Doing business in Nepal

No doubt, most people want to be their own boss and start a business but they seem to be hunting for new business ideas. Surfing around the internet with sentences like new business ideas or new ideas for start-ups have become too common. Let me tell you that, you won't do business if you are looking for something that nobody has done before. Also, you won't do business surfing ideas on internet. Internet could be important for research and gathering information but you can't get business ideas completely based on it. Inventing a new idea will not work for all unless you are a real genius. Even if you are able to start a business with completely new ideas there is equal risk because you have to make a whole market segment and there is no guarantee that all new ideas will make you a millionaire

We have been hearing people say, you don’t need to do different things rather do the things differently. I completely agree with it because anything done differently will be a different thing.

I am discussing about business start-up with limited capital and how to become an entrepreneur.

1. Think, what is the business that most of the people are engaging in because you can easily adjust into it. This is little risk because market already prevails. All you have to do is; push others little bit, make space for you and be visible. Being visible means being different, so that customers can recognize you. Some ideas could be food and clothing related businesses because we eat every day and have cloth in our body all the time

2. If you are a computer savvy guy, world is waiting for you. If you are a good programmer make websites and sell. Prepare blogs and sell your ideas. Open a call centre. Or, make apps.

3. Open a 24 hours taxi hire service. Make a website where you can find the cost of travelling. People are worried of getting charged with high prices and bargaining all the times. So, fixed price cab services which will be available at all times can be a business idea. You don’t have to buy a car; you can contract with people with cabs and work from small space or even virtually.

4. There is majority of population in city areas living in rent. Make a colony to rent.

Example, lease 5 ropani land for 20 years and make around 30 earthquake resistant houses of 2 lakhs each and rent it. A two bed room flat type house for 8 thousand would be a very good thing. Also, you can make money from electricity, water and waste management. 

5. Translating and tourist guidance institutions will have a bright future. Chinese tourists are increasing day by day so language will be important. Investors from China, Japan and other countries have shown interest in Nepal time and again so you can provide service to them.

6. I see huge potentials in herbal medicines. You can perform research on herbs in Nepal and produce various products like medicines, cosmetics etc. There are people expert in herbs (called Baidhyas, Hakims etc), you can contact them and get the ideas. The market for herbal products is high in international market, too. Cosmetics of Chandan, Aloveera etc., if promoted well can be a good business. If you have enough money you can open a factory, too.

7. If you are interested in agriculture, produce vermin-compost fertilizer at local level. Also, you can produce native (indigenous) seeds and sell it. There are many good seeds which are going to disappear soon. If you can identify them and produce more, you can make good business out of it.

The above business ideas are few to mention. There are plenty of things to do. There is opportunity everywhere but you have to look the right way in right place. Anything done differently and rationally will succeed. Even in the times of crisis and instability there are business that will go a long way. Spending time on thinking what to do will take you nowhere. The most difficult thing to start a new business is to start because rest will automatically follow.

The Digital Era...

Digitizing the businesses…

Last few decades, world has seen the dramatic changes in technology and mainly digital media. New concept of internet based digital marketing got popular among business firms. Now, organizations rely more on digital marketing compared to other forms of marketing. Traditionally, adverts on Television, radio, phone (SMS) etc. were considered digital marketing but the whole idea has been transformed with the rise of modern digital marketing. The modern digital marketing is based on the technologies like social media, SEO, websites, search engines etc. The rise of social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, Viber and many more has become viral and it made people easier to connect with friends, family, consumers, business houses etc. The online business firms like amazon, ebay, alibaba and others have changed the way of shopping. The numbers of online shoppers are increasing sustainably. People enjoy indoor shopping experience less as they lean on online shopping.   The gathering of family, friends and relatives are limited to social media. Likewise, there is a generation, mainly in developing nations which is stitched to play stations most of the time. Therefore, it is difficult to predict where the world is heading with reference to such a pace of technological advancement. No doubt world will see many unbelievable.  

Business organizations, if not transform and adopt the digital process, will not survive anymore. Digitizing is a process of improvement and getting efficient every day. Only adopting a technology does not make a company efficient because they have to quickly adopt with the changes. Else, you won't know when your competitor got better than you.

How digitization helps the organization?

