and financial capital via technology. Moreover, this article attempts to disclose how the participation of women entrepreneurs in national and international fairs lead the country towards future growth in this sector.