Did you know that Mr. Bharti Mittal got into business even before he finished college?
Did you know he was the first dealer of Suzuki's portable generators in India?
Hereβs his journey from generators to Telecom (Bharti Airtel) β
Hit Retweet for wider reachπ
Did you know he was the first dealer of Suzuki's portable generators in India?
Hereβs his journey from generators to Telecom (Bharti Airtel) β
Hit Retweet for wider reachπ
1/n
Bharti Mittal got into business when he was 18 yrs old, even before he had finished college.
He started a small factory to make bicycle parts with the Rs. 20,000 he had borrowed from his father.
Bharti Mittal got into business when he was 18 yrs old, even before he had finished college.
He started a small factory to make bicycle parts with the Rs. 20,000 he had borrowed from his father.
2/n
In 1980, Mittal sold the cycle parts business, relocated to Mumbai, and started afresh as a trader of imported stainless steel, brass, plastics, and zip fasteners.
This business would take him to various parts of the country.
In 1980, Mittal sold the cycle parts business, relocated to Mumbai, and started afresh as a trader of imported stainless steel, brass, plastics, and zip fasteners.
This business would take him to various parts of the country.
3/n
While he was on a visit to Delhi, he had gone to Bengali Marketβa popular place known for its Indian fast-food joints. There, Mittal happened to meet a harried salesman for Suzuki's generator sets. He had been sent by the Japanese company to appoint dealers in India.
While he was on a visit to Delhi, he had gone to Bengali Marketβa popular place known for its Indian fast-food joints. There, Mittal happened to meet a harried salesman for Suzuki's generator sets. He had been sent by the Japanese company to appoint dealers in India.
4/n
Suzuki had assumed that, like in Japan, people here too would buy its portable generators to use in ice-cream vans, hotdog trucks, and exhibition kiosks
The salesman soon discovered zero demand for these generators from the intended customer base
Suzuki had assumed that, like in Japan, people here too would buy its portable generators to use in ice-cream vans, hotdog trucks, and exhibition kiosks
The salesman soon discovered zero demand for these generators from the intended customer base
5/n
However, Mittal realized quickly that the gen-sets could be sold to shops, small offices, even houses due to frequent power cuts
He spoke to the salesman and was soon appointed as the first Indian dealer of Suzuki's portable generators
The business was an instant success
However, Mittal realized quickly that the gen-sets could be sold to shops, small offices, even houses due to frequent power cuts
He spoke to the salesman and was soon appointed as the first Indian dealer of Suzuki's portable generators
The business was an instant success
6/n
This whetted his appetite further.
At a trade fair in Taiwan, he saw, for the first time in his life, push-button telephones.
Indians were still using clunky, heavy old phones that came with a rotary dial.
This whetted his appetite further.
At a trade fair in Taiwan, he saw, for the first time in his life, push-button telephones.
Indians were still using clunky, heavy old phones that came with a rotary dial.
7/n
There was, of course, no way you could speed-dial or redial the number on these phones. All instruments were made by the state-owned Indian Telephone Industries (set up immediately after Independence)
There was, of course, no way you could speed-dial or redial the number on these phones. All instruments were made by the state-owned Indian Telephone Industries (set up immediately after Independence)
8/n
Mr. Mittal knew instantly that push-button phones would be hugely successful in India. Within days, he had signed a contract with a Taiwanese supplier.
Mr. Mittal knew instantly that push-button phones would be hugely successful in India. Within days, he had signed a contract with a Taiwanese supplier.
9/n
That was his entry into telecom sector
Soon, he got a license to make phones, which he sold under Beetel brand
When the Govt. opened up mobile phone services, Mittal jumped on the bandwagon and got the license for Delhi. He launched services under the Airtel brand!
That was his entry into telecom sector
Soon, he got a license to make phones, which he sold under Beetel brand
When the Govt. opened up mobile phone services, Mittal jumped on the bandwagon and got the license for Delhi. He launched services under the Airtel brand!
Information Source - From a Book - Inside Unreal Estate: A Journey Through Indiaβs Most Controversial Sector by Sushil Kumar Sayal
Edit - The Name is Sunil Bharti Mittal. The word got missed while putting the thread ππ
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