Cannabis - The Road not taken...

I have so far talked about so many Indian startups be it on food, health, e-commerce, tech, etc. (you can read about them all here just in case you missed any - Interesting Startups) But this very startup shook me real hard! This is the story of a bunch of cool people who are working on something that's seen as "not-so-cool" Can you guess such an industry!? Wait! Let me give you a hint. This industry constitutes close to 60% of Indian workforce and contributes about 17% to our GDP. Yes! the earthy industry - Agriculture.

On hearing the word Agriculture, people may end up picturing green fields, villages, farmer deaths and what not! But, can you imagine a bunch of young people setting up a company in this arena? Surely not huh!? Well this is the story of the Bombay Hemp Company whose vision is to Educate, Cultivate and Alleviate. It was formed by a group of seven friends who are first generation agriculture entrepreneurs with zero experience in this field. 

What they do is quite interesting. Have you ever heard of Cannabis? Oh no not the one that gets you high (Cannabis Indica also called Weed/Bhang/Marijuana) We are discussing Cannabis Sativa, which is a useful and legal form of Cannabis. It allegedly could be used in 41 different industries and it has more than 25000 end uses. Hey! did you know Henry Ford made his first car using industrial hemp? Well, I did not! This industrial hemp grows close to 12 feet in three months and it is called a trillion dollar super crop. 

All said and done, how can it be used? and how are our "Cool-farmers" at Bombay Hemp Company using it? Well, in many ways! They collaborate with farmers to make the following products

1. It is used to make a form of brick which is used in the construction of "Green Buildings" This concept is pretty prominent in the West and is quickly gaining fame in India too. The speciality of this brick is it contains lime, which continuously absorbs CO2, thereby making it stronger as time passes! Also, it costs much lesser than the regular bricks

2. Hemp can be used to manufacture textiles, which are natural and require lesser resources than regular cotton

3. It is also being used to make Hemp foods, which according to the World Health Organization are considered the world's most balanced nutritional food! 

The best part about Bombay Hemp company is that they are not only carving a new industry from scratch but also are also helping farmers understand and implement the same considering how little is the land required to cultivate hemp and how much revenue it can generate. This could be the start of a new revolution uplifting the agriculture sector. Kudos to the Bombay Hemp Company! 

Check out their website for more details: www.boheco.org

Info Sources: boheco.org, inktalks.com. 

Image Sources: www.malawivoice.com, boheco.org

Getting the Shopoholics richer

No matter how innovative a startup could be, there's one question that haunts all companies, be it small or large - "How do we retain our customers?" All the marketing efforts are focused on this rigorously, albeit a very few of them achieve it, while most companies keep experiencing customer attrition.

So, how can we retain customers!? We could do this, we could do that and that and this...all said and done have you ever thought how it'd be if the answer to this question was embedded in the very business model itself? Quite a thought huh!? Well that's what this startup is doing and it is called Cashkaro.com 

As the name goes, you make money out of every purchase you make through this site. Cashkaro.com is an internet portal that aggregates 350+ e-commerce sites for you. So, what's so new about it? Hmm..well there are coupons you get! Oh! i have heard of that too! Well, have you heard of cashback over the regular discounts? For every purchase you make through Cashkaro.com, you avail a discount on the brand + a certain amount of money as cashback. Let me explain!

So, for example, if you buy stuff from Jabong through Cashkaro, apart from the discount already available, you get an extra 10% cashback. The cash keeps getting accumulated in your account and once it reaches Rs. 250 or more, you can request for a money transfer to your account! Better than asking more pocket money from your parents huh!? Earning more while you spend is a bliss ain't it?

Cashkaro.com was founded by Swati Bhargava and her husband Rohan Bhargava, both graduates of the London School of Economics. Prior to Cashkaro.com, they setup a similar internet portal called Pouring Pounds.com, which is based out of UK. Both these portals operate on the same context of coupons and cashback - a concept that has witnessed great success in the west and is slowly catching up in India.