Quick delivery

Going digital will help companies to deliver products and services promptly. The process from customer placing an order to receiving the product/services and obtaining feedbacks will shorten by going digital. There are many companies like DHL, UPS, amazon, ebay etc. that have shorten their delivery time to higher extent through digitizing the processes.

Reaching customers

Now, it has become easier to reach the customers directly through social media. Similarly, the companies have started maintaining database of their existing and potential customers, so that they can inform about products and services via email, youtube recommendation, alert messages, social media adverts in personal pages etc.

Business growth

With the explosion in technology, the horizon of business firm has increased. For instance, a local business can go online to market its products. It can even sell through internet. This means the market is no more local.

Depict the best it can offer

Consumers have become more aware than ever. They can compare the prices, quality and service offered by the companies via internet. This will help genuine organizations to reach the potential customer with their compared competitive advantages. In airline industry customers can compare the fares and services through different websites to decide which airline to travel with.

The other side

With so many good things, digitizing has brought many challenges and draw backs. The major drawback is privacy. Protecting privacy of people has been difficult due to hackers and other cybercrimes. The stolen data is often misused and has created huge loss to the organizations. At times, the data is sold to the organizations so that they can reach the customers easily in personalized way. For example, a university can sell the students database to many companies like telephone, retail etc. This is against the privacy act. Even more perilous would be to sell data to criminal organizations.

Similarly, people often receive email alerts or recommendations which are unwanted and can be annoying. It is sometimes done by companies themselves as a push selling strategy or by the cyber criminals to damage the reputation of the company.

What to expect next…

Virtual real-time visit of a retail shop along with virtual trial, order placement and receiving within an hour

Extinction of hard cash

Virtual banks (no need to visit banks ever)

And, many others unimaginable developments…

Summing up

Everything comes with the price to pay. However, with the digitizing trend speeding so fast we can just assume that things won't be same even after a short span of time. Resistance to change will not be an option. The way of doing business will change every day and companies able to move along the changes will certainly succeed because change is the only thing constant in this world.

Tragic Earthquake of Nepal 25th April, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGz29EpKMG8

Model mini-city diagram: Post earthquake 25 April, 2015

A model city with 84 houses along with other institutions and public service facilities. The houses are earthquake resistant. The space in the middle is for recreational activities and in case of any unforeseeable calamities like fire, earthquake etc it will be an assembly point.

An entire Majuwa village was flooded due to earthquake

An entire village was flooded due to earthquake. The village is called Majuwa near the border of Nagarjun Municipality and Dhading. Also, below are the photos of  destruction at Ramkot VDC. It is one of the most damaged areas around the Kathmandu valley. 

Similarly, included are the latest photos of National Heritage Dharahara.  

Massacre in Nepal (Post earthquake, April 2015)

Any natural disasters are unwanted but it does not look same for Nepalese politicians and officials. It is treated as a business by politicians. Some are silent as if disappeared and some are fighting for their participation in relief program. The participation is not for the genuine help rather it is for personal gain. In a small country like Nepal, if any disaster occurs, it should have been already contained with such an extraordinary support from the entire world. Millions of dollars flowing inside the country can not only support the victims on immediate measures but also can help build infrastructures like hospitals, transportation, schools for long run benefits etc. It looks like everyone besides government and politicians are worried. How can one not be agonized with such a massive loss? The immediate casualties are less compared to post quake casualties caused by lack of rescue and immediate attention. So, how could this not be a massacre?  Without a doubt, this is a killing.

During this devastation we saw the competency of our government. They are impotent and expecting anything good from them now and in future would be erroneous. A nation is a huge company and the CEO, managers and officials should be capable enough to run the organization. How can such an illiterate and inexperienced bunch of people run the biggest organization called 'country'? Having experience of ruling a party, causing riots and strikes and being in prison does not count as an experience for ruling a nation. What we saw should be an eye opener for all the Nepalese. We should be united not as an alliance of any political party but as a Nepalese. We have been hypnotized by our political leaders otherwise how could we draw together for the strikes which we know is not true? Also, why would we go for the riots not to make constitution?  We have seen the true faces of our politicians so let's not repeat the same mistake again. At this time of grievance, the unity we Nepalese have shown above anything has to be continued in rebuilding our great Nation. Let's not make death of so many people a politics and go in vain. Let's respect them and make a better country at least for their sake.

