The One Shop Retail Brand

The one shop retail brand is fascinating because it goes against the grain of two of managements mantras. The first one is the "grow or perish" mantra and the second is the mantra of "change is the only constant".

In the heart of Khan Market in Delhi is the bookseller Bahri & Sons . Over the last 5 decades perhaps the only expansion may be the a narrow annex that was adjoining the store. The frontage has not changed over the years .Recently the Mint newspaper ( 10 December 2016, Lounge edition) has an article on Vashis a jean shop in place since 1985 except for a brief shutdown in 2014.

The issue here is not whether the Owners were content with their one shop and had no intentions to expand. The question is how did they manage to stay afloat and build a brand with just one shop? There are customers for  both outlets who would not be seen in  a competing shop for love or money. Not for them the neighborhood Mall or the swanky new branded outlet on High Street. The Mint article ( written with passion by Ms Ramani) mentions of the city "weeping" when Vashis decided to close in 2014. Likewise, when the genial elder Bahri an iconic figure in Delhi passed away almost all the local papers had multi column obits.

Three takeaways from Ms Ramanis article, so obvious but so rare in the marketing space in many a retail store are :

Communication: The ubiquitous Hypermart, is seeking volume and turnover , not loyalty . Customers shop for convenience and would just as sooner switch to another Mall closer home if one were to open. The uniformed sales girls parked at the aisles are trained not to interfere with the customer, Not for them Mr Vashi Lakhanis mantra of "keep the conversation going"

Discount: The  discount offered to a few in a store as a special case (when not expected), has a different "feel" then the displayed "offer for the day" in Hypermarts.  To quote Mr Lakhani again , "Give them a discount and people will come back to you" ... sage words indeed.

Feedback:  Endorsements by customers, which can be seen by all shoppers   helps in building a family environment. As FMCG majors jostle for shelf space , they would be more than willing for an extra margin to the shop that can boast of a committed clientele.

And so, along with the growth in impersonal "click and collect" retail outlets there is always space for the single outlet brand , nurtured through simple but powerful personal selling skills . Perhaps there is an opportunity for the Malls to incorporate the three differentiators !

Mr .Bahri 

DAVID DAVIDAR: The Solitude of an Emperor Storyteller

Of the many ways that a good novel should impact a reader the three of relevance to me are:

• .    Does it switch me off from the reality of the present, as I meld with the characters in the narrative?
•     Do the characters seem commonplace with ordinary attributes and limited ability to bring about a change, yet fighting to create an impact in the narrative?
•        When I close the book finally, do I feel like sitting back and reflect on the story?

David Davidars “Solitude of Emperors”, did meet my expectations on all three counts. Written with the backdrop of the Mumbai riots (post Babri Masjid), the author weaves a colorful tapestry of emotions presenting a collage of thoughts to ponder. Mr. Davidar is a master story teller and uses the protagonist Vijay to share his views on the long term solution to the wretched problem of caste and community confrontations.  

Yes, the origins of race conflicts and the selfish political linkages in all such conflicts are obvious. Mr. Davidar reaches out through the story to our innermost sentiments urging us to stand up and act. “I exhort you therefore to go out and mingle and learn. Inhale the genius of this country,...the transcendent poetry of the Sufi and the Bhakti poets, the architecture of Hampi and Fatehpur Sikri,and Mount Abu, the teachings of Ramana Maharshi…. the plaintive wail of the Shenai ..the plangent notes of the Sarod...surf the breakers at the point where the three seas mingle in Kanyakumari...celebrate the colors of Holi, the lights of Deepavali, the food of Ramzan and the gifts of Christmas.   

And...

“….at the same time do not neglect to absorb the poverty and violence and the savagery and injustice of this country of extremes...the despair of the coalminer in Dhanbad...the marginal cotton farmer in Andhra Pradesh...mourn with the widow of the Sikh garage owner..let their pain become yours...

Mr. Davidar defines  the Solitude in the title of the book.  Addressing the youth.. “immerse yourself in the beauty and terror of this great country…let every disappointment instruct you, let every triumph strengthen you …and all the while even as you are part of the world, learn to walk alone…the day will come when you are able to look within yourself to find out what you need to do to answer those who seek to diminish the nation. 

Mr. Davidar is in his best describing the Niligiris, its people the flora and fauna. This is a bonus for the Tamilian in me. I am sure, however, that even others would lose themselves in the ambience created and the gripping narrative with its surprising end.  

In his long literary career the author has  written just three novels. I look forward to finding time to read the other two.

And then there were 6- The fall and fall of the Indian National Congress

Those of us born between the late forties and early fifties  have been a witness to the gradual decline of the Indian National Congress, a party linked so inextricably with our independence. The label of   a “National Regional Party” as coined by a BJP stalwart is perhaps an over statement.

