We interact with countless things each day that support us as we sleep, eat, work and play — the bed, we get out of in the morning, the shower head, your toothbrush, the car steering wheel, your watch and your lunch box. Your stove, blender and refrigerator — you get the picture. What…
Opinion
‘Getting online is no longer a matter of choice for small businesses in India’
That the Internet is all-pervasive, is no longer a question of debate. Internet users in India was estimated to be 432 million in December 2016 and the internet population is expected to reach 465 million by June 2017, as per the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). With the Internet…
‘GST’s trial by fire will only make small manufacturers more competitive & efficient’
The goods and services tax (GST) is slated for rollout in less than two months and voices are coming forward on the possible negative impact on small manufacturers. We have heard these stories earlier – when the country did away with quantitative restrictions on imports in 2001 and when it opened…
‘FinTech: The growth propeller for MSMEs’
Demonetisation affected many people in many ways. But the most to feel the heat were small and medium business owners. Largely a cash intensive market, scrapping of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 notes and scarcity of lower denomination notes drove them to adopt digital payment tools to keep the business g…
Can e-way bills proposed in GST be the solution to India’s logistics woes?
Road transport in India is a crucial part of the country’s transport and logistics industry. With a 10 per cent annual growth every year, the sector has reaped the benefits of rapid expansion in the automobile industry, changes in taxation, and the boom of the e-Commerce sector which relies on lo…
Why start-ups fail: A marketer’s perspective
It’s easier than ever before to start a business. While a decade ago you needed a good deal of starting capital and a pretty strong idea to convince the bank to loan you some money, nowadays all you need is a laptop and the semblance of a decent idea. If you’re planning on becoming the […]…
‘A strong rupee is devastating small exporters’
Even as the rupee has scaled new heights, reflecting to some the overall strength of the Indian economy, an entire category of businessmen and women are in deep distress. Spare a thought for the garment exporter in New Delhi’s Okhla industrial area or the one in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu. Already facin…
The good, the bad & the ugly of start-up bootstrapping
What exactly does bootstrapping your start-up mean? For the uninitiated, bootstrapping your startup basically means to self-fund your business, i.e. using the existing resources and internal revenue to drive your business, instead of raising any external funds. Given the wide scale availability o…
‘Challenges & Opportunities in Indian SMBs’
When Vignesh Rajamanickam returned from recession hit UK, he brought back a home utility product for his mother. It wasn’t until the “clothes drying stand” received the adoration that it did in the small town of Coimbatore, did Rajamanickam realise that there was a market for this in India. Seven…
“Make In India” – A creative mentation
“Make in India”, an International marketing campaign was coined and formally launched by our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on September 25, 2014. It aims to convert India into a Global Manufacturing Hub, generating employment and boosting the economy, by urging both local and foreign …