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Baqar Iftikhar

Baqar Iftikhar Naqvi  |113 Answers  |Ask -

Start-up Mentor - Answered on Feb 22, 2024

Baqar Iftikhar Naqvi is the founder and CEO of Upriver Ecommerce, an online sales accelerator firm and can guide entrepreneurs on how to make their firms grow.He holds a BTech in textile technology from the Central Textile Institute and has a master's degree in marketing and merchandising from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.He has 23 years of experience in the consumer products and retail industry.... more
Suraj Question by Suraj on Feb 22, 2024Hindi
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Career

I'm Suraj, sir I have started my firm in 2018 at small city Akola where I am providing computer and surveillance based sales and service. Actually I focus on service but I don't know why I don't have enough work and man power to run my business though I am providing the best service compared to others. How can I scale my business. Please give me your valuable suggestions. Do I need to change my business location or it doesn't matter?

Ans: Please explain what your business is before I can answer your question. Is it surveillance hardware sales like security camera and related software solutions. Do you also do complete installation etc. OR can you offer you solutions online, without the need to physically do any work at the client site . Please explain in detail
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Harsh

Harsh Bharwani  |80 Answers  |Ask -

Entrepreneurship Expert - Answered on Oct 19, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 20, 2023Hindi
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I have been trying to scale my Digital Marketing and Advertising Agency since 2 years. but i am still not able to touch 1 lakh a month consistently. I know where i am going wrong, its the sales mostly. Please suggest me a way off how to a get a proper sales channel to get clients , how to manage funds for sales channels, and maybe some channels you can suggest.?
Ans: The different sales channels include traditional and modern marketplaces, retail and wholesale, and your own online store. All of these channels have their own pros and cons to take into account when choosing the right channels for your business.
Ecommerce
Ecommerce is any transaction that is completed online. For example, when you buy clothes from your favorite online store, that is ecommerce. Every time you order food from a delivery app like Doordash or Postmates, that is also e-commerce. Ecommerce is a huge market, worth over $5 trillion, and it’s expected to make up 24.5% of global sales by 2025.
Pros:
Lower startup costs, since you won’t have to pay for a physical storefront.
Can sell internationally and 24/7, as long as your website is active.
You can collect customer data to help you figure out what your target market wants.
Cons:
Problems in your distribution channel may cause the end of customer relationships.
Might have higher return rates because customers can’t try before buying products.
Direct sales in brick-and-mortar stores is still more popular despite ecommerce’s rising popularity.
Traditional marketplaces
Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Walmart Marketplace, and Google Shopping are examples of traditional marketplaces. These channels feature a wide range of product offerings and, for the most part, customers search by the product they’d like to buy rather than the brand they’d like to purchase it from.
While traditional marketplaces come with a preexisting customer base, these platforms require you to give up control of customer service and fulfillment speeds, and to compete on margins.
Pros:
You get your products in front of the existing customer base of those marketplaces.
You can use their distributors and marketing channels already in place.
Being part of a traditional marketplace can give you legitimacy in the eyes of your target market.
Cons:
Indirect sales mean you have to pay a commission for every sale made using a traditional marketplace, and those commissions can change.
Marketplaces can have really strict terms and conditions for how you communicate and represent yourself in their stores.
There might be a lot of different brands selling similar products in these stores, so it may be hard to find a way to stand out.
Modern marketplaces
Modern marketplaces are content-driven platforms that enable commerce. This includes social media channels like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest. It also includes places like Spotify. One of the reasons these modern marketplaces are so successful as sales channels is because buyers are already there. Adding a Buy button allows you to meet buyers where they are.
Pros:
There are apps that can help you track various metrics on your social media platforms to help you optimize your posts and reach.
You can collaborate with other brands and influencers to cross-sell and cross promote.
Most social media platforms have useful templates you can use for your ads and store.
Customer support can be instantaneous on social media.
Cons:
You constantly need to create content to stay visible.
You need to be vigilant against any negative feedback or trolls.
If a social media site goes down or your account is hacked that could really affect your business.
Retail
The retail channel includes both permanent and pop-up shops, like a short-term rental in a mall, a booth at a craft fair, or a stall at a local farmers market. Retail channels provide the opportunity for you to build relationships with your customers in person and get real-time feedback. Retail is a powerful piece of the modern commerce playbook.
Pros:
You get face-to-face contact with your customers
Cut out the middlemen and get products straight into the hands of your customers.
The sales process is direct and ends with you having payment in hand at the end of the sale.
Cons:
May have added cost of hiring sales team (sales reps, sales manager, customer support team).
Can be expensive paying for overhead on brick-and-mortar shop.
Dealing with interpersonal issues with staff and customers.
Wholesale
Wholesale involves selling your products to other businesses who then retail them. Some businesses choose to make wholesale their only sales channel; others use wholesaling as one leg of an omnichannel sales strategy. Wholesale is a great way to move a lot of inventory at once.

