This Sunday

Don’t think I have celebrated my Sunday in a Romio-Juliat type or hanging out with friends till late night…. :) Don’t even expect that I will write any picnic story or joyful day. If u expect thrills and dramas in this post , please don’t read to waste your time. But, you will learn good management concepts from this blog.

It was 22nd January. Sunday. Morning 10:30

I received a call from my underwear friend (langoote yaar) Jignesh Tejani.

He was coming to Gandhinagar at 12 o' clock, for no reason, just wanted to hang out somewhere in Gandhinagar as he was getting bored in Ahmedabad.

The friends who were to go out were I, Jignesh, Soham, Nilesh and Pankaj.

First we went to "Pooja Snacks".

A shop which was underground, hardly anyone can see the hooding of the shop, were little space inside the shop with only 3 tables and maximum 20 people can sit inside the shop. On top of that, it was self-service, you have to pay first and then have food. 

Despite all this, the rush of people goes on and on like anything. None of the cook was having time of even one second to answer. The cash counter receptionist was busy counting the bundles of notes.

I asked Nilesh "What is the reason that this shop is so popular, even though it has no facilities?".

He answered “no.1 is, this is in the market - sector 21. No 2 is it very old and has become very popular. Another reason is the taste and now it is hard to find the substitute for this shop."

I thought, none of the people running shop are MBAs or Engineers. They found the opportunity when that sector 21 was given the market that it was the best place to have a snacks shop. Develop relation with customers, establish a brand when there are no competitors, and then gain customer loyalty.

I must say, "A perfect player. Perfectly played each and every step with patience. First established its brand and then did compromise with his service and still keeping the brand value the peak".

From there we went to "Trupti Ice-cream" an Ice-cream shop.

A PURE INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS MARKETING.

The shop was normal like the Ice-creams shop of Metro cities. Big entrance, Standing tables were arranged (it reduces the cost of chairs). Big banners on the side walls which displayed the products of the shop.

The most distinct thing I watched there, I don’t know if they have copied from somewhere or they own innovative idea.

It was written on big bold letters on the wall "if you like our Ice-cream, ring the bell".

There were 4 copper bells hanged to the celling like as temple and there was also a Lord Ganesh idol in the shop. I observed that, every 30 seconds the bell would be rang by either children, adult or some good looking girls, or some old age people who wished to go temple but came in this shop by mistake and now worshiping god here itself.

Every 30 seconds the bell would ring and people on the road will be attracted by the sound of bell and their eyes would catch a 3-star ice-cream shop. Now, who on this earth will not be wanting to eat a cup of Ice-cream when it is against your eyes, if not you, your kid, or your spouse will demand for the same and you will end up in paying at least 100 rs. note to the "TRUPTI Ice-cream"….. …

Thanks to Jignesh, Nilesh, Soham and Pankaj …… love you all …

My Managerial uttrayan

On 13th January, at 9:30 after the dinner of myself made Rajma-Chaval, I went to my uncle's house.

"hello Brother" - my cousin said

"hi brother" - I exclaimed and we hugged.

After all the formalities of "how r u" and all he asked - 

"look Pratik, we are planning to go to Akshardham - Gandhinagar. Will u come?" - my cousin asked

"for me, going to Gandhinagar is like going to meet my in-laws. No matter, you deny how many times, it will be mandatory to go." - I said

All laughed and I said yes I will come.

14th January, 11:30 we, (I, my cousin, my uncle) reached Akshardham.

We all walked inside. I looked the idol of the god. It was amazing to see that idol sitting with folded legs near about the size of 20 X 10 X 5.

I was having glance at the temple rotating my 360 degree. My eyes strut at one person. 5 feet height, bit fair, wore white shirt and trousers, and the most important thing I saw, was his forehead. It carried that "U" shaped Swaminarayan mark. It is like a stamp on forehead that proves that you are loyal towards your organization.

"Jay Swaminarayan" - I said to that person

"Jay Swaminarayan" - he said with a big smile as if his wife has become ready to sign on divorce papers.

I asked - "sir, this idol is …zz .. .. ??"

He started the story             

"It made up of - 5 metals (gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron). The outer layer is covered with gold, near about 10 kg gold."

"W T F" - I said to myself listing to the last line.

He continued "this is nothing; the gold buried under the temple is round about 20 cr. There are more than 100 temples all over the word in more than 20 countries worldwide."

After speaking this much he went because another branded (stamped) forehead was calling him.

My brain started calculating the digits. 20 cr in 1 temple, more than 100 temples in world. That means 2000 cr gold which has "zero productivity" is buried in the underground of this Swaminarayan and then we are blaming thousands of reasons and researches for the price rise in gold.

I came out of the temple. Standing on that platform, I glanced at the compound of the temple. Marvelous cutting of trees, elegant color combination of flowers, tight security. Professionals are kept to take care of the temple.

According to my estimation, this temple would be a property of 50 - 70 cr. More the 100 temples ?? The net worth would be more than 5000 cr.

OH MY GOD. There are still 30% people in my country who do not get one day proper meal and this people are having 5000 cr property which in which the investment output ratio is hardly any percentage. 

Again that stamped person came to me and started

"hey, you are here, I was searching for you inside"

I nodded my head

"you are from ?" he asked

"form Bhavnagar" I replied

"Oh, we also have a small temple there" he said as if that 5000 cr property was his and the temple in Bhavnagar was his branch office.

He added "We are even thinking of expansion in the Bhavnagar as the number of devotees is increasing in Saurashtra region"

Oh my god; this people are talking like MBAs, expansion plan, increase in customers and what not.

"What is your educational qualification?" - I asked

"I am just HSC passed" he laughed "we will meet when Swamiji will come there for Satsung in Bhavnagar"

"ya sure" I said.

He went away and my head again started with the calculations of the property of this Brand Product "SWAMINARAYAN".  The digits started running to and fro in my mind.

I am sure, if they publish balance sheet, the net worth would be equivalent to TATAs and RELIANCEs.

 

But I will just write one line to justify my mind - the days are not far when this people will come with IPOs in the market.

Just think, if the property which is equivalent to giant corporate houses, is just behind the screen and no legal income - expenditure is shown to public. How much capital this temples might be blocking??

The government should make compulsory book-keeping for all the temples in the country and a large amount of tax should be levied on them.

I bet, the amount that will be released form this temples will make the country super power on its own.