Planet- New 'P' of marketing

Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet

The 'Green' is creating a buzz everywhere- let it be any sector- Automobile, manufacturing, IT/ITES or any field.

Even in politics- Surprised? YES. Green Politics- An ideology focusing on environmental goals.

You just Google the word "GREEN" and you will find hell lot of various ideas to 'Go-Green'. It has given an immense business opportunities with a single aim- Earn Money (the final objective of an organization). For instance, NextGen PMS Pvt Ltd is a new venture dealing in two domains- Waste of Energy and Emission Management. There are lot more startups around the world as well as in India who have started to get into this, the so called "Green Industry".

The companies are attracting customers by showcasing their concerns for the depletion of 'PLANET-EARTH'S' atmosphere by converting their corporate buildings into 'GREEN BUILDING'. 

Green Building is similar to a normal building with its main focus on extending the life span of left over natural resources. The number of Green-Buildings (LEED registered) increased from 10 in 2004 to 80 in 2007. 

The Mother Planet has gained a place in the minds of the customers and it has become an easy way to target them for the companies. Green has emerged as a new domain in the Service Industry with new startups coming up with Innovative ideas in Green Technology.

So, Indirectly speaking- Money is doing something good to the Human Mankind!!!


(Special contribution: Nipun Oberoi)

Western Assault of Urban Bangalore

Soldier of Love

My 27th New Year Party- The best, as I got a chance to see a totally different kind of life for the first time.

For the prior information of all the readers- I don't drink.

For the first time We planned to celebrate our new year in Pub- the MOST important part of Urban Bangalore.

Venue- Xtreme Sports Bar. Occasion- 2010 New Year.

We were the first one to enter the pub. We were given bean bags to sit- red colored.

As time passed, the pub authorities allowed people to enter without any thought of space limitation.

We had starters and some mock-tails in the beginning. The regular food was timed at 12'O clock new year time which was disgusting (as this matters the most to me).

DJ started at around 9:30 PM and it was pretty decent, the dance floor was small to accommodate people to the extent they had allowed in the Pub.

Initially, spirit consumption increased slowly like a Tortoise but with time its consumption increased exponentially as if "Harshad Mehta's" effect has reached here also. 

People had vomited every where- washroom, stairs, tables to celebrate NEW YEAR. People- including girls- were falling here and there- from stairs, couldnt walk properly to celebrate NEW YEAR. Cant comment  on what else they did after getting drunk!!!

At12 mid night after celebrating the new year by throwing and breaking bottles (a new style of celebrating new year- probably MODERNIZATION), the pub declared that police has warned the pub to close down. So we left early.

Earlier, I thought modernization meant your attitude, your behaviour, thirst for knowledge, might be your style statement to some extent (and still I believe in this).

I have seen a NEW meaning of modernization for the first time- which includes drugs, sex (straight or other way round), people falling to any levels to show that they are modernized (a guy going out with any type of girl just for sexual attraction), drinking UNLIMITED, then celebrating the New Year exactly at 1200 by THROWING and BREAKING bottles.

This is not Modernization, this is just westernization. On the other-hand, Western countries have started adopting Indian Culture. The good thing COULD HAVE BEEN learning from different cultures. Instead of learning,  reversal of culture is taking place. The minds are changing- people are just accepting what's appealing to the mind without thinking whether its good or bad.

For me it wasnt a waste of INR 1500/- as I got to know a new kind of life style.

A new beginning for Indian Politics- Baba Ramdev

After spreading his famous Yoga teachings not only in India but across the world, here's Baba Ramdev getting into Politics. 

India's large population is middle class segment. The middle class follows Baba Ramdev to a great extent. 

Baba Ramdev's clean image will surely help his party to gain a bit in the Indian politics but their wont be much for such a clean personality. 

As is said "You have to enter the mud to clean mud". Indian politics, where politicians like Mayawati, Narendra Modi and others cant allow clean personalities to stand in the political arena, Baba Ramdev have to mold himself as per the requirements in this INDUSTRY of INDIAN POLITICS. 

Also, another point here is Baba Ramdev's ability to take the international decisions. Can he handle the decisions which are critical enough like India at war with Pakistan or China, Monetary policy, Budget formulation, Nuclear deals etc.