Institutions come and go – why bother? Further, in this specific instance, the BJP with a welcome vigor is attempting to make up for the lost years. The people are comfortable with regional parties within the State and a national party at the Centre.

The bother is for two reasons - firstly there is no national party left to challenge the BJP. Secondly (and for me a matter of anger) , is the murder of an Institution by self serving , narrow minded sycophants who   could not care a fig for the people they were to serve , and built personal empires under the umbrella of the Family.  They are happy clinging on to the coat tails of the family as they know that on their own, they have no standing whatsoever.

Otherwise, how else can one explain the ignoring of a simple irrefutable fact- – that once a public serving Institution becomes a Family affair, the decline is inevitable? The RJD had to quickly align itself once the family experiment failed. The SP is sure to face the heat in a years’ time. The ADMK, DMK, TMC, BJD, would continue to be a force as long as their current leaders are in place. Once the second generation is thrust on the party the decline is inevitable. For three of the above four though, that threat is absent. But the ADMK is doomed otherwise, for there just is nobody from the feet touching minions who have any public face.

Unless a fresh relatively young face, untainted by corruption and fired with zeal to take on the BJP nationwide, challenges the Family, the INC would increasingly not find takers in the State as well. I wish this face would appear  in my limited lifetime. 

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

Observing the antics of our maverick new Member of Parliament Dr Subramanian Swamy, I am reminded of the Bards lines spoken by Shylock. Yes, prick Dr Swamy and you would identify the “politician” in him, with the negative traits that most commoners (like me) ascribe to our Indian polity.

For many years (in fact till very recently) I admired the Doctor for his gutsy approach to take on the high and mighty. I was impressed at his “ordinariness” as he stood in queues at Airport counters, his dress very Indian and modest. But in recent months his backing off from some of his more active pursuits, then the call to the Rajya Sabha and recently the potshots at the Governor of the RBI, and the dots all seem to connect!

What much ado about Mr. Raguramans comment! He is supposed to have commented on Indias’ relatively better performance as “...in the land of the blind the one eyed is King” This was enough for the baiters in the BJP to go after him as if he called the PM a one eyed man.

Did anybody else (like me), feel the comment was actually referring to the world? In a world of blind Finance Ministers our performance stands out because we were at least one eyed. It was a tacit admission of our countrys’ good work as well as a  recognition that much more could have been done. The fault for the shortfall, as Mr. Rajan would be the first to admit, is as much at RBIs door as it is with the Finance Ministry.

If our PM were to use Dr Subramanians’ attack to shift the Governor, I feel the nation loses a wise and mature counsel.

If you prick us ,do we not bleed?

Observing the antics of our maverick new Member of Parliament Dr Subramanian Swamy, I am reminded of the Bards lines spoken by Shylock. Yes, prick Dr Swamy and you would identify the “politician” in him, with the negative traits that most commoners (like me) ascribe to our Indian polity.

For many years (in fact till very recently) I admired the Doctor for his gutsy approach to take on the high and mighty. I was impressed at his “ordinariness” as he stood in queues at Airport counters, his dress very Indian and modest. But in recent months his backing off from some of his more active pursuits, then the call to the Rajya Sabha and recently the potshots at the Governor of the RBI, and the dots all seem to connect!

What an ado about Mr. Raguramans comment! He is supposed to have responded to a question  on Indias’ relatively better economic performance as “...in the land of the blind the one eyed is King” This was enough for the baiters in the BJP to go after him as if he called the PM a one eyed man.

Did anybody else (like me), feel the comment was actually referring to the world? In a world of blind Finance Ministers our performance stands out because we were at least one eyed. It was a tacit admission of our countrys’ good work as well as a  recognition that much more could have been done. The fault for the shortfall, as Mr. Rajan would be the first to admit, is as much at RBIs door as it is with the Finance Ministry.

If our PM were to use Dr Subramanians’ attack to shift the Governor, I feel the nation loses a wise and mature counsel.

We are each an island

This morning my daughter read out to me an email sent by a close relative to the staff of the very successful, well known and reputed Institution he built over a decade and a half. It was to share the news of his stepping down to tend to  his wife suffering from a serious ailment that requires them to move to the USA for a year for medical treatment.

I could write paragraphs of this relative, his maturity and his graciousness. That is not my purpose today. I am hunched over a laptop, sitting in a balcony of   a fourth  floor apartment in one of Gurgaons better known gated communities. There is a still a nip in the air, as a delayed winter makes its parting calls. All is silent and a deep comfort envelopes me.

