Aditya
56 anecdotes
That shop is on Google maps because, we want to make that grow, this is already growing. The other shop opened last year.
I sell ayurvedic, homeopathic and allopathic products since 2016. Yes, we have to get a license and we have to get an approval from Mumbai.
There was a shop near my house, and I worked with them from 8th to 9th grade. The boss there encouraged me to pursue this opportunity because there is a lot of potential in it. I had financial issues at home. We were not financially stable, so I knew I had to work on my own. I realized that there is a good amount of money in this field.
I had financial problems in the beginning, but then there were these teachers who supported me as well. No, I didn't take a loan; they supported me, and I repaid them in a year.
There are hospitals nearby, that’s why I decided to open the shop here. I have one shop on the road too, here at Yadav Nagar square. We have partners and we manage over the phone.
This one is not online but but that one is. I provide deliveries and the people can use the app as well. These days everything can be done through WhatsApp.
I have a computer to keep track of the customers. I use the software. This is by Okay Pharma. This is for the inventory. These are the sale details as well. No apps are not needed for this software. If there is any difficulty then I manage, because there are risks involved. I see it online. I call the software people in case of a problem. We have to call them and they tell us. I have purchased this. It is about 7000 rupees. Then they have yearly renewal charges for it.
No, this is the market purchase bill that goes into the inventory, and I have to enter it manually. We can also do it through emails, but then the bills submitted via email don't go through. Sometimes, there are new products that are not entered, but in this software, you can add them manually. It has a built-in method where you can enter up to 100 units. Otherwise, it causes a problem with the quantity. Suppose we enter 5 units of these pack of 15 tablets, then it makes it 75. They will show it as 750, so such issues are shown, that is why it is better to enter them manually. Yes in this strip there are 15 tablets, and if I get 5 strips, here I have taken just 2 strips that makes it 30, but here when I make the entry it should show me the stock of 30, but here it is something else. If there is a pack of 100, then it will show 200. Yes this is the drawback, that is why, it is better to get it done manually here.
I add customers' bills in the evening. Every day, I have to enter about 30 to 40 bills. No, I don't print the bills. During the OPD timings of the doctors, there are about 100 patients every day, which is the total from morning to evening. Currently, they have attended to about 70 patients, which means there will be another 60 in the evening. Some wait, and some don't. I give the bill to whoever wants it.
I have maintained a register for noting the credit given to customers.
In my shop, there is a daily boy who works, and I know how much business I can do every day. I want to know if they are involved in any kind of fraudulent activity. I had noticed that in the last 2 months, the sales have increased, but the profit is still low. I was keeping an eye on him, and he was caught. I didn't take any action; I just told him to find another job because his behavior is not acceptable here. I even offered to help him find another job elsewhere. I didn't argue because I didn't want to create a scene.
I take people who are near to me and the boy stays close by. Since he is known and lives closer I take them for the job. He should be honest and he should live close by
If we have given credit to someone, then we will have to forget about it. If the money is gone, then it is gone. There are no businesses where the loan hasn't been made. If it is a money credit, then you will have to forget about it. If it is there, then it is there; otherwise, it is not. If there are honest people, then they will come and give the money to you. They will say your money is pending, please take it. Even if I have maintained a register for it and then when he comes the next time, I tell him that the money was pending the last time, he denies it and says it was already paid. What will you do about it?
Yes, I wrote the credit list in the register. Now it has been significantly reduced, as we no longer give credit to the same people repeatedly. We incur losses as some people repay the money while others do not. For instance, I once gave some medicines worth 1200 rupees to this uncle, and he promised to pay the money the next morning. However, he has not returned to this day. I then ask the doctors about this patient with the illness and then tell them that when the patient visits next, make sure you tell him to clear the dues with the medical store. So, the doctor informs them about it.
Yes, patients/customers ask for discounts all the time. I offer a 10% discount. It depends on the medicine; if it is generic, then the discount will be 50%, and if it is ethical, then it will be 10%. We procure generic medicines because we have a margin of 10% on them, and from that 20%, I will give 10% to the doctor.
