BENGALURU:  Maybe not under any limelight like those wannabe entrepreneurs that we see around TIER –I and TIER-II cities, a bunch of small businesses have rooted their businesses providing services to discerning clients overseas by utilizing online market places, namely eBay and Amazon. There are many equally compelling, if not more audacious, SMEs that are growing and contributing to the economy of India, without getting famous.

"India is possibly the only country in the world where commercial exports through courier are not allowed," says Vijay Kumar, chief operating officer of the lobbying body Express Industry Council of India. Another problem, he says, is the "humongous amounts" of paperwork required to clear customs.

1. Monkey Brand tooth powder in Moscow - Deven Rao

Deven Rao, 32, is a Chemical engineer and an MBA in finance. He practices selling Indigenous FMCG products, herbal creams, Ayurvedic concoctions online since 2011 on various platforms—eBay, Amazon, Seekyouout, Ioffer . With 2,500 number of listings, his annual revenue is over Rs 2 crore.

His owns a small workplace in Mahim is similar to an old general store. Along with a range of indigenous herbal, Dabur Amla hair oil and Ayurvedic concoctions, the shelves in his office groan with brands such as Monkey Brand tooth powder, and Afghan snow fairness cream.

The products are a rage in several overseas markets. The decision made by him was a one night instance, five years ago. Initially, Rao was diddled with the vague idea of selling products online until he exhibited his father's coin collection on eBay. Simultaneously, he made an attempt to physically export vanilla beans. "Someone gave me the bright idea to display vanilla beans on e-commerce sites. I did that along with four other products such as saffron in 2011. They were instant hits," he says. Now, Rao aims to list 5,000 listing and interestingly, he doesn't list anything to sell in India. "We are the global online Big Bazaar of indigenous Indian products."

2. The Valentino of Dharavi – Tausif Ansari

Tausif Ansari, 27, studied till 10th standard selling leather jackets online since2012 on eBay and Amazon. His number of listings varies from 800-2,000 with an annual revenue of Rs 60-80 lakh.

Tausif Ansari, from Munger in Bihar, had arrived Mumbai in the year 2006 with only Rs 1,000 in his pocket, carrying plenty of financial baggage with him. After stitching leather bags and jackets for three years, the business was folded. Later, he went to Goa and came into contact with foreign tourists and travelers which led him to find foreigners craze for Indian products.

Coming back a year to Dharavi, Ansari resumed his work at different leather garment shop. During this, he managed to save some money and bought a laptop to himself. He then started stitching leather jackets and showcased them on Amazon and eBay; which turned him into the business world, soon.

"Once a week, I carried about five jackets by train to the general post office near Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station. It had a DHL outlet which shipped my consignments," he says.

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