Dream On....dream on until your dream comes true

The film producers are on an indefinite strike from 4th of April 2009, stalling release of any new films in the theatres. They have taken such a stand after failing to resolve the issue of profit sharing with multiplex owners. Mukesh Bhatt, Chairman of the United Forum for Bollywood Producers and Distributors, told the media that, their demands were just as they wanted equal shares in profit sharing which is the norm all over the world.

Taking a dig at the rigid stand taken by the multiplex-owner, Bhatt also said that, the situation is not in their hands and they would proceed with the strike as planned before. The disagreement between the two parties is over the revenue sharing model of 'ticket sales'. Producers and distributors have demanded a 50 per cent cut. But the multiplex owners want to stick to the old arrangement of sharing between 40-48 per cent, depending on the movie's performance at the box office.

This is not just hampering the above stated both parties but also creatures like us....who has nothing left for weekends. Now I compromise over watching movies on my laptop. Bollywood producers say that they are affected by recession...and they are fighting over 2%(taking the maximum revenue) huh!! No one says anything to them...but for us it was 2 day's salary cut for 2 days strike.....chuk it.....the point here is what do I in weekends.

We were moving in pell-mell across the roads of Gujarat....Window shopping and bird watching :-)

When we were tired rather frustrated of the above activities we took an Auto from the mall to big -bazaar. We reached Big Bazaar apropos as the moment we entered the campus fountains started working, the guard saluted us, the salesgirl passed on a cute smile....i was not able to figure out why are they giving so much importance to us.....but later i realized the senior who was with us had packets of Reebok, Arrow and West-Side. The store was jam packed...as it was "A Wednesday" the "sabse sasta din" at Big Bazaar- Rajkot. People there were in a shopping spree with everyone having there carts filled.....

I have recently read the book "It happened in India" by Kishore Biyani...CEO Future Group. The man dared to dream and had passion and will to fulfill it...He started of from a middle class baniya family and now the retail chain is termed as " The rajah of Indian retail". There were certain facts about his audacity and his capacity of dreaming which one may think that everyone says so after reaching such heights....but the man might have done it too as he has reached such heights in such short span of time. He is a man of simple living and high thinking.....he believes in spending rather than saving......His visions about future and real estate in India came out to be true every time...He makes relationships in business and continues it till the end ( As mentioned in the book).

He started of with organising Navratra function in his colony which gave him the confidence to start of his business.......Everyone including his family members used to think that he has gone out of his mind....started of by selling trousers and formally got into organized retails with "Pantaloons" in 1997. Pantaloons is derived from "Patloons(trousers)" which he said out of frustration when they were unable to find a name for the retail chain. You...see frustration increases creativity :-). Big Bazaar came into existence later on in 2001...and in just seven years it is multimillion dollar chain.....with widening its horizon day by day. The design of Big-Bazzar has taken into account the Indian mentality wherein people prefers Kirana store around the nukkad....Earlier middle class (Majority of Indians) used to have a fear of entering the mall....they used to ogle through the huge glass panes from outside. trying to understand whats going on the other side with questions in their mind...is it too costly?? will i be allowed there??....but this was the first store were people can touch and feel the products before purchasing it and at a cheaper rate....because of which Indians prefer Mom and Pop store.....Researches say that there's an 80% increase in probability of purchasing any item if you get to touch it(Never touch any item if you are running out of cash). It was located to specifically target this untapped market......logistics was a problem though......Big bazaar was even opened at a location were they used had to carry goods in a bullock cart for maintaining the inventory and it had a turnover much more than other retails giants available in urban cities.

The concept of "sabse sasta din " was invented by Mr. Biyani himself.....first sale of this kind organised on 26th of Jan 2007. The store had to be closed not because it was a flop, but for security reasons and at some locations they underestimated the turnout....they were not able to handle the crowd itself.....Police without asking the management announced for an additional day of sale....till now its a huge hit!! Its very concept of publishing adds in Hindi...because of its target group.....all of this is sheer business acumen which he has inculcated since child hood...observing people, building relationship with them and studying markets......He visited temples to understand how they handle crowds....He works on the principle of rewriting rules and following values.

Dreaming does not require anything.......so we should all dream.....but there are a few who posseses the will and is audacious enough to follow and pursue it till the end. So.......

Dream on, dream on

Dream yourself a dream come true

Dream on, dream on

Dream until your dream come true

Dream on, dream on, dream on...