Inventory depends on the prescription. They have PSR, antacids, liquids, cough syrups, and there are seasonal medicines too. For example, there is dengue, malaria, typhoid, and flu. We have more medicines for typhoid and dengue, as well as antibiotics and painkillers. Paracetamol is also available. There are medicines for children, such as cough syrup. During the rainy season, there is also diarrhea, so we have ORS liquid, ORS powder, tablets, and pediatric liquids for loose motions. All of these need to be kept according to the season. We also have medicines for dysentery and diarrhea. Additionally, we have medicines for jaundice and typhoid, as we know that this is the season for them and people will come with these conditions. Therefore, we need to make arrangements for these medicines regardless.
All (staff, vendor, customer ) are important. If the vendor doesn’t give the stock then what will we sell. If I have to go somewhere for some personal work then at such time I need the staff as well. If the staff is not there then I wont be able to do my personal work. My child had parents meeting at school and I couldn’t go because there was no staff. If the staff had been here, then I would have gone for it.
There are very few vendors who come and make deliveries. If we have to buy in bulk quantities, then they come and deliver. I go and get it myself from the market for smaller orders. Currently, there are 2 to 3 markets. There are 2 stores in Ganji Peth, and there is one more at Aggression Square.
No, I don't search for stores; they are all really old. It depends on the time. I try to save time for commuting. For example, there is one wholesaler at Yadav Nagar and another one at Mahindra Nagar. We should call them first and check if they have the medicines available or not. If they say they have it, then we go to them and take it instead of going to the market and purchasing it.
Transaction with vendors is in cash. We can even do it online.
Misunderstanding with the seller. The vendor is in need, and they check the billing accordingly. They check how much sales we make in a month: is it one lakh, 1.5 lakhs, 2 lakhs, or is it 60000 or 70000 rupees? They identify where the problem has occurred and what the reason for it is. I had taken 12000 rupees in cash, but the money ran out. I inform the vendor that the money is gone and ask them to send the Delivery Memo (DM) for this bill tomorrow. Some people do it, and some don't. I feel bad that I don't have the medicine with me. I received a message from the shop that this medicine is urgently needed, but since I don't have the money, I can't buy it now. However, there is a delivery memo, which I can sign and get it. Some vendors provide it, and some don't. For the vendors who don't provide it, we consider the products they have and the numerous companies we can do business with. The products I get from their shop are also available at other shops. I will place maximum orders with the shops that are ready to give me a delivery memo. I ask them to provide me with it. If there is a particular product that is needed in 200 units or 500 units, then I will place the order for that same quantity. I don't place orders above that. Also, we keep in mind that this vendor was not ready to help when we were in need. We give them the genuine orders that we need. For the vendor who helps us, we place an order for 5000 units instead of 1000 units. This way, we also help them.
I call the vendors and I even place orders on WhatsApp as well.
Nothing, no seals, vendors give us 20% margin, like I said before.
All the deals are dealt in cash. For the ones that are on credit, we make check payments. Yes, there is an inventory register maintained.
There is a Pharma Rack app. It is on the mobile. Yes, it's easy to use. If there is a new product, then we search for it here. It also shows which stockist has the product available. This is just the wholesaler details. I search for new medicine in the search tab. I also search on Google, but here they have mentioned the stockist directly. Here they have the doctor, stockist, and Ashish Medical Agencies.
Yes, I have taken a loan. If you ask any person, they will never say it is easy to take a loan. When it comes to a loan, it is a hectic job. Every month, you will have to pay the EMI. You can skip a meal of the day, but the EMI should be paid regularly.
I stay away from all this, I just use WhatsApp. I don’t use social networking sites more. I don’t get the time for it.
I use WhatsApp more for the orders .It is companies group. The new product launches are being sent by the companies. They even call and tell.
Because of the app? Nothing has changed, but we get to know about the new products. Here, this is our group, no, it is on the other mobile. Here, this is Raat Pharma Gandhi Baug. He is a wholesaler for us. Whatever new comes to him, he adds them to the list and mentions that they are available for purchase. Yes, we have a group named the production information group, which informs us about the new products. The group includes all the chemists from North Nagpur. We can send each other information about the products needed and the information needed for any product.
I am going to Indonesia for personal work on the 28th of this month. I will need Google Maps there. I will use it when I am at work.
