Sunday, October 18, 2009

SANJAY GHODAWAT- A Success Story


Ghodawat Group deals in food, agriculture, energy and in many more areas and earns a revenue of about 1000 crore.

Sounds strange…Never heard of this group..??????? The struggle started in 1988 when Sanjay Ghodawat now 45 years travelled in a tempo; to sell a pan masala called Quality, shop-to-shop across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. But in 1992, times started changing when he introduced his own Gutka brand- STAR and it did all the wonders for him. Today his Gutka brand is most favored in western India. The incredible thing about Ghodawat’s business empire is that its almost completely based and fully run from a small town KOLHAPUR.

Today only one-fifth of revenues are coming from Gutka and rest coming from a big basket of other products in which the group entered.

He is now referred to as VIJAY MALLYA of Maharashtra- he owns a chopper- Eurocopter and a range of more than 100 CARS which includes Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Vintage Plymouth, a Bentley and the list goes on and is being extended. This group is a perfect example of small town-Big business running from Kolhapur.

The group currently has a muscle power of more than 5000 employees and is growing as per the diversification.

THE GREEN INITIATIVE-

The group currently owns and operates about 150 wind turbines which generate about 100 MW of electricity. The group plans to invest Rs. 400 crore in next five years, in energy.

MANAGER’S PERSPECTIVE-

As these businesses are run from small-towns, they sometimes fail to attract good talent. The main reason is that the professionals don’t want to move to small towns.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

ETHICS AWAY FROM HOME- A MANAGERIAL INSIGHT

An easy way to look at corporate ethics when one is away from home in another nation is to Do in Rome as the Romans do?

But this kind of absolutist approach can lead to various problems. The answer lies somewhere in between. Different nations have different core values which define their ethics. What may feel lie bribery to an American, may be in keeping with Japan's longstanding tradition of gift giving-sometimes very costly ones. Many business practices neither exist in black nor in white but in a Gray Zone. One approach can also be, to do everywhere exactly as the managers do at home. But this again is clearly inadequate as every country has the right to establish its own rules regarding health and safety etc. To find any guiding principles is very difficult in this context. But if the managers try not to become either absolutists or relativists then answer lies here in the following three principles;

-Respect for core human values irrespective of the place you are in;

-Respect for local traditions;

-Follow the belief that context matters when deciding what is right and what is wrong

Sunday, October 11, 2009

WORLD WOULD BE HAPPIER

If wars can be ended,

If communalism can be stopped,

If bribery and corruption existed no where,

Then the world would be happier…

If every child gets parents,

If every person gets food,

If there are no beggars,

Then the world would be happier….

If every where there is greenery,

If every where there are trees,

If everybody is a believer,

Then the world would be happier…

If every country is prosperous,

If every nation stands united,

If all people are smarter and sharper,

Then the world would be happier…

ECO FRIENDLY PRODUCTS – AS A MARKETING WEAPON

Eco friendly or nature friendly products are those which are considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment. There are many eco – friendly goods and services marketed in India. Some famous products which are marketed as eco-friendly are Honda hybrid car, compact fluorescent lamps, VRV Ac’s, CNG, refrigerators, solar water heaters etc.

Green products are a rarity in India. People are still unaware of their advantages. It can be said that this is an UNEXPLORED MARKET….

Marketers can grab this opportunity for sustainable and profitable growth. Market for green products will evolve by proper provision of formal knowledge to the people. Consumer preference is the most critical factor to determine the growth of green products in India.

Economic incentives like offering subsidies would also help in creation of market for green products. These products should be promoted as products for mass consumption and not conspicuous consumption. In the end I would like to say “GO GREEN”.