In my opinion, this business model serves as a great push to many who still hesitate going online shopping! Also, it holds something for both the seller and the buyer (cashkaro here) which can help them as a great clutter breaker in the virtual market. They have grown rapidly within one year of inception and have been quite active on the social media front as well! 

Does the success of this model indicate that no matter how forward we have come in the line of business, the age old Barter System is still around?

Info and Image Sources: cashkaro.com, Google Images

Locals always get it right? Tupperware's got competition!

Entering a market like India, where people loved "metal" for kitchen purposes, Tupperware faced a huge challenge and successfully converted it in its favour. From 1996, when it entered India till today, Tupperware opened up the "plastic-kitchenware" market. While this did great good for Tupperware, it seems to have come with its own price - opening up the  market for other local players as well. While Tupperware established itself strongly in India through its Direct Marketing, they seem to have a "not-so-strong" presence in the retail consumer market.

I was recently looking for a Tupperware lunch box set and visited a couple of local retail outlets. Not only did most of them deny having Tupperware, but they were also  vouching for this immediate alternative called the "Signora Ware" With a look and feel so much like Tupperware, it also possesses the same benefits as Tupperware, such as - it's microwaveable, it's strong plastic, comes in various colours and it also comes with so many certifications to prove its authenticity. What tops this dominance list is the "Price" It costs lesser than Tupperware (if not exponentially, the price difference is pretty visible) 

This experience made me look into this mysterious company and to my surprise, I figured out that this is a 3 decade old company located in Himachal Pradesh, India. They have no mention of when the kitchenware business per se started however, they claim to have been in the kitchen appliances market since 1981. In its website, it also claims to be "better than any international Plastic-ware brand" With a strong distribution and obviously strong dealer, retailer relations, Signora ware seems to be getting it right in the Indian retail consumer market. Though, the product isn't very well known, it seems to be an undoubted alternative to Tupperware especially for the middle class. Well, not to forget  that Signora ware is also into the Direct marketing deal just like you know who!

Is Tupperware aware of this rising competition is doubted, but it should be is clearly the answer. "Direct marketing" may have surely been a great strategy to break open the kitchenware market in India, but major focus on this format seems to have rising concerns. Surely Tupperware has a bigger terrain covered and this may not seem like a big issue, but with a direct competitor hitting you, it's never the same anymore right!?

P.S: All observations and opinions are personal and do not support or criticize any particular brand or company. 

Image Courtesy: Google

The Aam Aadmi Party Jhaadu!?

I totally understand the urge of businessmen to cash on every opportunity that comes their way. Sometimes they could say, "We bring light into your life", when all they are selling is a matchbox! Well, all is fair in business and the more creative you get, the better shall be your results. 

Opportunities are such a must-catch for them! Look at the Cycle Brand Agarbatti's ad, one would easily comprehend what I mean by saying "cashing-on-the-opportunity"

Also, let's not forget the Dhoom 3 special apparel and accessories that were up for sale on the Great Online Shopping Festival's website this December. Well, all of this put aside, here's something that tops the list unanimously!

The Aam Aadmi Jhadu! They are up for sale online!? What a smart move by Tradus.com to use the success of AAP to brand an un-branded good (simply meaning people don't really care which company makes them. It's a basic utility item) The AAP jhadus are being sold at a startling price of Rs. 5/-  The price holds for the first 1000 customers, post which they shall be charged Rs.19/-  Is this a one time stunt? or will we end up seeing this develop into a strong brand for broomsticks!? 

"Join Anti Corruption Campaign in Delhi. Pay Rs. 19 for this brand new Aam Aadmi ka Jhadu and celebrate the birth of corruption free NEW India." is what the website says. Converting a new political wave that's inspiring many into currency is ethical? funny? Well, that's pretty subjective. But, from the business viewpoint, I would call it a smart move! 

Many may mistake this for a fund-raising initiative, but it gets funny when you realize it is not! While the Aam Aadmi Party is busy raising funds from people by convincing them of their motives, here's Tradus.com investing in their fame. 

