Everything is fair in Love, War and Business

An experience of Smart Marketing

This was indeed smart and intelligent! Of one Sundays, we planned out shopping with my newly-aligned family to the Commercial Street, Bangalore. With an all-day extensive strolling and here-and-there shopping, we decided to finish off our day for the last glancing shot at the 'Soch'- lovely sari collections.

My sister-in-law (I think I can address her so now) did materialize this final reckoning leisure glance with a, shades of black and red contemporary motif sari- quite a glamorous one, i admired its work the most!

We five, then decided to head home with packets and covers in our hands-those adjusting its ways out from the swampy Sunday street towards the rickshaws lined along.

This is where it actually begins, we pulled in for two ricks-we being five. I heard my folks get into some negotiations and overheard the drivers convincing them too. This was what the deal was- they wanted us to drive into some newly opened traditional ladies' wear store ("Roopam Silks International"..ah got it from the cash memo, ) with no rentals charged for the ride...very strange, unlike typical usual street-experiences. Folks agreed...the only point of compromise for us, was to give away that extra time out, instead of getting home on time to complete our 'ants-out' like day....an amazing marketing tool indeed- the rickshaws! Interesting!!

It isn't anything new in having advertising flexs stuck behind the ricks or they handing over promotional pamphlets. But this was definitely new. Well mazed, straight to the store-floor directly from the elevator- well crafted indeed! I wish i'd been good with graphic illustrations. I would have drawn out the entire episode.

This store was cramped in some by-lane corner building (if i recollected it right, some M.Y.J Tower) on the first floor of a residential-like building- away from the main road and not anyway close to the shopping lanes of one of the city's busiest places. Queerly located- but this store-strategist (quite a genius) had pinched the right skins with the right hook.So the drivers apparently got fuel filled worth Rs.100 at the end of the day depending on the number of customers registered (technically convinced) on a book that was kept in the parking lot.

Their marketing team did definitely get the sales direction straight but looked skeptic of any definite returns.This may sound unbelievable to all- but i noticed each family (present then) buying atleast one item from the store -of more than Soch's rates. We too had no intentions of buying, well atleast I didn't. But my sister-in-law landed buying one more sari again. The salesman called it an original elephant silk piece (???). I am aware of the Banarasi, Patola, Bandhani, Maheswari, Pochampally, ah yes- of Mysore silk as well, what's this elephant silk? Ummm i've heard of butter silk! Now does this mean that elephants in Indian are getting cloned as silk worms? Do they have similar worm-like fibres in their bodies too? Or maybe something just discovered? And, the sari in no way had any elephant prints or anything alike resembling on it! Can anyone?? Ok maybe too much of creative thinking asides their amazing strategic ones. Well, elephant silk is not the catch here. But must say, the sales personnel were voluntarily proactive in convincing the customers- right hook yet again!

At the end of the day- the rick drivers were happy (they atleast sounded so when they dropped us home!), the island-Store hit the sale meter high despite their ferry scale lacking, BUT customers were the ones who got into this indulgent purchases. Well, if you ask ME...i was the happiest for sure, for we technically did not pay for the ride....FIRST EVER FREE RICK-RIDE ON AN INDIAN STREET (to be more precise from Infantry Road to Koramangala 6th Block, simply wow'o'licous!).

Guess everything is fair in Love,War and, Business.

Modernistic world after all...we know what matters the most!

I shall now anxiously venture and spot for more such 'unsealed' customer indulgences...Hope to be amazed and get to revalue market and business like this often and more...

Knottin’ Decor for a Visual Feast

Planning for a wedding celebration can be a really long-drawn course of action but its all about getting things right, where mostly the brides play a major role…from invitations to decoration, from food to favors, from which to what and where to how?

So are you planning your wedding on your own?

Well, this can be a mighty mission but sure a lot of fun. It will allow you to tailor and craft every tiny detail for that special day….now isn’t that exciting? So, one of the most difficult areas of planning a wedding is getting the wedding decoration done. And, if you are planning your wedding already then you are probably the do-it-myself types and will want to find ways to make your own wedding decorations economical but still don't want them to look crumby. So let’s have some professional ideas to help you clear your heads.

