India’s capital Delhi or ‘Dilli’ is one of the world’s oldest economic centres. Older and narrower the streets, more is the money that flows through them.
Dilli is full of entrepreneurs, not your black coat-white shirt entrepreneurs but the classic Indian entrepreneurs who could be living in 3 room house and a million-dollar bank account.
I am always amazed at what these old streets can teach you. It’s better than Harvard’s and far cheaper for sure, plus it’s recession proof too.
Street Smart Genius
In one such ancient markets of Dilli was a man who brought cloth from nearby factory and sold them in streets at the same rate he brought it. Fool you may call him, but I call him one of the finest entrepreneurs I’ve ever met! You’ll agree with me once you hear the other half of story.
So he buys cloth from nearby factory and sells them at exactly same rate. It is way cheaper than the shopkeepers in front of him are selling for. People will wait hours to buy the good quality cheap cloth.
At the end of day, he has empty thousands of jute bags in which that cloth came. They are sold for heavy profit. That’s his business.
… That’s not all
Knowing this another one sells cooking oil at wholesale rates – which is more in demand than cloth. Later he sells of tin containers – huge profit.
Google is somewhat on same line. Their world-class services are free. Everyone waits for Google to buy a good service and make it free. Their business isn’t services – it is ads they put on them and data they get to play with.
It will take millions of dollars to get the market research data which now they get free and are even paid to collect it.
What are you thinking? Write an ebook and sell it – a good business plan. Write a book and let it sell other stuff for you – brilliant plan.
How can your business revolutionize by this business plan?
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Hey King,
Nice story there. There are a lot of other people like that there. Even here in Mumbai. There are cheap streets, people working there live in slums, and have LCDs! You can’t even imagine, I have seen it myself when I was doing my school project. And not just that, on interviewing one of those households, I cam to know that they had a huge amount in their bank account as well.
They really know their business. Nice post, and thanks for sharing! :)
Yea man, I can’t agree more. Awesome entrepreneurs are not found in corporate houses… they are there in streets of slums.
“King” Sidharth,
Good observation. What’s even better is the depth at which you try to understand the subject.
Learn things like these and more, and you’ll have your claim to having the most FIT marketing muscles. There’s one of the most admired marketers in the world from US and I was part of their Insider’s circle Coaching Group. They had great insight around and one of them was something called “S & D – Swipe & Deploy.” Swipe from one field and deploy it in another field. Great success has come through this mindset.
Sidharth, can you take this idea of the Dilli entrepreneurs and come up with an S&D marketing idea. Do you know where the McDonald’s Carry / Take Home window came from ? Think of it. S&D from a Bank Cash Counter !!!
Cheers.
To your success.
Pramodh
Haha! You can stop ephasizing “King” or maybe you should read “Why?”
Wow man! That is such a wonderful idea! I am gonna try this out on things. Wait! We already do that, but never realized that we are doing it. Just wow.
I think I will try and use S&D and then write a post about it. Or if you would like to write it then lemme know.
I will be publishing here every alternate day (except the weekends) i.e. 3 days a week. So roll in your email address in subscription box in sidebar.
Cheers!
Very similar to the “Seth” North Indian businesses of Chennai. Very innovative.
Haha! Never herd about it. Will Google it. Thanks kk!
Your a student of entreprising. Shall see you here more often.
“King”
This is one of the most inspiring pieces i have read in a very long time ! Thanks for that . Synonymous ,is the case of McDonalds .Their real business is not Hamburgers ! It’s Real Estate ! People visit McDonalds , not because of their “tasty” burgers but because they are located on THE good spot in a city !
You are welcome man! So glad you stopped by!
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Loved your post on alternates stuff than ebook wiriting :D
Feels great to comment on the KING’s blog
Gustakhi maaf!! :D
Yeah…. the Google example you gave also applies to PhokatCopy if you have heard about it. I really like such simple but smart ideas.
Anyways… nice post….
LOL, Long story behind that dude.
Yea, herd about that one too. Nice to have you here man. Hope to see you again.
hey!!!great work dude….i am highly impressed from your wider vision about the entrepreneurs :)
Thanks dude! Spread the word :P
At last an article depicting the true entrepreneurs of India.
Hats off for posting an eye-opening account.
Hope to see more posts highlighting the Indian way of doing business. We really need more info like this related to India.
Thanks for the comment man!
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