I have to pay the vendors somehow. I have to sell products anyhow so that I can get the money and pay that money to the vendors. I can't focus on selling only one product. If I decide to sell perfume bottles only and use the money from selling these bottles to pay the vendors, then I would have to close down my shop. No vendor will wait for me to sell the products and then pay them. If I do that, my relationship with the vendors will turn sour. So, I have to sell the products somehow in order to pay the vendors and maintain a good relationship with them.
I purchase these parts from a nearby store called M S Automobiles, which is located on the main road. It is owned by a friend of mine. I suggested him to open a spare parts shop, and after taking advice from me and other mechanics about the necessary parts, he decided to stock them in his shop. He thoroughly inquired about the required parts from all the mechanics in this and nearby areas before stocking them.
No, I don't buy anything online. If I don't find what I need here, I go to J C Road. However, this rarely happens. There are many parts shops over there, and you can buy from any of them. Sometimes, you have to visit multiple shops to find a specific part.
I select the wholesale shops based on rates. I go to 2-3 shops and select the shop that offers the lowest rates. The quality is the same everywhere. If there is a saree for Rs.500, we can get it at different rates in different shops. It depends on the profit they make. I choose the shops that give me the lowest rate. That is how I make my decision. It is essential. Otherwise, the wholesalers will overcharge us. They may even charge Rs.50 more per item. It is important to be careful. I also ask the workers for rates. I ask the owners for rates as well. If they quote the same rate, I purchase items from them. Sometimes, the staff and owners may quote different rates. It is not good to buy from them.
I have to go and check the items before buying from wholesalers. Otherwise, I will get bad items. I will get the good ones even when I make a phone call. But they will send items that are not sold there. I may have to sell them off at half the price. That will be a loss for me.
I ask for feedback about the products from customers. When a customer comes to me next time, I ask them: "Are you satisfied with my material? Did you get the proper material? Is the person who came to your home for puja happy?" Then the customer explains to me whether the material is good. If the customer is not satisfied or if the material is faulty, I return it to where I bought it and close the account. Then I try to buy something better and maintain the quality. If I have bought something and it is not good, I would not purchase the material from the same place but from another place to maintain the quality of the material. I do not go back to the vendor. If the vendor gives me faulty material, I would not go to them again. If we both do not have a proper conversation, you would not come next time. I would say that the material and rate are not proper. If the vendor behaves very rudely, I would not go back to them. If you behave well, I would also behave similarly. Otherwise, God would do good for us. 'Narayan' is the one who gives and takes. I just know Narayan; nobody else.
I have many vendors. I have around 6-7 vendors. One vendor is for 'chandan' (sandalwood), one is for ghee. There is a separate vendor for 'maala' and another separate vendor for utensils, God's bowls, 'ghanti', and 'deepak'. For Diwali and Dussehra, those vendors come from Delhi. I found the vendors in Delhi while traveling. I go by train. A vendor asked me to go to Delhi, saying that I would get a better rate there. How did you come to Allahabad, Prayagraj, from Bangalore? I got to know about the Delhi vendors through other vendors. Sometimes I get to know through apps like Google, but it does not refer to the proper vendor. I need to find him personally. Some items are available in Gandhinagar. It will be for us. If I get the same rates in Delhi and here, I purchase the material from here. I do not run here and there. I buy everything from Prayagraj. I have a small-scale business. I go to Delhi just during Diwali. Everything is available in Prayagraj itself. Yes, God's idols made from clay are delivered here, so I sell them. I pay the purchase rate and divide the profit I get. The supplier comes here. I tell the supplier 1 month prior that I want these many god's idol pieces. He asks me if I need 20-50 pieces. I ordered 30 pieces and all these pieces got sold. Then I would order again. I would make payment for the 30 pieces that got sold.
I build trust with vendors by making timely transactions. If I have purchased something, I make its payment immediately. The vendor asks to pay cash in 3 installments. If you make the payment properly, the vendor asks you to make the payment next time. Then the vendor gets to know that your shop is located there. They get to know based on your quality, whether you are suitable. All vendors cooperate, so they say that better rates, quality, and better materials will be available at their shop.
There are about one or two vendors from whom I borrow money and repay it to them. I borrow for a maximum of 1 to 2 weeks, not much. Yes, I borrow according to my capacity. Otherwise, the way they talk to us will gradually start changing. They will rudely ask why I didn't give the money and refuse to provide the material. I know how much I can repay, and based on that, I borrow the money. If I repay it on time, the relationship is well maintained. If I don't, they will say that the material is not available at the moment. If I have already given the money somewhere else, they will mention that I haven't paid the previous amount yet and still want more stock, which is not good.
This is important. The vendor is important. Without them, our work won't happen. Only when they give us the products, will I be able to give them to the customers. If they are not there, then who will manage? A shop is not made with just 2 people. If the vendor is not there, then we won't be able to work. Without them, we can't do any work. Wherever we go, we can't do any work without the vendor. If they don't provide us with the materials, what will I be able to sell? If we are not available, they will take care of things. If we don't have these items, how will we help the customers? Is it right or wrong? Second is staff, third is inventory, and fourth is the customer.