So, what are your opinions on this ? 

Check out the AAP Jhaadu here: http://www.tradus.com/campaign/aap-offers

Source of pictures and basic info: Tradus.com, http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/page/aap-mobilises-17-crore-in-funds, http://news.oneindia.in/new-delhi/aap-jhaadu-being-sold-at-rs-5-on-e-commerce-stores-1369964.html

P.S: All opinions are purely original and not intended to promote the product or Tradus.com

Water ++ India up for it?

My Professor once said, "The Tongue is the most ruthless organ of our body - simply because it will not accept the same taste again and again. Change is mandatory for it" This fact has also rubbed off on our appetite for water I assume! For the past couple of months, if you have noticed little blue bottles like these in nearby retail stores, you surely have witnessed what I call Enhanced Water. It is normal water with additives like minute sweeteners, natural flavours, vitamins, minerals, etc. This segment of drinking water or rather flavoured drinking water is a new entrant into the Indian market though it has existed for a while abroad. It is seen as a healthy alternative to soft beverages that may contain fizz and sweeteners (which obviously aren't the healthy type) Flavoured water could be seen as an extension to the regular bottled drinking water market

Top players abroad : Hint, Clearly Canadian, SoBe Life Water, Glaceau Vitamin Water, etc.

In India : B'lue is a product jointly offered by Danone (famous product : Evian water) and Narang (famous product: Lindt) It is sweetened flavoured water in pale blue colour. It comes in three unique flavours namely: Guava, Peach and Apple.

How did this concept pop up? 

 - Most people across the globe don't drink water much - the extra effort is often avoided. 

 - Regular Water is simply boring!

 - Obesity is on the rise and since other beverages that contain sugar and fizz are undoubtedly bad for the body,  the whole concept of flavoured water came into the picture. 

Nevertheless, this is not a new concept since flavoured water dates back to several centuries where history quotes several instances of kings (especially in India) consuming flavoured water (possibly by Tulsi or other natural herbs)

So, here's a note on what I opine could be the strengths and weaknesses of such a product in India

Bottlenecks:

1.)  India is such a fizz loving country. Sweet beverages are also a long time favourite. Doesn't that explain why Thumbs Up, Coke and Pepsi are still the roaring beverages of the market? Pure water and added flavours? not really sure how this mere combo could rock the market!

2.) They are priced above the carbonated drinks, which may slightly hinder their mass acceptance (atleast initially)

Strong points:

1.)  It is healthier than the regular aerated drinks and squashes. So, it perfectly targets all the health concious Indians

2.)  The product has entered the Indian market in a time where more new products are being well received and tried. However is the Indian market ready for this? We'll just have to wait and see

Bisleri, which enjoys a 65% share in the bottled mineral water segment is also eyeing on this market and will soon be launching its own flavoured drinks. With more and more companies venturing into this segment, future seems to hold a lot for this product. 

Info Sources: (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/bisleri-plans-to-test-waters-in-flavoured-category/article4814707.ece, http://www.drinkblue.in/, http://www.drinkblue.in/http://healthmeup.com/reviews-buzz/product-review-blue-flavoured-water/20773, http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=26575&sectionid=32)
P.S: Views are my own, only info picked up from sources.

Snapchatting the World!

Recently I came across this new app for Android and iOS called "SnapChat" which lets users click pictures, take videos and also lets them add text and pictures to it. These pictures and videos known as "Snaps" can then be shared with  friends on your list. 

So you must be thinking what the big deal is when so many more apps let me do that! Well, you surely will think otherwise when I tell you that this app lets you share these snaps with your friends and will delete them soon after they are seen! Now that catches your attention huh!? SnapChat lets you decide the time limit for how long your recipients can view the snaps. It could be anywhere between 1 and 10 seconds, post which the snaps shall be hidden from the receiver's device and deleted from SnapChat's server.

