Street Vendors -- Part 1

We come across many enthusiastic entreprenuers on the roadside from all age grps. ofcourse each one has their own advantage in pulling their share of market. I personally feel there are many business lessons to be learnt from them. (personnel lessons too).

I would like to share such stories from my experiences.

Part 1

Besant road.. one of the most busiest shopping area in my city. (also for many villages and towns arround the city)  City is being well known for its hot tempertures thorughout the year  Lime soda is city’s  favourite drink of all time. There will be a counter for lime soda or just soda in every street corner possible, in the city, still we sometimes go out of stock in the afternoons. In this Besant road there were about more than 10 small counter tables carrying soda bottles ,ice and lime (some will prepare  instantly some will have them prepared ).  I often go to one corner counter for lime soda in those busy cross roads when ever I am there for shopping. They prepare instantly and serve. In the beginning there use to be a elder person selling them. From past  2 to 3 months more often there is kid selling. I tried a conversation with him. At the beginning he felt so shy to open out but I tried . He is very efficiently doing the job in terms of both time and taste. here is how the conversation went

I: Hi whats ur name?

B:  :/

I: whats the cost?

B: Rs 10/-

I: I think its Rs 8 before?

B: hmm...  :$#@$%???@##

I: It is tasting soo good.

B: one big broad smile :)

I: so you had a very good experience.. from how many years are you doing this?

B: No, My uncle taught me. I doing it from past 3 months.

I: Then dont you go to school ?

B: I use to go but I stopped. He ran to another hawker and pulled another boy of his age and introduced to me saying he wants to be a doctor he is going to school.

I: O h that’s so nice .

B: He is my uncle’s son. I am looking after his shop.

I: Where is he then? Is he the person use to be here before?

B: Hmm .. I don't know about whom your talking , my uncle has another one he is there.

I: So you started earning at very young age.

B: yah i am happy with it.

I: How much do u earn per day?

B: ?>? hmm ..  $%^

I: OK how many you sell ?

B: In deep summers we sell about 5000 rs normally we do for 3000 rs aleast. (at 10rs per glass)

I: how much time you will spend here?

B: I will come at 11:30 or 12 noon and leave at 6pm.

I: So you don't want to study or go to school?

B: I don't want to become a doctor. This is good. I can earn money when ever I need. After some time I will have my own shop and that's all .. :)

I tried to make this long conversation even after some other customers arrived. In the last answer I saw a sense of satisfaction and confidence on his face. He is not feeling bad for not going to school or instead he is so happy in the outlook he had on his life.

while I  was thinking about the conversation I had. I felt may be educators are making their life complex having many dreams and milestones to travel. May be boy here had a clear idea of how to lead rest of his life. He made it simple. Half day of work gives him enough money to have a good sleep.  We often see many boys from age 8 to 15 on the roads with chat bandars .etc..  We feel bad about them struggling for life at very young age. But most of us never try to have a conversation and check about their life. Even I tried to have a quick conversation but truly the boy dint answer some of my questions and in fact was looking at me with a weird expression. (I dint know if he understood the question or not). I personally felt this boy here is very much happy with his life, enjoying making of lime soda , conversing with other hawkers in the mean time. May be he will get a great insights in many business(street business) going on in the city very soon and have his own.

Hopefully, i will soon come with another insight … :)