Author: bjcharles

I love all things about marketing, small biz idea, and meetups. This blog is just a platform to share my thoughts and network with people like you.

What the Public Perception of a Brand?

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This post continues the story of how Muralaya Milk is making inroads in Kerala. It’s about the public perception of the brand – what people talk about a brand in a negative way and how they get such a vibe.

STORY 1 
When I asked a shop keeper in Kumarapuram,Trivandrum about MILMA milk packet, this is what he had to say – He says MILMA is buying milk from Maharashtra so, the milk is not fresh. Whereas, Muralaya buys from their source and it’s fresh, and people prefer it.

My Questions Here!
How did the new brand establish this story with the local shopkeepers? Does MILMA people know about such a story? Are they doing something about it?

I also passed by their main office at Ambalathara in Trivandrum. The entire compound is kept untidy and has overgrown on the side and the building looks grey with old paint. Is this good for a brand? Why are they leaving such a good campus to rot and unclean?

If they want some inspiration, they should visit the office of Nandini at Diary Circle in Bangalore and see well maintained offices.

What People Say about your Brand?

Online and Offline conversation and talk matters. This is why many brands have a social media listening post to capture every bit of talk about the brand. When I joined the brand, I was working for Nielsen and what I did along with the team of some 15 people was this. Visit forums and collect any relevant conversation which mentions the brand.


Is MILMA aware of what people talk about then?
What about your brand? What are your past customers talking about you?

IF you are heading MILMA what will you do? 
Well, MILMA from my opinion require a big change to face the swelling competition from other milk brands. It’s time they don’t skim the issue, but do something to make a remarkable change.


5 Things to Modify GooglePlus

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I just saw from the tending trends that GooglePlus is closing it’s shop. After seeing the Twitter news break, my thought went to the time spend on this Social platform and how I had a hunch that this channel won’t go too far.

So, what went wrong with this social channel? Was it ignored or was it given a stepchild treatment by the Googlers? Probably, they had better things to work on and they had little hope of it making big.

From a layman’s point of view here’s what I thought of:

1. Oversize picture ( Design lacks that professional look)
2. Nothing out-of-the-box ( Same thing in a different mesh)
3. Groups lacked traction ( Reach was limited)
4. Fonts too lacked the finesse ( Probably it was meant for yoyo people)

What could have been done?

1. Change the UI  ( Add visual concepts which makes interaction easy)
For instance a new social platform should be able to connect people or strangers based on the hobbies, profession, interest, and get matches. An automatic match, which gives them strong connection. One more thing, it should limit friends to only 1000. After 1000, it should have a different program or criteria to add more people.)

2. An visual option to see the friends or acquaintances on a visual way. For instance, if there are 200 friends, there should be an option to see how many of these 200 friends had sent a msg in the last 2 months or so. This sort of screening will help to remove unwanted networks.

3. Make it more a strict limited user network. Meaning – you have to log-in atleast once in a week, or your posting, or the post shared will have fewer reach.

   #notetogoogle #suggestiontogoogleteam

Fresh Fish in Bangalore

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Fresh Mackeral at Fish Stall at Domlur

Sardine – Big, Fat ones

Fishy Lucky
I call myself that for the fortune of having fish on a regular basis. This is partly b’cos of the place I stay in B’lore – a place close to two fish stalls in Domlur.

Regarding fish purchase, I’m not a risk taker. I stick to a certain variety of fishes. Mackeral is ignored as it’s not fresh in these shops. Second, sear fish I buy is the head part. And river fish is mostly avoided. However, I have just experimented with Katla, which is grilled.

Exception for Today
As you see in this picture, today’s mackeral was really fresh – a rare event. It’s evident from the fresh eyes. On seeing it, I was tempted to buy, but I had already bought a barracuda and sardine.

Sometimes, I wonder how people can be so blinded when I see them buying stale or limpish mackeral from the fish stall. Are they so ignorant? I think, I should take these people to Kerala, make them eat fresh mackeral and I bet they won’t touch the ones in the market. Well, I can’t blame them – all they have seen are the old beaten up ones.

So, how do you check if the fish is fresh or not? Is there a way to screen old fish? How to buy only fresh catch?

My regular fish purchase would include:

  • Sardine
  • Sear fish head
  • Anchovy
  • Para
  • Baracuda
  • Very rarely, katla ( only for grill)

So, which fish do you buy on a regular basis?

Other sources of Online Fish Purchase in Bangalore

1. Online fish delivery in Bangalore Fresh to Home

2. Dailyfish.in

3. https://happymeat.in/fish-online-bangalore

4. https://gofish.farm/

5. https://www.licious.in/  ( We usually buy sear fish head)

Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

From the prescriptive of quote:

1. Laugh often and much ( Not happening)

2. Intelligent people ( Social network )

3.  Friends ( Social network is weak)

4. Garden patch ( Have in mind to maintain)

“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Different Angles and Revelations for Startups

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Source: ianrobinson.net

This blog is from the points from the podcast by Tim Ferris who interviewed Scott Belsky.

One thing I like to repeat is the ANGLES! So, what’s this angles about. Well, in any business start-up stage, there are many angles to explore. Often in the driver seat, it’s difficult to see all the different aspects.

  • Can we explore that business angle? 
  • Will we get diverted if we choose that path?
  • How did we miss that part of the journey?
  • Oops, we had a narrow miss with that legal mess-up!
  • Chasing things that was more a waste of time

In this stage, it would be good to have someone with fresh mind to come in and suggest different angles. Well, that’s the idea I got when I heard some part of the podcast.

“In the startup world, resources are like carbs. Resourcefulness is like muscle. When you develop it, it actually stays with you and impacts everything you do going forward.”
— Scott Belsky

Beneath your Cloak

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Last Sunday at Church mass was proceeded by the main parish priest, accompanied by two other junior Fr. One of the assistant young priest sported an overflowing hair which made him look more like an Italian footballer or a model than a man who reads scriptures.