(SnapChat's logo is called the "Ghostface Chillah")

SnapChat is a photo messaging app developed by Stanford students, Bobby Murphy and Evan Speigel  in 2011 as part of their final year project. It has been pretty long (2 years) since this app got released into the market. Apart from the millions of downloads and fame, what gets interesting is that, FB had recently tried hard to acquire this startup and got turned down. This is one of those few startups like Twitter that chose to stay on their ground and not get sold off. Though the app has been misused enough in the most obvious ways, it is an bold idea worth developing. 

So this left me wondering... Despite the fact that there are on an average two startups opening up in India each day, why is that the silicon valley startups get this big in no time and Indian startups take a really long time to even get identified? These were some of the reasons I thought are different about them and us: (this may not hold true for all Indian startups)

1. In India, having no job is a sin! It's a sign of incapability, leave alone trying to assess his/her ability to employ others. So, most tangential ideas are wrapped up even before they take form  

2. Risk taking is looked down upon by many startups. Here, the focus is more on customer behaviour,  current market behaviour and we  often shy away even from the thought of trying to create something the world would not have thought of. 

3. As for us, our biggest fear is acceptance,be it when building things or when coming up with lateral ideas! We think more about others than ourselves, so we do not believe in our own idea much. So anything, we think could change the world has a greater chance of getting diluted and discarded. On the other hand, the silicon valley guys just mould their ideas with no questions asked!

4. The feeling of "boasting-about-oneself-is-a-bad-thing" has been drilled deep into our Indian minds which majorly differentiates Indian startups from the startups abroad

However, with more talented young minds stepping into the business world each day, let's hope more Indian startups get there soon.

The App can be downloaded here: 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snapchat.android&hl=en

Source of info about Snapchat: Internet
All views mentioned above are subjective 

Shopping on Wheels

It was a real surprise for me when I first noticed a government organization own an e-commerce store in India. The store with railway tracks in its background and the logo on the top will clearly shock many who are unaware of this. It is none another than IRCTC, a wing of the Indian Railways. They own an e-commerce store that sells anything from apparels to electronics, home décor to sports items. The store currently offers close to 30,000 products from 500 brands. It also offers free shipping on a purchase of or above Rs. 500

The IRCTC e-ticketing site contains a link to this store at the top. The moment I saw it, I began to imagine IRCTC trying to sell branded goods to passengers in trains just like the airlines companies do up in the air. However, to my delight I realized that this was not the case and it was  purely an e-commerce store. The store management was handed over to Yebhi.com, which handles both the user interface/design of the site along with the supply chain operations. This is one obvious reason for why the site more or less looks like Yebhi.com itself. Now how does Yebhi benefit from it? 

1) It gets its share of money for handling the look and feel and operations of the store

2) It gains access to the IRCTC database through which it can expand its user base immensely

                                                 

Though the site seems pretty good and well equipped, there are a few notable things here:

1) Though IRCTC is one of the most visited sites which assumes a daily footfall of 1.2 million visitors, it still carries with it loads of complaints such as the Server being down, issues of slow network, loss of money when the ticket was not booked and so on. Despite the kind of reputation it holds for many, the fact that they dared to venture into the click and mortar setup that has nothing to do with railways is shocking and perhaps a daring move

2)The site however requires you to re-create an account to shop here. You aren't allowed to login with your regular IRCTC login details

3)The site is more or less like any other e-commerce stores of today and hence does not really have a visible differentiator except for the fact that unlike many e-commerce stores that are suspected to pack up and leave somewhere down the lane, IRCTC's store may stand its ground longer.

4) Expect for the link to their site in the e-ticketing portal, the site is pretty much not advertised elsewhere. So, are we looking at a company that is planning to do business online without advertising much online?

5) The IRCTC store has no social presence at all. No login through social networking sites, no exclusive Facebook or Twitter pages. Perhaps they prefer preventing complaints on a public domain than having to confront them.

Nevertheless, the site is user friendly and has a simple design, so saves a lot of customer's time and effort. I would really hope the site improves over time and stands as a firm example to many more budding e-commerce players. 

You may visit the store here: http://www.shop.irctc.co.in

Info and Image Courtesy: Internet