At CKP Research Centre, we specialize in providing innovative management and technical solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients who are in the space known as “the base of the pyramid”.
Inspired by Dr C K Prahalad’s seminal work (best documented in his best-selling book “The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid”), we have products and services for specific targets in this space of the market.
With a focus on research-driven strategies and cutting-edge methodologies, we empower “base-of-the-pyramid” organizations to navigate complexities, seize opportunities and achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced consultants brings together diverse expertise spanning various industries and disciplines, ensuring comprehensive and insightful solutions that drive tangible results.
Here is an example:
India is a vast country. There are about 25,000 vendors of fresh coconut water throughout India. Karnataka has about 1,500 such vendors, with Bengaluru alone accounting for 900 such vendors. Here is what we have done:
- In an area known as “Dollar Colony” in
North Bengaluru, we identified a vendor of fresh coconut water called Mr Markandeya (we call him Mark for short). - Mark has a cart on four wheels that has a flat top measuring 4′ by 6′. (Capital cost of cart: Rs 25,000)
- At any point of time, Mark has an inventory of about 200 coconuts – 50 on top of the cart, 50 below the cart and another 100 nearby.
- The approximate purchase price or cost of each coconut is Rs 35. The approximate selling price of each coconut is Rs 50. This leaves a margin on each coconut of about
Rs 15. - At a daily sale of 100 coconuts, Mark has a gross daily income of Rs 1,500.
- Mark has been encouraged to use “paper straws” instead of “plastic straws”.
- The leftover coconut shell is kept in a gunny bag, to be sold later to a waste-coir trader.
- Mark has been provided with an “alloy knife” that is extra-sharp to cut through the top of the coconut.
- To protect Mark from the hot sun, we provided him with an umbrella. The umbrella has provision to display and promote popular brands like Coke & Pepsi.
- As a means to earn additional income, we have trained Mark to sell “mobile currency”, along with coconuts.
Coconut Vendor
Ogawa Kazumasa
This whole exercise took about 7 calendar days. As soon as we completed the task with Mark, word spread around. In a month’s time, we had more than 150 coconut vendors getting in touch with us.
We then created a society of coconut vendors. This society is now able to register with a few banks, who have now come forward to provide micro loans to coconut vendors.
Whether it’s strategic planning, organizational development, process optimization, funding or market analysis, we are committed to delivering excellence and exceeding expectations.
Ideas, suggestions are welcome!
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