..Read more

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 09, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 09, 2025
Money
Hello Sir, I am 43 years, I have around 2 cr in stock market, 1cr in government bonds and mutual funds, a flat in Bangalore worth 70 lakhs and recently I sold around 1.6 cr worth stocks and savings to purchase a house in the outskirts of a two tier city where I am currently residing. Was it worth investing in this property? I have taken a break from my job
Ans: You have made many financial moves with clarity and purpose. Your asset base is strong.

You sold Rs.?1.6 crore worth of financial assets to buy a house. Let us now assess this decision. We’ll look at all angles to guide you.

This detailed review will help you make smart, balanced, long-term decisions.

Was Buying the Property a Good Decision?

Owning a house offers emotional comfort and stability.

It also lowers rent cost and gives more space.

But property is not a flexible investment.

It is hard to sell fast when money is needed.

Property needs repairs, tax payments and legal care.

Financial investments do not have such burdens.

Your earlier financial assets were more liquid.

You had Rs.?2 crore in stocks and Rs.?1 crore in bonds and mutual funds.

After this new property, your real estate share is now very high.

This can impact long-term growth and flexibility.

Financial assets like mutual funds often grow faster.

Properties in outskirts grow slowly and depend on area development.

This growth is not guaranteed.

You must check if the area has good infrastructure plans.

Is Real Estate the Best Wealth-Building Tool?

Property is not the fastest wealth builder.

Equity mutual funds grow faster over time.

Property needs high capital, low returns and long holding periods.

You may also face legal or title issues.

Rent income is also not guaranteed.

Real estate is hard to sell when you need cash.

Stocks and bonds are easier to exit.

Real estate gives pride, but less profit.

You must not depend only on property for wealth.

How Your Asset Mix Looks Now

Your assets are now heavy in real estate.

Rs.?70 lakhs flat in Bangalore plus Rs.?1.6 crore new house.

That’s over Rs.?2.3 crore in property.

Stock and mutual fund holding is now Rs.?2 crore approx.

This makes the ratio about 55% in real estate.

For financial growth, this is very high.

Financial assets give compounding and flexibility.

Too much in real estate may hurt long-term goals.

You may face difficulty accessing funds in emergencies.

Liquidity is now lower than before.

You are on a job break, so liquidity is more important now.

During Career Break, Liquidity is Vital

When you are not earning, liquidity is your protection.

Property cannot give you quick funds in emergencies.

But mutual funds and stocks can be sold in 1-3 days.

You must protect cash flow till income resumes.

Emergency fund should be 12 months’ living cost.

Ensure you are not over-relying on property.

What You Could Have Considered Instead

You could rent in outskirts instead of buying.

Renting keeps your money invested in mutual funds.

You could have earned higher returns with flexibility.

Money in mutual funds can help meet multiple goals.

Renting avoids repair, tax and legal costs.

Ownership is not always necessary.

Emotional satisfaction from a house is valid.

But it must not reduce your long-term growth.

Why Mutual Funds Are a Better Tool for Growth

Mutual funds give professional fund management.

They offer better diversification than any property.

Regular mutual fund plans offer expert support.

A Certified Financial Planner can help choose better funds.

Actively managed funds adjust to market changes.

Index funds just copy the market.

Index funds don’t protect against sharp market falls.

They do not beat the market in tough times.

Direct mutual funds also have no personal help.

If you invest directly, you get no strategy or advice.

Regular plans give human support and help in planning.

Investment without expert help is like driving without direction.

Choose mutual funds through MFD with CFP support.

What You Should Do Next

Review if the new house is for self-use or investment.

If self-use, then it meets emotional comfort, not wealth goals.

If investment, then rethink its growth and returns.

Keep some funds in high-quality mutual funds.

Avoid putting more into real estate.

Resume SIPs once cash flow starts again.

Avoid index funds and direct funds going forward.

Focus on active funds with proper advice.

Set goals for retirement, health, and other needs.

Adjust asset mix to support those goals.

Keep financial assets above 50% for better future growth.

Plan your tax-saving investments every year.

Don’t depend only on property or insurance-based plans.

If you hold any LIC, ULIP, or combo plans, review them.

If returns are poor, consider surrendering and investing in mutual funds.

Property must be need-based, not return-based.

Let financial products drive long-term growth.

Take insurance for risk protection, not investment.

Continue asset review every 6 months.

Choose Certified Financial Planner to keep you on track.

Finally

Your decision to buy the house brings peace, but lowers growth.

It’s fine if emotional security is your key goal now.

But make sure you don’t lose financial strength.

Property is hard to manage, and slow to grow.

Your asset allocation needs rebalancing toward financial investments.

Start investing again when income resumes.

Reduce dependence on physical assets.

Trust actively managed mutual funds via regular plans.

Seek professional guidance to ensure your long-term success.

You’ve done well so far. With a few changes, you can go further.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

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