I am aware we are each a very personal, very unique being and can never , ever feel the pain and emotions of another, however , much we may believe the stories and movies encountered in our lives. What to me may be a supreme sacrifice, to my close relative is a no brainer decision.. What to me is the tension of a years stay in a foreign land and the enormity of the expense involved, to my relative is an act that requires no review. What to me is the uncertainty of the future post the  return to India, is something that is not even in my relatives mind.

I can only from my  cosy comfort zone pray to the Almighty for their welfare. I also recollect the truth of this dialogue from a Hollywood movie..

Love is not a place where we come and go as we please ,it’s a home we enter in and commit never to leave .So lock the door behind you , throw the keys work it out together and let it bring you to your knees.

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A Tale of Two Universities

It will be sometime before the addiction to the daily paper delivered at home wears out and I move over to  the Internet driven options. Till then I continue to be a victim of not so subtle biases of urban journalism. Not having the gumption or the physical strength to ascertain the truth first hand, I indulge in adding to the numbers of armchair writers with views to share, searching for “likes” on the Face book page! 

I share my views today on the happenings at the two Universities in the North and South of the country.

Of the two, the first episode in Hyderabad is the more tragic. Rohiths suicide note[1] reads like a work of poetry, full of meaning and anguish at the environment around him. Rohith does not hold anyone responsible for his act. If, however, this act received momentum from the humility of being driven out of the Hostel, then that is truly tragic and avoidable. That second  act was clearly political, initiated by an immature Minister dabbling in student politics and aided by an equally immature Minister at the Centre desiring to score brownie points for the party. 

  

Our nation holds the promise of becoming the fastest growing economy of the world, raising millions out of poverty, the manufacturing hub to the free world. This depends on the availability of an educated young class. Sadly the crown jewels amongst the Universities are falling prey to political machinations of a few, dictated and driven by selfish immature politicians. Vice Chancellors however erudite they be, show their true character when they fail to live up to their conscience and sense of fair play.

The JNU saga is one more case of an Administration gone to the dogs. Nobody feels it odd that the University is recognized as a Leftist one. A University may have students sprouting various ideologies, but for the University itself to claim that recognition is clearly indicative of political interference. To me the events on Campus ( if at all it is honestly reported) relating to a hanging months ago, coming so close to the happenings in Hyderabad is too coincidental for words!! One party is playing politics here to make up for loss of face in the other. Sad, sad…

With apologies to the Bard,”…something is rotten in the state of education” in our country.

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[1] I read the note in: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/dalit-student-suicide-full-text-of-suicide-letter-hyderabad/

Mami R.I.P

It is in our  thirties that we experience the pangs of departed souls as grandparents and relations of that  generation move on. However, immersed in our career and the challenges of bringing up children there is little or no time to mourn their loss. Often the news trickles down well after the event.

The next phase is in our late fifties when persons in our parents’  generation bid adieu. The pain and the loss is severe and there is a distinct change in our views to life and living. Suddenly, the frailty of life stares at us and  the pace and aggressiveness slows down .

I am in the third phase now entering the 70s , when names of friends and colleagues are deleted frequently from the whatsapp and email groups. The condolences are longer, the losses discussed in detail as time hangs heavily. Each departing  brings in its wake, reflections of times gone by, memories pleasant and unpleasant and the uncertainty in my own future.   

But Mami was much more than a friend . She was to me a philosopher and guide entering my life when I was married for just over a year and the “adjustments” issues post the birth of our first daughter had slowly manifested itself. Mami was our neighbor who walked in and introduced herself and from that moment gave us a trustworthy , concerned and ever willing guide for all our petty day to day problems. Here was a lady who lost her husband tragically in an air crash and was left to bring up three children. We added a son and a daughter ( and a one year old granddaughter) to Mamis brood. There was hardly any day when we were not in her residence.

Career compulsions  took me elsewhere and over the five decades since, I managed to meet Mami just once in Hyderabad. All the three children are well settled in Career and Family. The previous 11 word sentence camouflages thousands and thousands of days of hard work for Mami,  bereft of companionship.  Age had slowed her pace now , but this was  compensated by an ever more bonhomie and cheer. Not for Mami the discussions on value of life and its purpose. She lived it to the full, without the “luxury” of remorse and despondency prevalent in common mortals. Her proficiency and abiding love for Scrabble must have introduced her to newer synonyms and meanings for words like adversity, life, charity, kindness, forgiveness.  

It was so touching of her children to trace me out from Mamis address book and inform me of her joining the celestial. Even in her passing away she leaves a message for us to live each day with compassion and grace. I strangely feel lighter, knowing that if at all there is another world, I would be fortunate to meet up with her and continue the relationship.

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Ms Shantha Viswanathan mother of Sheila , Sekhar and Geetha passed away in Bangalore on 5JAN16