Sanjana and Minakshi from the Little Gestures (LGs) have their say on themes to pick. They say, the Jodha Akbar-a theme from ancient dynasties and the Moroccan themes are the two most-sorted wedding decor themes for many Hyderabadis. They suggest more- like the ‘color-based themes’ of Royal Blue, Crimson or Ivory… Retro Nights, Western theme of Alter n Isle, Chaparral and even two single-colored Fusion Themes have worked just the right way for all their clients. They say the pulse of Eco-friendly Themes have pumped up in the city for people being more conscious, environmentally! And this, definitely earns an applaud!

The Eco-friendly Theme has been one of their most appreciated works- this one, held at Taj Krishna where you see no backdrops unlike all usual ones- absolutely no foliage on the background. They’ve used only cherry blossoms and Japanese bamboos with no fabrics at all. The only so-to-be-seen fabric used for the occasion, was said to have been a table cloth covering the centre table. In one of some engagement parties, they used only bark of trees, twigs and leaves to give it a natural creative look, held outdoor in the lawn. LGs seem to believe in simplicity. And simplicity is bound to work on nominal costs- so think about it! Quite a clean, elegant and a creative presentation!

Arranging for a wedding, pulls along a whole range of important pointers to remember asides choosing a theme like opting for the right flash of lighting, sorted chair covers, apt centerpieces with a harmonizing head table decor that creates a focal point for attraction, suitable dinnerware, towering desirable mandaps and most importantly, coordinating with right caterers.

A choice of some tantalizing array of dazzling colors like aqua mist, lime, red, chocolate, silver, black, gold, ivory or white for the chair covers, would be perfect to complete the entire decoration…depending on, your picked-color-themes.

All-time choice of candles, flowers, balloons, tassels and ribbons works ‘fab’ too, probably with a slight tinge of some off-beat on-the-run creativity…however this assortment requires a bit more attention to the color coordination, like using single-based-color favors or maybe even two would be fine to keep it all neat…avoid any sudden sharp contrast of colors as it can break the style of your overall decorating theme.

Pick your flowers for more sophistication:

Rose, daisy, tulip, daffodil, orchid, sweet peas, magnolia, pansy, lilies or even lotus.

Nothing can’t be as simple and inexpensive as centre pieces with floating candles with rose petals, orchid and pebbles like these:

If you want it all traditional, Gautami Reddy from Splendor Wedding and Celebrations have lot more to share. She’s worked on temple designs, Rajasthani Themes and believes in highlighting the Bride and the Groom more. The backdrop height is suggested to be not more than 1/10^th of the Bride’s height, for too extended ones tends to be a downbeat for the entire decoration. She prefers the Fusion Theme of both western and traditional touch makes it a lot less costlier and adds, choosing the right color combination fixes it all.

Meher Aria, an Event Coordinator suggests themes like the Lotus, Tirupati and Chaitanya for traditional temple look and gives a practical budgetary option for selecting and enhancing the decorations of only certain sections rather than emphasizing the entire wedding venue, like maybe just the entrance and the stage or the centre area and the stage, anything preferred. She mentions of the courtyard or the Nizami theme being always on the run in the city with the English Garden and the Arabic Themes equally running high. So you can make your pick!

And importantly…don’t forget to pick the right set of rings to complete the celebration…and this would be with you, for life and forever!

These are just few tips that can help you add more sparkle and elegance to your wedding decorating ideas that you may well be considering. So the easiest way to choose decorations is to work with a theme of some sort, whether it’s just a nice color combination, the flowers you love, a favorite season of the year, or some specific theme based on a hobby or special interests. Themes will provide you with ample ideas for all sorts of wedding decor that you can use. Just use your imaginations and do not hesitate to experience and explore, it's the only way to create something unique for you and your groom-to-be.