How is this for innovation?
Kerala recently saw the launch of a floating super market on the Vembanad Lake—to cater to the needs of those living on the Kuttanad backwaters in south Kerala's Alappuzha district. The state-owned, red-and-white-painted supermarket, called the Floating Triveni, has stationery, toiletries and provisions stacked on its shelves. Open from 8 am to 6 pm, it is manned by a staff of eight people
The floating supermarket stops by various boat jetties in the area (where transport by boat is a norm than an exception) and has been widely accepted by the consumers and caters to nearly a million people in Kuttanad. The mall will soon deliver home appliances like washing machines for those who place an order. It will also have a computer room, for children to play computer games. Customers have been given a mobile number, using which they can contact Triveni and book items in advance. The supermarket will announce its monthly schedule in advance to enable customers to be ready when it eventually visits the backwater near their houses.
The Kerala State Cooperative Consumers Federation Ltd (Consumerfed), the apex body of consumer cooperatives, which owns the Rs 50-lakh mall, sells at less than market prices. The Floating Triveni offers an additional discount of 2% to promote sales. Scheduled castes and tribal customers can avail of a further 3% discount. Twenty people can come on board to do business at a time. At the click of a button, the inventory and sales positions are accessible to Consumerfed officials.
Considering the novelty of the backwater-cruising, island-hopping supermarket, Consumerfed has written to the Guinness Book of World Records, seeking its imprimatur that would float Triveni before the world's eyes. – (Source & Pictures – Courtesy Outlook Magazine)
I remember something similar to it being tried out by the Co-operative outlet in Coimbatore, Chinthamani, in early 1990's. Of course, Coimbatore being a land locked ares, Chinthamani couldn't use boats, but rather remodelled a Bus and stacked it with provisions. The bus used to follow a specific timetable and be at different housing colonies once a week at a specified time slot. Chinthamani those days had a great reputation for quality and affordable pricing. I have no idea whether this system exists even now, I guess not.
The Kerala State Cooperative Consumers Federation Ltd (Consumerfed), the apex body of consumer cooperatives, which owns the Rs 50-lakh mall, sells at less than market prices. The Floating Triveni offers an additional discount of 2% to promote sales. Scheduled castes and tribal customers can avail of a further 3% discount. Twenty people can come on board to do business at a time. At the click of a button, the inventory and sales positions are accessible to Consumerfed officials.
Considering the novelty of the backwater-cruising, island-hopping supermarket, Consumerfed has written to the Guinness Book of World Records, seeking its imprimatur that would float Triveni before the world's eyes. – (Source & Pictures – Courtesy Outlook Magazine)
I remember something similar to it being tried out by the Co-operative outlet in Coimbatore, Chinthamani, in early 1990's. Of course, Coimbatore being a land locked ares, Chinthamani couldn't use boats, but rather remodelled a Bus and stacked it with provisions. The bus used to follow a specific timetable and be at different housing colonies once a week at a specified time slot. Chinthamani those days had a great reputation for quality and affordable pricing. I have no idea whether this system exists even now, I guess not.
The bus concept can be a great one to do some rural marketing for our Retail marketers.