A day to remember (25th April, 2015): Earthquake in Nepal

Not many days in our life has a life time impact. As I am walking through my memory lane, all I remember is a shaky day. Yes, everything was shaking like hell. Assembling all the bits and parts, it was like a sci-fi movie where world was about to end. A movie ends within 2 hours but its ending was not definite. I was watching movie and all of a sudden it was trembling. For a glimpse of a moment I tried to ignore it thinking a heavy truck was passing through but as the shakes grew bigger and continuous, I realized it was an earthquake. I had read what to do during earthquake several times but when the time came I didn't know what to do. I was confused whether I should stay inside or go out. I remember trying to go out but the shakes were so huge that it was difficult to conquer. I managed to come out anyway but don’t remember the details. Now I feel that I was not fully conscious. I saw people gathered around me crying, lying unconscious and praying god. I could see fear for death and love towards life in everyone's eye and that made me scare even more. The day was gloomy and sky was creepy. It looked like the weather was espousing the quake and the rain from nowhere was a terror. I was in an open ground with 90 people around me. Considering the area of ground I would say it was densely populated. People were blabbering and giving all kinds of viewpoints. They acted like they were meteorologist, scientist, astrologists and earthquake specialists.  I thought that the stupid and nonsense ideas people were spreading had some relevancy until it went over board when one of them said, the quakes were caused by the movement of gigantic snakes holding the earth. No doubt the ideas made me smile in such a panic situation too. As the hours were passing by I could feel several quakes though they were smaller than the initial 7.8 magnitude.  I had longest day of my life with my heart in the hand. I was fantasizing only the worst. News and views from everywhere was coming with doubtful authenticity and it was panicking people. I had a feeling like we all are going to die and we are waiting for the moment to come. I don’t know how long is this all going to traumatize me but until now I feel the quakes though they don’t prevail. I don’t know what to say when I heard a five storey building came flat, buried hundreds of people and they were screaming for help from inside. I can't even imagine how their relatives felt when they got the message of Save Me in their mobiles and yet could not save.

It was a lifetime experience but was not wanted for. For all those who can relate me I would like to say, whatever life throws at you even if it brings agony, just be courageous and battle through it. Remember that strong walls shake but never collapse. 

Photos after the earthquake in Nepal

    Victims of earthquake camping

   At Tudikhel, Kathmandu

    National Heritage Dharahara

    National Heritage Dharahara

   First school of Nepal: Durbar High School

    National Heritage Ranipokhari

    At Gongabu

    At Gongabu

    At Gongabu

    At Sitapaila

    At Sitapaila

Going Organic - Published on 24^th December, 2014 in The Himalayan Times

Art of Selling: Few points to consider while you face the market

Category: Sales and Marketing

1.      If you have to sell something, first you have to sell yourself. Selling yourself means sell your charm, personality and the company as well.

2.      Learn to accept and embrace rejections. Remember rejection is an opportunity to grow.

3.      Know who your customers are and what they need.

4.      Differentiate yourself from the competitors

5.      Be creative.

6.      Solve the problem. Make clients happy. For example, Return few customers purchase if you have to and build a solid relation in return

7.      Learn and know more. You have to be smart than the client in order to make them listen you.

8.      Get well dressed. In a suit or formal

9.      Remember instant first reaction will matter so present yourself in a impressive and bold way. (Don’t be too frank with the client)

10.  Be honest, keep focus on authenticity and never back up from doing what is right.

11.  Always learn to add value. Provide delight. You will find many similar products in the market but the delight is what differentiates between your product and others

IDENTIFYING CUSTOMERS’ PERCEPTION OF SERVICE QUALITY AT TK MAXX

Category: Business (Retail)

Prepared: June 2011

Abstract

With the increase in competition and changing business scenario due to economic downturn, the retail industry is facing challenges to attract more customers. At this point companies have started to focus more on understanding customers and delivering better value through superior service quality. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the service quality at TK Maxx stores and find out the perception of customers towards service quality dimensions. The study examines  the applicability of SERVQUAL and RSQS models  by measuring  five dimensions of service quality that are further divided into 17 sub-dimensions. The finding indicates that the problem solving dimension of TK Maxx is not satisfactory enough compared to other dimensions. Also, customers are more bothered towards refund and exchange services of TK Maxx than other sub-dimensions. The report concludes that increase in service quality can provide customer satisfaction which eventually retains valued customers. 

