Opinion on Indian Distribution?

Discussion in 'The ChitChat Lounge' started by Jackdaw69, Feb 9, 2011.

  1. Jackdaw69

    Jackdaw69 New Member

    Hi all,
    I run the Export department for a well known high end Guitar product manufacturer, and for a while we have wanted to get some distribution into the Indian market. We're well represented globally, but still don't have anything happening in India, and we'd like to change that.

    We have plenty of companies who have been in contact with us and made proposals, however being a company to whom customer service is of paramount importance, we like to also canvass players in prospective markets before making a decision. Not having enough experience of the Indian market ourselves, we think that musicians are the best people to give us information their real experiences with various companies.

    If you're happy to share any experiences or opinion you might have of dealing with the various Indian Distributors out there, then I'd love to hear from you. We won't be basing our decision solely off of this feedback, but it will certainly play a part in it. Naturally if you want it to be confidential, that's fine too - Just PM me.

    Thanks in advance to anyone who gets in touch; it's always appreciated and hopefully it'll help ensure that when we move into the Indian market we are represented by a company whose focus is providing our shared customers with the very best experience and service possible.

    Cheers

    JD
     
  2. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    You ppl are outrageously expensive!
    I don't like paying you guys so high that your white bosses travel around in Maybach.
     
  3. Jackdaw69

    Jackdaw69 New Member

    Eh?

    Ha Ha! Well, I'm not sure where you're getting your info from or who you think we might be, but there are no Maybachs here and no champagne lifestyle. You might want to check your facts before throwing stuff out like that.....
     
  4. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    Nothing to take it personally champ, I was being generic about the global brands.

    ... on the other hand, since you have started it - is your company run in a "garage" by all luthiers?
     
  5. Jackdaw69

    Jackdaw69 New Member

    Nope - We don't make guitars, but we manufacture our product by hand in a small US Factory, and have done for a long time now. Privately owned, low staff turnover, no corporate investment or shareholders, no lavish offices (or Maybachs...!), no desire to be huge at the expense of producing instruments that people cherish, customer focussed, all profit invested back into the company etc.. We're not motivated by money; we just love what we do and we're simply fortunate that we can earn a living from it. Our products aren't cheap, but we're always happy for people to visit us and check out why they cost more than mass manufactured gear.
     
  6. alpha1

    alpha1 I BLUES!

    Damn, unfortunately the masses don't appreciate this stuff (more so in India - where almost EVERYONE belongs to the masses, and there is hardly any individuality, neither much money to spend on your passions and hobbies)

    In any case, may we have the URL for your products?
     
  7. Jackdaw69

    Jackdaw69 New Member

    Unfortunately I need to keep that under wraps right now; we're negotiating with a number of companies who want to work with us and it's important that the whole thing is confidential. Looks like there's little opinion on here as to who might be the better distributors in India anyway, so we'll just go on the info that we have already but it was worth a try anyway. Hopefully once we come to an agreement with someone we can make an announcement and start directing the customers who keep e-mailing us from India to someone in their home market who can take care of their needs better than we can from California....

    Cheers
     
  8. Torvoraptor

    Torvoraptor New Member

    Sorry to be a buzzkill, but I don't think that importing from the US is going to get a whole lot of buyers. MIM fender strats/blacktops are 450 dollars in the USA, but 1000 dollars in india, and considering the purchasing power parity here, that becomes a solid ~3000 dollars equivalent. You guys will be at a disadvantage wrt to asian manufacturers with cheaper stuff and lower costs.

    the better distributers, btw are probably furtados, bhargava's, and bajaao.com
     
  9. varunmm4

    varunmm4 New Member

    I agree partially with Torvoraptor.

    I get a sneaky feeling you guys are some boutique pedal manufacturers. If you are, T-REX pedals has been in India for a while now and have pretty much stagnated. To my knowledge, they tried the direct mailing and mktg strategy and then the distributor chain through Bhargavas and neither really came off for them.

    Bhargavas not so much, Furtados and Bajaao.com are the best IMO when it comes to Mumbai. Delhi and Noida has a place called On Stage which is pretty huge.

    Good Luck! :)
     
  10. anilnediyara

    anilnediyara New Member

    Hi,

    M/s Furtados and Bajaao are the two active ones and the smaller towns are serviced by local stores of which some are very reputed.

    What ever you do with Distributors the main problem will be final pricing of products. If you try to add Duties and Taxes to US MRP you may find it difficult to sell them. Realistic pricing based on actual export price (which most companies keep at 50% or less of local MRP) and adding margin may help you in the long run.

    With the present pricing of most guitars say MIM Strat @ about $900 from your local store will make the few genuine buyers to get them from abroad through friends etc. So you end up not being able to push sufficient volumes.

    This I have noticed in many such imported electronic AV equips too, those who have priced reasonably have survived and grown.

    Wishing you best of luck in making India an good market for your products.
     

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