# The Footpath Dialogues

A few days back, a notification popped up on my phone with a **text** from a **junior colleague**, with the happenstance of a common alma mater & occasional hangouts once or twice before that.

He had recently shifted to vicinity of mine & had asked for a meeting next day.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893039192/168b7eaa-353c-47fc-9f51-41f02e46bfc9.png align="center")

The **invitation** from him pushed me to don my **walking shoes** once more after the [daily discipline](https://souravist.in/100-days-walk) of morning walk had taken a back seat for nearly three weeks, due to the [unforeseen circumstance](https://souravist.in/wakeup-call)*.* The laziness had engulfed my mind, just like Hrithik’s dance moves on the IIFA Stage!

But this occasion brought a companion for the first time, challenging my usual solo routine and prompting me to bring along my smartphone! It signaled a **return to the path**, and the adventure commenced the **next morning.**

### Introducing **Satish: My Guest on The Footpath Dialogues!**

**Satish**, the 23-something young folk, had recently come out of college at the end of an engineering degree.

During his time at the college, with just a year spent, the outbreak of **COVID** pushed him to pack his bags & land at his hometown.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893058933/b362a6d0-dffb-4763-818a-a7ac44272985.png align="center")

The vacation, presumed to be a **fun short gap from academics**, was destined to be a way-long break of nearly two years.

The days went in strolling around the markets, playing casual games with friends & staying glued to the monitor screen in pursuing the online lectures.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893080596/3ab19358-47c2-4d86-a391-9e0210b2cbb1.png align="center")

### Let’s venture into the unknown!

Meanwhile, **Mohan**, a close confidant of Satish, had returned from Surat after the **factories** got **shut down**, with a dull face, little savings and a blurry view of the life ahead. On top of it, he had a little education to his credit to bag another job.

The local market turned out as his hub for daily hangouts **with Satish** exploring different shops and asking about products and prices. This made him want to have his **own retail shop**.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893110102/d2ec2b07-9f59-4fd7-8267-52045f49afb2.png align="center")

Soon, the ground realities hit, when the traders expressed a **trust issue** upon taking a bet on the young lads to supply the stocks **on credits**. On top of it, the growing burden of unemployment was causing a social dilemma.

My guest Satish had always been a tinkerer and had managed to put out some decent chunks through his side gigs. He thought of **deploying that capital** to work by offering the same to his **struggling friend** to buy out the initial stocks & set up a store.

The ever-increasing aspirations to quash the competitive exams in a small town appeared to be **a scope to cash in** for the duo, which resulted in traveling the nearby cities to understand the business of a **books-cum-stationary store** & establish connections with the **wholesalers**.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893141132/4e74152b-ee0b-4125-a1dc-0dc77e104656.png align="center")

While offboarding from the bus on return with a few visiting cards holding close to their chests, they had **declared themselves in the business**, at least in their minds. Satish, being in a running academics course, had an underlying fear of criticism for trying their hands at the perceived **odd assignments** like this.

### Time for a Shelter!

Still, with a hope for making the dreams see its daylight, the next morning he woke up to the task of hunting a **spot** for the **brick mortar store**. What could be a more suitable space than from where it had started! The aspiration of cracking the toughest exams!

The **old abandoned cabin** in the **vicinity of the school** appeared to be the rented destination to lock in, with a need of some renovation. On top of it, the signage board, banners & handouts took a few more days to get ready & installed.

It was the time to put those **visiting cards into use** & secure the **first consignments**. With an advance of a token amount, the sealed cartoons arrived at the location. The carrying vehicle got packed with the stocks barring no seats left for the duo!

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893428536/ab81577c-31f7-48dc-b498-67581339ea72.png align="center")

They traveled back in a separate bus to home. Upon reaching their destination, they began the process of **unloading the packages** they had transported. The experience was filled with a profound sense of satisfaction and happiness, leading Satish and Mohan to break into joyful perspiration.

Their parents, along with the watchful gaze of the school headmaster, gathered around in a show of support and encouragement.

Together, they took part in a small **ceremonious event** where they collectively participated in cutting a **ribbon**, which marked the **official beginning** of their business endeavor.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893440245/3141547e-08a0-4bf2-b0f0-8bcd5466ea40.png align="center")

### Problem Begins!

The shop started gaining some initial momentum, though the regular cash flow was **a distant dream**! Amidst the existing **competition** in the market, certain latest materials **weren’t** at the disposal of the customers, which caused a drop in sales after receiving the initial inquiries.