Even if Baba Ramdev has decided not to contest elections and accept any positions, who is going to run the government in case his party wins? Who is going to take such high level decisions? 
In this case, Indian Government can be the biggest customer for Companies offering Business Solutions to the customers.

Some of the links which puts light on the above thoughts: 

Narendra Modi's Interview by Karan Thapar- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP1QFcvIg9c

Real UP, where half of the population lives below poverty line effected by starvation (CM has spent whopping 200 CRORES in her party rally) - http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/notes-on-a-scandal-income-tax-inquiry-into-maywatis-garland-17843.php

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/grand-preparation-for-mayawatis-lucknow-rally-17695.php

March 2010- Job Search is like Search of Moksh

2005- BE Mechanical Engineer

Got campus Placement for a pay-scale of 8000/- PM. It looked decent in a city like Rohtak, which is not expensive at all. Joined on 1st July'2005. 

I decided to go for MBA and so Resigned on 2nd Aug'2007 (with a Pay-Scale of 15000/- PM) to prepare. Boss offered pay hike for not resigning but I had decided for MBA. So cant look back.

I got admission in Alliance Business School for Dual campus program in Dec 2007 but I preferred not to opt for it was the first batch. I decided to go for ICFAI Business School- Pune and latter I got Bangalore in Campus placement. While joining MBA, I had in mind that i will get atleast 30000/- PM after MBA.

March 2010- I'm a MBA- Master's of Business Administration. I forgot to consider factors like economic slowdown and what we call LUCK. 

My first off campus interview- IBM. Profile- Procurement Specialist. After shortlisting our resume we were called for interview and after interview we were informed that they don't need MBA because we expect too much (just 2000/- more than they offered). They feared that we will leave the job early. 

In another interview, a company (with a pretty decent building- 3 storey) offered 7500/- PM to a candidate who has to pay an EMI of 8000/- PM after 6 months. All the responsibilities of marketing were to be performed by him. Being a new company, he would be the first marketing executive in a growing company. 

But what's the use if he has to take another loan to eat or to live in a city like bangalore? What's the use if he cant buy new formals after getting his first offer letter? What's the use if he cant gift something to his parents from his first salary?

How illogical, HR departments have become. Are they really just to save money? Employees are nothing to the companies?

In another case, where I appeared for on-campus interview, earlier there was no opening left for me. They selected 4 candidates from our institutes, all placed in their hometowns with a pay of 20000/- PM in hand. Now the company has an opening in Bangalore, so they considered me. But they are offering a package of 18000/- PM. NOW, they are not considering me because I have asked them to give me EQUAL pay to me too, as being given to others from my institute. 

Just 2000/- difference, which is nothing for companies but even 500/- Rs makes a difference to the employee's morale.

What will the companies do if employees cant keep up with their morale levels. Are they really going to work as per the companies desired expectations?

Africa- The next target across different industries

Why is Indian telecom giant, Airtel (For jobs in Airtel click here), so desperate to enter Africa? 

Airtel has attempted twice to acquire South African telecom giant MTN, but in vain. Now, Airtel is in talks to acquire Zain's South African operations, a UAE based company.

Taking health care industry, Godrej (For jobs in Godrej click here) has plans to enter African market through acquisition of Nigeria based skin-care firm Tura (Economic times dated 14th march 2010).

Are other markets like India, Australia, China- Saturating or is it the competition and the reducing profit margins that have forced such companies to move out? Or is it the first mover advantage from long term point of view?

Also, the positive developments are attracting different sectors which include end of civil war and economic development in Mozambique, upcoming democratically elected government in Nigeria and growing co-operation & integration between African countries.

In China, the government rules are so stringent that a company cant survive long or even innovate due to lack of freedom (Take the example of Google- how it was thrown). 

Microsoft has found unlimited potential in African continent as is visible from the CSR activities of Microsoft to enter this Knowledge based economy. (Microsoft's CSR activities in Africa) Through this long term strategy, Microsoft is creating demand by developing the continent and bringing it at-par with the rest of the world- A SELF CREATED DEMAND.

To support this trend, i would like to highlight that nine of the 20 fastest-growing global economies are in Africa, many with investment return rates above 10 percent. 

Africa's natural resources have started attracting many agro based companies who have found huge potential in Africa. The initiatives taken include African Union's huge agricultural development programme, AGRA's (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) Green Revolution.