This is important because we need to buy the goods first and keep them in our shop. When customers come, we will need workers to assist. Vendors are important because we rely on them to purchase goods. We buy goods from Delhi, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and Bombay. My husband and I go to Delhi, but we don't go to Bombay because we would have to close the shop for 3-4 days. We close the shop on Sunday, so we go to Delhi on Saturday to do the shopping and return in the morning to open it on Monday. No, we don't buy from Prayagraj because the prices are high and the variety is limited. There are many shops in Delhi, and Gandhinagar is a large market where we find all types of clothes and the variety we need. The local shopkeeper only keeps one variety. And we have to buy everything.
I created a WhatsApp group. Instead of individually contacting each electrician for a meeting, I will send a message to the group with the meeting time. Everyone will receive the message simultaneously and attend the meeting.
Yes, I used to feel scared in the beginning. There’s a metro in Kolkata and I used to take that. I didn’t know how to take the metro. But I learned quite a lot. Now I go alone everywhere, I don’t need anyone. My sister-in-law taught me in the beginning who lives in Bengal. She told me about the shops and we used to go together. And used to purchase everything on our own. But now she is also busy. So I manage everything on my own. She told me about the markets and told me about the retailer and the wholesale shops. First I didn't use to buy from wholesalers, I used to buy from retailers and used to sell it for Rs 100 more. But slowly I started learning who is giving cheaper or at a higher price. I figured this out slowly and found the main wholesaler and who is the biggest one. Now I buy from wholesalers only. Earlier I used to save Rs10 now I save Rs 15/20. Ma’am I got to know by going there and I used to ask those shopkeepers about wholesale shops. But you have to buy inventory for Rs10 lakh and you can’t take the stuff for less than that price from a wholesaler. You don’t get inventory for Rs 1 or 2 lakh. It starts from Rs 15 or 10 lahks. But in the beginning, you have to make them your customers as well. So slowly I started from 2 lakh and they used to listen to me.
In both cases, I will keep both. But if I keep it, it's Vendor. I will keep it on the third. Because the vendor is also important. It is also important to maintain a relationship with the vendor. A relationship with the vendor means assuming that I am continuously dealing with them for a particular product. The major vendor for me is a regular vendor, almost daily or 2-3 times a week, continuously. So, how much do I have to deal with the amount of payment I have to pay? For example, if they ask for a payment of 30 days or 60 days, then it doesn't mean that I always have to pay in 30 days. If I have a trial, there is a plus or minus. So, I have to deal with that. So, I am talking about that relationship. Yes, it's a trust-based relationship. With new vendors, there is some advance payment in the beginning. Or we tell them that if there is any specific guarantor or if we feel so. Rest, we deal with new vendors in cash. We get orders on a mass basis.
I don't remember a major fight with the vendor, but if it happens, I try to solve it. If it doesn't happen, then it remains the same. You have to bear the loss of goods and payment during conflicts. You have to. If I give you a big example, many times, the thing I told them about and the thing I ordered, if they put something wrong, and the vendor doesn't accept it, saying that they won't take a return, then you have to bear it. I keep the record of vendors in Tally only, also for the customers.
There are important vendors. In my overall vendors, the ratio is 50%. 50% are regular vendors with whom I work all the time. For returns and defective products, I give them directly to the company. The quantity should be appropriate. The terms are 30 days, 60 days to handle money online. NEFT or RTGS. I don't deal with cash or anything like that.
I have a group called Electrician Family. They are all members of the group. Whenever I get new products, I add them to the group, whether they are new or old. I make sure to inform the group about these products. I even display them on my counter. I have created this group on my mobile using WhatsApp. I also keep their numbers and names in my diary, such as Rahul Gour, Rakesh, Mahesh, Ajay Mourya, Rakesh, Daya Shankar, Rinkoo, and Jagdeep. These are around 20-25 electricians who are actively working with me. I keep track of their names. If you visit my shop and ask for an electrician, I will check the area and call the appropriate electrician for you.
We acquired the Physics (Walla) franchise. Subham Tripathi is the Physics executive from Allahabad. He advised me to contact Physics. Children purchase books and subscriptions and are knowledgeable about various courses such as NEET and IIT. They have provided a referral code, and if a student makes a purchase using that code, I receive a 5% commission. They have also sent books, including NCERT and solved NEET papers.
The reason I chose to go for a Physics Wallah franchise was because there was an opportunity after COVID-19. He is ranked 36th and is the wealthiest person globally. Specifically, he holds the 36th position in India. I believed it would be advantageous to connect with him, and it has proven to be so. I earn between Rs. 3000-4000 per month. They didn't take any action. The board is available for free and the lights are on. In fact, we moved our board to the upper floor and provided them with space because my name has become well-known in the last 5 years. Physics Wallah students often come to see the board. If you ask any student who is preparing online, they are likely taking a course with Physics Wallah. Around 90% of students in Uttarakhand are Physics Wallah students.