Mohan was duly taking notes to ensure that material was available & informing the customer via call to **avoid missing sales**.

There were moments when he’d **struggle to remember** the costing of a product & had passed it at a lower value! Later on, **spreadsheets** were added to the army to stay on top of the things.

There were incidents to say when the natural calamity hit the town & weeks passed by **without any revenue!** The pressure from both the families was mounting to **shut the shop** & get back to something else!

### **But, Wait!**

The **teachers’ day** was around & what could be a better **masterstroke** than **picking pens** at a **low cost** & getting **out of stock in a few hours** due to the heavy demands! **The guys were back!**

On top of that, the preceding Independence Day generated a peak in seasonal sales for the store, thanks to the captivating marketing strategy of setting up the shop’s entrance with planted flags.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711893467697/0edad31b-1691-4a9a-a26b-8c4b6e9e5794.png align="center")

Slowly, over the next year, the business grew multifold & established a reputation in the market, especially during March to June, when the **academic temperament** kicks off across the state due to various exams & starting of new educational sessions!

The endeavor had also sought out a **job for one more person** in that shop, adding wings to the **supply chain** for a few local retailers, who were starting afresh or in business for a while!

This story reminds me of **Captain Raghu Raman**, a distinguished leader from the Armed Forces, who highlighted in his [**Josh Talk**](https://youtu.be/12eD3K5Peu8) regarding the informal sector that **runs the show** of this **country’s economy.**

[![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711894395340/0f8fa03d-d83b-41a7-a12e-5ee0fba9ca95.png align="center")](https://twitter.com/RelianceGCS/status/845866680618180608)

A significant percentage of revenue in informal businesses goes directly to the workers and suppliers in the supply chain, unlike in the organized sector, where a disproportionate amount stays at the top.

And the stats presented by [**Ministry of MSME**](https://msme.gov.in/) before the Lok Sabha goes on to back the glory of the significant contribution to country’s GDP:

[![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711894414869/0e3a4408-9547-4468-9e52-94f03f47ef66.png align="center")](https://twitter.com/Indian_Index/status/1586236389883904002)

### Back to College!

Amidst the small **stint of business experience,** the call for hostel-coming had just arrived for Satish from the college authority.

The semester exam was waiting! But, wait! Before that, you are required to **submit long sheets of assignments!** Don’t you?

Who even asks for **printed copies** of source code, might be a very Indian thing! So, it’s more than a hundred copies of printouts each! Also, the code needs to be submitted written on a CD, like seriously!

Satish could afford no delay in utilizing the online delivery to his benefit & placing an order for a **portable printer** & multiple **empty CDs** from his shop at a lower cost.

The cheaper ink, A4 Sheets & the **almost-free of cost electricity** of the hostel had made him land at a business opportunity with his roommates.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711894454033/db5fee5e-79e7-4f92-bd05-e24417966152.png align="center")

The initial offer was almost half the price of the shop present at the university main gate & that too backed with free door-to-door delivery! The news took no time to catch quick fire across the campus!

Starting from the roommate’s crush to her other **referral** had almost created a **monopoly** of printing services on the campus! Along with this, the cheaper CD investment was paying off as an additional service to up-sell the business.

Success **breeds competition** & the same was true with Satish. Someone from the same floor tried his hands at **replicating the model**. That finally led to a price war, resulting in discounts & referral schemes to win customers, in addition to the services of free **document editing** consultancy.

Well, nevertheless finally with the overuse of the printer, it got **short-circuited**! But, who cares! It had already made multiple folds in returns than its investment!

### ̶B̶e̶a̶u̶t̶y̶ Opportunity lies in the eyes of the beholder!

During my walks with Satish, it made me realize that in our predominantly socialist nation, the significance of **Profit or Wealth** is often treated with a lesser priority, almost like a taboo.

Startups, positioned under the guise of progress, exhaust their funds, leading to deficits and workforce reductions. Despite this, they manage to grab the spotlight, while the **real heroes remain unsung.**

This blog goes out in🙏 **honor of the shopkeepers, hawkers, street vendors** & many more who make our lives easier. Entrepreneur [Rajiv Talreja](https://twitter.com/rajivtalreja/status/1652147007778344961) sums it up well:

[![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1711894478986/3916c7ab-3dd3-4662-8710-e28a714066ab.png align="center")](https://twitter.com/rajivtalreja/status/1652147007778344961)

*P.S:*

*Though this is inspired by a real-life story, due care is exercised by* ***modifying*** *the names, details & incidents to protect privacy.*