Rajesh Amonkar, Proprietor, Mahalaxmi Enterprises
I will be completing 20 years in this business soon. We basically cater to Bardez Taluka, a part of the north Goa district. We stock around 40 tonnes of various brands of cement in my godown and sell around 800 tonnes every month. The economic slowdown has affected us to a very large extent as also the total ban on the lifting and extraction of sand here in Goa. Sales have dropped drastically. Presently the position is such that us dealers cannot do anything; that this is the best time to wait and watch, control investments and keep liquid cash in hand. With the number of brands increasing in the market, the number of dealers too, is increasing, and it becomes difficult to concentrate on one particular brand. However, the market share of every company is decreasing and the inventory on our part is increasing.
The dealership model has changed to a great extent in the period that I served the market. Earlier the dealers had cordial relations with the customers; other than business relations, they had a sort of bond which cannot be seen now. Today, it is totally a business- centric relationship. The manufacturers are just looking at their profits, nothing else!
Presently there is nothing that the companies are doing to promote products. Earlier they used to hold technical meets, mason meets, dealers meets. Some aggressive advertising was done in the form of gifts to customers, etc, which is not seen now.