In another angle, he could easily pass for a priest from the 18th monastery who had all the vices. ( just my interpretation – don’t take it to heart)

So, thinking of the outwardly appearances, my mind thought of things that lies beneath our cloak.

Definitely we are not what we dress up. We have all faults, misgivings, strength, and all peevish bit, and mix of all behavior traits.

Isn’t nice to ponder on these. I know many who tells me that I a lot weirder and nervous creature that I look from outside.

That’s me! What about yours?

Another question?

Does your spouse or friend know your hidden or dark thoughts? How far are you willing to tell your close friend? 75% or 25% or 50% of your history and faults and weird thoughts?

Muralya Milk – Competition for Milma

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Muralya Milk – Capturing Retail Space
Muralya Milk Stacked in a Shop

If you are from Trivandrum, you would noticed this brand of milk which is becoming more popular by the day. It’s Muralya. I come across their name board and standee appearing in most road side shops selling milk.

So, how did this milk brand gain entry into the this space which was ruled by MILMA? Did MILMA sleep all the time, while all other brands like Goodlife, MilkyMist, Alvin, Muralya marched into this market? Or is it because of the bureaucratic slow-motion style in which they work that caused its decline?

So, this blog is about the competition that’s milking Milma’s profit.

Long ago, I grew along with MILMA milk. In the 80’s when it started, we used to get milk in glass bottles. I still remember the small MILMA booth near Slaughter House in Kunnukuzhy and the thin aluminium foil which covered the cute milk bottles.

Fast forward to 2018, we see all kinds of national brands eyeing a pie of milk business in this state. The monopoly, and the insulation of the market, and loyalty enjoyed by MILMA is slowly declining.

Not so long ago, I have heard my relatives and mom talking about the short supply of MILMA milk and how the vendors only supply milk to regulars. Well, that’s golden era where Milma had a sway on the market is long gone. The customer habits too are changing fast. The die-hard MILMA fans include my mom, who’s in her 70’s! How can a brand depend on senior citizen as fans!

MILMA – Wake Up from Your Reverie 

It’s anyone’s guess on how a cooperative federation like MILMA functions. If you see their office at Ambalathara, you can make a fair guess. The premises looks untidy with overgrown grass and shrubs. The walls are not painted and some places it’s broken. The only thing that’s evident are the union posters. So, in this situation, how do you expect them to innovate, get ahead of the smart wacks out there!

Well, it’s not impossible, but who will bell the cat!

My Personal Experience with MILMA BRAND

 I share this with my personal interaction and what I have seen from their head office booth at Pattom.

1. Inadequate floor space and the layout needs improvement
2  An old wooden table used to collect cash ( Not apt for the space)
2. No covers are provided to carry. In the name of plastic ban, no covers. Sell cloth bag with a MILMA logo for Rs 10 or Rs 5. I’ll be the first one to buy it!
3. Limited store timing. Probably use some milk vending machine to dispense milk covers 24/7
4. Introduce convenient and modern Tetra milk packs
5. Sip-ups or low priced items should be sold outside. Why waste the space to sell Sip-ups alongside the butter, ghee and ice-cream!. Probably, you can put a beach umbrella outside, pack-few in a thermacol box and sell it to school kids. 

Right now, MILMA still has fan following but don’t sleep on it! They are aged people!

These are mostly comprised of people who are 50 plus or in their 60’s who like my Mom sticks to MILMA and will never switch their brand. But, it’s foolhardy to stick to this shrinking pool of old loyalists. It’s important to woo new gen buyers who are now trying out GoodLife, Amulya, Muralaya brand. Can you folks do something to win over them!

—————-
Another Suggestion to MILMA!

This is a story I had posted long ago from the first-hand experience of talking to the sales guy at MILMA counter inside Napier Museum compound at Trivandrum.

I had a brief conversation with the guy and this is what I could understand:

1. A chair replacement request usually take weeks ( Most chairs were broken when I visited)
2. MILMA had a monopoly inside this compound. Milk the profits, man!
3. 
———

About MILMA’s Website!

To comment on the website, I would say it’s very typical site which won’t get a second look. I don’t think the people who made it, or the folks who gave the contract bothered to do much. Website is just a digital brochure put on the Internet. That’s all!

Few questions to MILMA:

1. Do you have a content marketing team to write, update and modify the website? 
2. Do you have a design head, digital marketing head to see how to project the website
3. Is the traffic to the site increasing?

———
( Content on MILMA’s Website)
Other information: 
We are dedicated to provide our customers with a superior level of service. Customer care helps you to share your query or grievance related to any Milma product and services. Do give us your feedback and help us serve you better.

Email : milma@milma.com ( Only one email id for this organization!)
( There are other options, such as having different email for customercare@milma.com or info@milma.com or md@milma.com to send mail to MD

Is there a better way to write the above passage taken from Milma’s site?  I’m sure there are better and short ways to convey the meaning. 

In contrast to Milma’s website have a look at Muralaya’s website and Facebook Page

Muralaya’s website is simple, easy-to-read and fast loading. Milma’s site is cluttered with look much clunky text, links and chaotic on the whole. It’s like a typical Indian Government kind of site. In one word – Boring!

Does it Matter to MILMA if one crony like me says it’s boring? Of course not! 

Don’t Forget that Moment

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what do you do to etch that moment in your fleeting mind? Do you write it down, or make sure you keep thinking of it even after it has passed? How long will you remember that little victory – probably too small when you think of it after a year or so?

While getting a tatoo might appear as too far fetched to you, so you can come up with your own variation to it?

Let me know if I got carried away with CaseyNeistat series of video!