Yearly once I go to Chennai . I usually buy from one person. I used to take from 2 or 3 shops regularly. They used to tell us that you took this collection last time and don't want this. They used to show us what's new. They remember us as we go there regularly. They will guide that you may be having this stock, so take this instead. They give us new collections. If you go to some new shops, they will try to sell their old stock. In my store, I also try to first sell off the old stock, we sell the new stock later. That's how they do it. It's not a problem to go to a new supplier, but it's an old shop and we go to a new supplier, they will give us the old stock. They will try to lower the price and push the products. So sometimes, if we are not careful enough, we can get stuck with old stock.
I simply select the items I want and leave them at the store. Then, I pay the amount on Google Pay or in cash. That's all. Yes, the people at the market know me by name. We have been in contact for many years, so they give me their phone number. I have to personally pick out the jewelry and toys. It can be costly. I own many bangles. At least 250,000 rupees worth.
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.
Good vendor behavior. Suppose I have gone to a shop to buy products. So, there are many vendors who feel irritated, and there are many vendors who exhibit normal polite behavior. So, I notice that. The shopkeeper who doesn't behave well, I don't go to that shop next time. From whom I buy the products, he is a very good person. His behavior is very nice. You will like talking to him. I notice that. I consider both the quality and the price of the product. I compare the price with other shops, and if I find the product at a lower price, I buy it from there because I also need to make some profit.
The more you purchase from the wholesaler you have a good relationship with, the more services they will provide you. You keep going to the same place and you know each other. Like I have seen the photo and I liked the collection. Now that the season is ongoing, any collection can get sold out. So, I called them and asked them to reserve that item for me. They agreed to keep it. This is a loyal customer. They know she will come and purchase it.
For wholesalers, we build a relationship and we like to go to the same place afterwards. Even when you make a purchase, you must go back to the same shop. If your father has been going to a particular shop, you will perhaps go to the same one, and that is how relationships are formed. There is nothing else that I can add because this is a natural process. If I find out that the rate is different, then the decision can change. But generally, there is no such issue.
When I see that the products are fine from that wholesaler and I see that the price is also okay, then we try to get everything from that dealer. You might go to the shop which is very close to your apartment first because it is nearby, but later on, you might come across someplace with better prices and a clean environment, and you will choose to go there. So it is a natural process. Not only will you shop there, but you will also recommend others to go there if it is such a great place.
Online means we have everything from Asian Paints, and the company has already added those. From the ads of Asian Paints, we are Asian Paints dealers. Only our names and phone numbers are given there.
I don't want to go and source products from anywhere else because I have been doing business with that distributor for a long time. I would like to continue working with them. Although I tried switching to online, I realized that my business wasn't performing as well. I want to return to the distributor who supported me when I had no money. The other distributor will not provide me with that benefit because they only understand the language of money. They will only provide me with products if I pay, and if I don't, they won't! Why should I go back to them? I will work with the person who helps me, and that's why I prefer cash transactions. I want to go back to the person I have benefited from in the past. I have been running my shop for 12 years, and online transactions only started 4 years ago. But I was doing business with someone before that, and how can I leave them and switch to another style of doing business just because of online transactions! Everybody does not have the same kind of thinking and I would like to follow my own instinct and do business with the person with whom I am more comfortable and whom I find more reliable.
We have supplies SS (stainless steel)products are supplied to us. All products are covered in this from equipments to machinery, we cannot use aluminum for food products; 304 grade steel is used and we purchase in bulk and manufacture.
There are other shop owners who have a chappal shop. I ask them about their suppliers. If it is the VKC brand, we have the article number. We can ask for the number and they will send the pieces to us. VKC is a branded item, so they will have all the same items. They give us a catalogue and we can also order through that. I trust them because we have a good relationship. [shows the catalogue] These are all provided by the company. They take our name, phone number, and if there is a new article model, it will come to us directly. We ask them for new models, and if they have them, they will send them to us. I buy through a sub-dealer. We can find a sub-dealer with the help of the article number. I buy at least once a week. We can look for more varieties when we go to purchase. They will also respond by phone, but the product may not be the same. So, it is better to buy directly. Sometimes we will not get size 7. If we want extra pieces in size 7, we can specifically ask for them.
When I started business my brother-in-law was already in this business and he showed everything. He ordered first.. When I worked in a shop, I came to know the places where my owner would get materials. When I was working they would come to collect the amount from my owner. He will ask me to give them water or tea. We will mingle with them like that. I will talk to them. Suppose if the owner is not there he will ask me where the owner is and I will say the owner went outside. I will say I will bring tea and give it to him. There will be conversation. I already know the address. When I went to his shop he knew that I worked in my owner’s shop.
We are buying an item regularly and if we feel the rate is high, we will stop buying from a particular supplier. I will give the balance amount and say no. Suppliers will come and give their visiting card and say that we can take samples from them. I will feel it is not okay and say we can meet next. They will give their visiting cards.