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Suzanne Bowen, the multi-talented technology evangelist, was at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona. Suzanne is the force behind the hugely popular Techistan.net. She was our booth and I told about our innovation showcase at Mobile World Congress. Here it is:
InfoStretch’s Is Growing At Gravity-Defying Speeds. The India Centre has doubled the office space and is looking at high energy professionals to fuel the growth. QA Experts, Mobile Evangelists, HR Whiz – We are looking for you !
Rashmi Bansal’s new book – ‘Connect The Dots‘ is a follow-up to her hugely successful book ‘Stay Hungry Stay Foolish’. The earlier book mentioned the inspiring stories of IIMA graduates. Connect The Dots is about successful entrepreneurs without the typical MBA degree.
The book has classified entrepreneurs in three categories:
1. Jugaad – Ones who have no formal business training and learnt by observation, experimentation and application of mind.
2. Junoon – Ones who are driven by passion and ideas which are ahead of its time.
3. Zubaan – Ones who are creative people with unique talent
The book has a biographical account of the entrepreneur and advice to other entrepreneurs – same style as Stay Hungry Stay Foolish. The selection of the entrepreneurs is interesting indeed which adds diversity to the book and the subject of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs behind success stories like Reva, Dosa Plaza, Su-Kam, Crossword, Tantra T-Shrits, Veta, Fem Care are featured as well as Film Director Paresh Mokashi and Wildlife Photographer Kalyan Verma. Though there are no formulas to success, it is interesting to know the journey of the fellow entrepreneurs.
Rashmi Bansal’s style and language is amazing as always ! She has got another bestseller !
Read it !
The Indian Mobile Handset Market is coming of age. There are more than 30 Indian Mobile Handset players. The Industry is going strong with impressive numbers and is now resembling the marketing favorite FMCG Industry.
Let us look at the few common features with FMCG Market:
1. Strong Global Players With Indian Challengers
Indian FMCG Market is a vibrant place with global players like Unilever and P&G. Global players have been successfully challenged by Indian companies like Nirma, Cavin Care, Marico, Ghadi etc.
Similarly, Global Companies like Nokia, Samsung, LG have been strong in India. In fact, Nokia enjoyed Maruti-like status in India. However, now it is challenged by Indian players like Karbonn, Maxx, Fly, Videocon, Micromax, Intex etc.
India is a very important market for Unilever as well as Nokia, P&G as well as Samsung.
2. Price Wars
The FMCG market has seen price wars and companies like Unilever launched Wheel to counter-attack Nirma. Similarly, Nokia, LG and Samsung have launched sub-2000 Rs phones to counter the various Indian brands.
3. Product Enhancements
Indian FMCG Players have used strong product features to differentiate themselves. Whether it is special packaging, different price points, product ingredients – FMCG players have been innovating and improving products.
Similarly, Indian players have innovations like Dual SIM, long battery hours to differentiate themselves apart from price advantage.
4. Distribution
In FMCG, Distribution is God ! Companies like HLL, Colgate, Cavin-Care have built a great distribution machinery. It is their biggest advantage. Similarly, Nokia and others have created a great distribution network and a strong sales team, which has resulted in nearly 2 million handsets being sold every month in India!
5. New & Improved !
FMCG Products excel in re-launches with minimal changes – The New & Improved. FMCG products play with different colors, size and ingredients.
Indian Mobile players are also playing with bold Indian colors, new sizes and aesthetic appeal.
6. Celebrity Advertisement
Indian FMCG Players have developed and promoted the concept of celebrity advertisements. In fact, Lux prides itself in promoting Indian beauties and every top celebrity is promoting multiple FMCG Products.
Videocon, Maxx India, Lemon etc have started using Indian Celebrities for differentiating themselves in the Indian advertisement scenario.
7. Counterfeit
The Global Players face the problem of product plagiarism in India. Whether is Vicks, Colgate or Parachute, there are several Indian versions.
iPhone and Blackberry handset designs are the most copied designs in India. There are many foreigns handsets which are openly sold with duplicate designs.
8. Product Flanking Strategy
Unilever, P&G started it and Nokia and Indian players are mastering it !
