The unstructured billion rupees firms of India • Hacker News Board

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#21

Post by imjk » Sun, Jul 08, 2012, 7:11 PM UTC

guard-of-terra wrote: post #18

imjk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there's an important lesson from that car wash/fast food chain/whatever that can be applied to start-ups, then I'd encourage posting about it here.

I miss on the important lessons. Those two chains grew because they cared about their customers above all else, we are told. But what about thousands of chains all over the world that grow despite having no special focus on the customer? Save marketing pitches. What makes these two chains stand out? Do they, really? How would one prove their success isn't random or fueled by some other factor?

All valid points that could make for great discussion. Perhaps this story isn't the greatest example, but I've seen much less related submissions that have made for great discussion and applicable contributions to startups/technology.

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#22

Post by shrikant » Sun, Jul 08, 2012, 9:43 PM UTC

kshatrea wrote: post #3

I can unequivocally state that the conclusion you reach for many corporations or companies in India may be true. But not for these two. The first company is a family/friend owned company of the Karunannidhi empire, often called the first family of Tamil Nadu. The second is owned by a very famous and politically connected man in Tamil Nadu, and now in New Delhi. In India, Bharti Airtel, Reliance, Bajaj and these are a…

> The first company is a family/friend owned company of the Karunannidhi empire, often called the first family of Tamil Nadu.

While you make a good point, I have to that guy and ask for some sort of a citation on this. I've lived in Chennai for 5 years and never heard anything of the sort. (that Saravana Stores is part of the Karunanidhi empire)

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#23

Post by senthil_rajasek » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 1:49 AM UTC

This article is devoid of any content except mentioning 2 companies which are "successful".

Why is this article on the front page of HN?

These are privately owned companies. The author does not even quote sources for the billion rupee "turnover".

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#24

Post by nmridul » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 2:44 AM UTC

irahul wrote: post #8

> cleanliness, serving speed and courteous behavior. The author's definition of courtesy is very different from mine. When I am dining out, here are my expectations: 1. Let me settle down. Do not shove the menu in my face as soon as I put my behind on the chair. 2. Do not hover around my table after you have handed me the menu. It's not rocket science to watch from a distance and see if I am ready to place an order.…

This is how majority of the Indian restaurants work.

1. You find the first empty table around and sit. No one takes you to your table. Sometimes, you even share the table with another person if you are there without family. Many don't mind unless they are there with friends and want some private conversations (but then, the Indian restaurants are not the right place for this)

2. The menu is on the table or stuck on the wall. Most times, there are no menu. Someone comes to you and recite the whole list of available items.

3. Soup, appetizer ?? That is not part of the South Indian menu. If you order meals, you get all in one plate.

4. If you need something, you call the waiter nearest you. If required - shout or whistle. No one would mind you doing so.

The places are often crowded specially during lunch and dinner time. If you need some calm place, you have to go to upscale restaurants.

EDIT - As someone below said, you are not their target customer.

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#25

Post by ashwin_krish » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 3:42 AM UTC

guard-of-terra wrote: post #15

Any country have quite a few supermarket and fast food chains. And they never seem to be the topic on hacker news. I think it ought to be that way unless the businesses in question do something extraordinarily innovative. Or else, we're headed towards calling some random car wash a start-up.

Well, the point I was trying to make was how a small retail chain can get successful to an extent that make any one awestruck. Innovation need not be the revolutionary or apple kinda innovation. Even a small innovation can make million user base. Besides, i agree, they are not start ups per se. The definition of startup itself is a bit loose so going along that line won't get us far. The important thing is to be successful. Innovation is a way to success. If you need to be innovative for achieving million user base, so be it. Else, even the out of the world innovation can be shunned by the customers. The blog points out that serving customers are far more important than spending loads on marketing etc.

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#26

Post by ashwin_krish » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 3:45 AM UTC

senthil_rajasek wrote: post #23

This article is devoid of any content except mentioning 2 companies which are "successful". Why is this article on the front page of HN? These are privately owned companies. The author does not even quote sources for the billion rupee "turnover".

Hey senthil, I think you are missing out an important point here. It is not abt two successful companies, it is about how they got successful and their success is an outlier,by not following the usual path. And how the current so called corporate structure need not necessarily guaranty success. It is abt how, sans marketing, they have managed to gather million customer base.

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#27

Post by ashwin_krish » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 3:56 AM UTC

guard-of-terra wrote: post #18

imjk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there's an important lesson from that car wash/fast food chain/whatever that can be applied to start-ups, then I'd encourage posting about it here.

I miss on the important lessons. Those two chains grew because they cared about their customers above all else, we are told. But what about thousands of chains all over the world that grow despite having no special focus on the customer? Save marketing pitches. What makes these two chains stand out? Do they, really? How would one prove their success isn't random or fueled by some other factor?

The reason they stand out most is their consistency over the decade. The consistency they have as they expand. India is a lot different scenario than the rest of the world. Tackling innovation alone won't get you far. There are so many factors starting from purchase of license, regular bribing the police, rogues etc etc. Besides, this is a story of an uneducated person raising this big a company. Gathering customers without use of a computer or internet. I believe this is an important lesson for all startups for this reason. It shows going beating the usual, taking the untrodden path can take you miles.

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#28

Post by senthil_rajasek » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 5:36 AM UTC

ashwin_krish wrote: post #26

senthil_rajasek wrote: post #23

This article is devoid of any content except mentioning 2 companies which are "successful". Why is this article on the front page of HN? These are privately owned companies. The author does not even quote sources for the billion rupee "turnover".

Hey senthil, I think you are missing out an important point here. It is not abt two successful companies, it is about how they got successful and their success is an outlier,by not following the usual path. And how the current so called corporate structure need not necessarily guaranty success. It is abt how, sans marketing, they have managed to gather million customer base.

Are you sure these companies have no structure? Where did the size estimate even come from?

Re: The unstructured billion rupees firms of India

#29

Post by guard-of-terra » Mon, Jul 09, 2012, 10:16 AM UTC

ashwin_krish wrote: post #27

guard-of-terra wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I miss on the important lessons. Those two chains grew because they cared about their customers above all else, we are told. But what about thousands of chains all over the world that grow despite having no special focus on the customer? Save marketing pitches. What makes these two chains stand out? Do they, really? How would one prove their success isn't random or fueled by some other factor?

The reason they stand out most is their consistency over the decade. The consistency they have as they expand. India is a lot different scenario than the rest of the world. Tackling innovation alone won't get you far. There are so many factors starting from purchase of license, regular bribing the police, rogues etc etc. Besides, this is a story of an uneducated person raising this big a company. Gathering customers…

Most of those points stand for other fast food or supermarket chains as well. And the cases of single place becoming a chain usually feature owner without a formal business education.