Chapter I. Introduction

Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.

                                                                                                            Walt Disney

Service quality has been a key issue in business today. Service is the factor that delights customers because same need can be fulfilled by several products. So, companies have started differentiating the service. Great service often helps to sell a physical good and even make it more useful and thereby valuable to the buyer (Lovelock & Jochen 2007) Business organizations invest handsome amounts of financial and human resources to retain consumers and encourage repetitive consumption, but not all of them succeed. The market scenario has been changed with in these few years, especially after the economic downturn. The consumer’s buying behaviour has changed and organizations are confronting challenge to satisfy customers and retain them. So, organizations have started focusing on service factors because customers are more demanding, they want more spending less.

The study will evaluate service quality at TK Maxx by applying the SERVQUAL and RSQS models.

Research Objectives

·         To identify customers perceptions of service quality at TK Maxx

·         To measure customer satisfaction in relation to service quality dimensions at TK Maxx

·         To assess the applicability of SERVQUAL model to measure quality of service at TK Maxx

       To read more contact the author.....

Literature

A right moment that never came;

Best time to celebrate happiness is as it happens

 

Every day I am getting older and worried. I have waited for the right moment to celebrate all my successes in past and it never came. When I was 16, I passed my SLC with good marks and it was a reason for celebration. I thought it was just the start of my career and a step ahead. I waited for my intermediate degree but as soon as I got it, the same thing career stopped me. Again, I waited for undergraduate degree which was a step near to career. After undergrad, one is eligible of good positions in private and government sector and can start a good career. After I received my degree something stroke my mind which was the need to finish master's degree. By this time I was thinking I am right on my way to a successful career ahead and I will have plentiful time to enjoy and have fun. I was delighted that 2 more years of study and everything will be OK. Then to pursue my graduation I went to London. London is one of the cities where you can have all the fun you have ever wanted. Even with minimal income you can enjoy but my mind was controlling me saying, 'boy first finish the degree'. I obeyed and finished degree with good marks. I was working part time and something stroked my mind again. This time I was looking for a permanent job that will match my education. With much thinking, I felt my home country would be a better place to start my career and fulfill all my dreams. I returned Nepal with high hopes of good career and a better life. I finally secured a position in a company with good job position and role.

Now I am in late twenties and since I was 16 I always waited for some other day for amusement and pleasure. Now even if I feel this is the right time as I am sort of settled, two things hit my mind. First, this is not the time to have fun as I am not young any more. Second, I still have more to do for myself and my family. This is once again beginning of career. All my youth I waited and got older. Now when I see youth having fun I always wanted, I envy them. Did I actually waste my youth? The answer is 'may be'.

I never  understood one can have a better career and have fun in life. These two things can go together. I realized that one should celebrate the success at the same time by not waiting for the right moment because the same right moment never comes. The happiness of passing SLC doesn't remain same after intermediate. Best time to celebrate happiness is as it happens. It's always much fun in having fun at the right moment. Looking back I feel I have wasted half of my life with nothing note worthy or different than others. Looking back my precious years, the things of being nothing kills me and the feeling of not having proper career plans ahead kills me even more. Now when I have realized it, I am half way my life. I want to do everything and want to achieve everything all at once. And, undoubtedly it is impossible. Now I am perplexed what I actually want. Now there is nothing for me to purse. Back then, at least I could say I have to study further or I could say I have to finish my degrees. If I could get those bygone days back I could have used it in a different way. Life came very harsh to me because all I wanted was a career and fun. Now I don’t feel like having fun I always wanted and career wise I don’t know what I want. I am like an empty boat in the middle of the ocean, aimless; A boat which is guided by the tide and wind. I don’t have paddle or the compass to guide me. There is equal chance that a strong blow of tide or wind might sallow the boat.  

With the days passing by every day, I am scared that I am getting older. I am worried that my coming half life will be like my passed half. It scares me for not being able to see the silver edges. I am searching for the purpose finally. But I am worried that my search might take other half of my life.