Yes, I am going to Indonesia for export. I have a friend here who works at the export office. I went there on the 11th of last month because he told me about it. There was an exhibition, so I met a few people there and got to know more about it. He asked me to come, and although I haven't received the confirmation yet, I have already packed everything for the medicines export. I am going there to finalize that deal. I learned about this on WhatsApp.
Yes, the other store is on Google Maps, but not this one, the other one. Yes, we receive reviews. There are some weird customers who come here, asking for sugar. They even ask for milk. In that area, the people are all non-locals. They are workers in that area. There are also many Muslims there. Yes, they ask for sugar at this shop. I get agitated sometimes and tell them that this is a pharmacy. Can't you see the medicines kept here?
If there is a new product, I search for information on Google. There is this one checked product that my partner sent to me. Yes, I use Google to search for new products. This product was not available in Pharma Rack, so I couldn't find anything from the stockist.
I try using pharma apps on this mobile first. If I don't find that medicine, it seems like around 20 companies come up in the market every month. However, the policy states that you have to go to chemist bhavan and register your new medicine there. But many company owners do not register their new medicines there. So we face this problem. We will not get those companies that are not registered. Even if we inquire from chemist bhavan about which company provides this medicine, chemist bhavan would not have their entry. When we don't find it at chemist bhavan, we definitely search for the company on Google. I take a screenshot of that company from Google and put it into the product information. There are vendors listed on Google and some of them would definitely have that company's products. Then the vendor would say, "Yes, I have this company's products.”
In my personal phone there is product information group, I don’t remove that group from there. I use that group otherwise there is nothing personal in it. I didn’t shift to new number. have to fill up the form and submit there. Their sir would be there then he will do it otherwise not. I find it a hectic process.
That dada’s friend is CA, he handles everything for me. From 7 to 11th date every month I contact CA. We have to file GST. I have to send details of both the shops, GST 1 and GST 2. Yes on WhatsApp I send it. From inside I have to take it on excel and once it taken on excel, I send it to CA through WhatsApp.
CA converses with me on phone. After every month’s 7th date, I start receiving his calls. See it is done like this, GST 3B, GST 1, 2. 11th is the last date of filling GST every month.
Yes, there are changes with QR code and it is also easy. You saw now that person did not have the change, he went outside and searched for the change but he did not get it. Through QR code, you can easily pay any amount you want. Our time is saved. See, he is one of our vendors; he is a Brahmin. Anytime I phone him up, anytime he brings the stock to me.
Vendors give us monthly stock of 20-25,000/- and write in the diary and take payment from us. It becomes easy for everybody as everything is written down properly here.
Yes the other shop is registered online. It is on my friend’s app only. He is not present here now, he has been to Gondia.I dont remember the app’s name.
No, I did not try Big Basket, but I have tried Jio. It is the PharmEasy app. There is also the Tata 1mg app. Netmed is available as well. There is a distributor called Aashirwad. Jio is good. If we place an order today, the stock will be delivered tomorrow. After that, Aashirwad distributor is also good. Here, if we place an order at 12 noon, the stock will be delivered to our counter around 3-3.30 pm. The mode of payment is cash. If they have the stock, they will show it as available; otherwise, they will show it as out of stock.
I do very less online shopping. One of my customers had told me that this particular medicine I am not able to get offline so please search it online for me and buy it for me. So I searched for it and purchased it for that customer.
Yes, I have online customers. There are many peculiar customers. One customer has ordered a product that I cannot reveal to you. It does not sound good. He ordered a crystal condom. I don't know whether he received it or not, but he came to me and said, "I want this condom, please order it for me." Initially, I told the customer, "No, you yourself search for it, you will find it somewhere." I was not feeling comfortable ordering that product.
Yes I have swipe machine. It is of HDFC, of Canara and of ICICI.
See, the customer has sent me the details of the medicines he wants. He is an MR, and through him, we come to know about the stockists in the market and where we can get the medicines. Yes, MRs like him inform us about the stockists. MRs like him call us and let us know that these medicines are available with a particular stockist, and we can easily obtain them from there. They also play a role in our business.
When I opened up the other shop, I had no stock on hand with me. At that time, I just filled up 30-40,000/- worth of stock in that shop. And today, I have around 15-16 lakhs' worth of stock in that shop. It is fully packed, and if you open it, you will see stock everywhere. I buy very little stock in loose; I buy it in bulk instead. I have so much stock with me, but I still have to bring 5 boxes from the distributor. I am planning to go and bring those boxes on Sunday. Yes, from 1 shop, I have opened up 3 shops now. I have expanded, of course. I had to take out a business loan.
Yes, I am planning to open up more shops. Now I want to open up a very big shop with four shutters at Sugat Nagar. It belongs to my mother-in-law. The shop has 4 shutters, so I am planning to set up 4 departments on the 4 shutters. One would be homeopathic, the second would be cosmetics. Below there would be 4 shutters and upstairs 2 chambers would be doctor. In one chamber meeting room and in other chamber doctor’s OPD. And there will be one waiting room for the patients. I would need 30-35 lakhs for setting up this type of business. 10 lakhs would be set up the departments and then medicine’s stock, cosmetic’s stock and other products. For arranging medicines and other stuffs I would need 10-15 lakhs. My loan EMIs would end in January and after that I will plan for the next loan.
Through the apps, I can also get ads made and share status on WhatsApp (TO increase sales in future). During Covid, we ran many ads promoting the availability of sanitizers, hand wash, and paper liquid. There is a software engineer who said, "You do it first, then let me know, and I will make a video for you.”
To be frank, money keeps me active. I like doing this business; I have an interest in it. I enjoy providing service to people. We keep our shop open for 365 days; we never take a holiday. Even if there is any function, we keep our shop open. After attending the function, we come back to the shop. We only take a holiday on the second day of Diwali and Holi. We never take a holiday on national holidays either. If anybody is poor and doesn't have money but needs medicine, we give it to them free of cost. We think it won't make a difference to us if we serve 1-2 persons free of charge. If their needs are fulfilled, we feel content. They will at least speak well of us somewhere in society, saying that we didn't charge them.
Yes, I am going to go to Indonesia again now for exporting. The person I am associated with there has sent me 30 tons of chili. They might need it here. When I went there, 2-3 buyers met me and they said they need the medicines. The medicines are sent there and they change the label and sell them. They write the instructions in their language on the medicine.
I came to know about this export business through my friend. My friend was working at the Ordnance factory here. He was a government servant, but he felt that there was something better to be done than this. He cracked the exam and today he is in the foreign exchange department. So he thought he could go there and work. Today, without his signature, the work does not proceed. For sending any order outside of their country, his signature is needed. He himself asked me for the buyer, and somebody might have told him. Now, on the coming 11th, their exhibition is going to be held.
Yes, I want to expand my business to another country, specifically in the field of medicines. Canada is the main hub for exporters. Any medicine that needs to be sent there must come from Canada. This contact was made through Hitesh sir's uncle. We have a pharmacy here and they will also have a pharmacy there. I asked him to inquire about where they purchase the medicines and if there is a wholesale market there. Also, ask for information about 1-2 buyers from there. Once this is done, we can proceed further. The connection is established in this way. Yes, my friend who works in the foreign exchange department is helping me. He knows the language spoken there and has completed a course in it. Therefore, I am going there to finalize the deal. I also have an offer from Thailand, but the cost is lower there.
I feel cash transaction is fine, if they will do it digital then….how daily wage people will cope up with this, how they will be able to afford digital money. For doing transaction digitally they would need smart phone. Daily wage people earn 400-500/- and from that they spend 300/- in buying vegetables and grocery items so how they would be able to afford digital payment.
We will try to understand first what the problem is, and sometimes there is an issue from them or from the staff. In Nagpur, there are many places where counterfeit medicines are sold. Yes, they are sold in large quantities. This life-saving drug comes in a strip of 15 tablets. If you take 2 or 5 tablets from me, and then come back after 2 days saying that you don't need them anymore, it becomes a problem for me. I have already given it to you, and usually, there is still plenty of time before the expiry date, because expired medicines are not put back on the market. This would result in a loss for me. Initially, I wasn't going to give it to you, but you mentioned that you would take these every month. So, upon your request, I gave it to you. However, later you came and told me that you don't need them anymore, and you only used two tablets and want to return the rest. This causes a loss for me. If the medicine is returned after 2 days, I don't accept it. I only accept it if it is in its original packaging or if it is in liquid form. As I have already given you the tablets, I cannot take them back.