by Lan Daval
SHORT LETHAL PUNCHES – A political leadership should be credible, sincere and relevant. What the people really need is a government that collects taxes properly and spends money wisely and determined how resources are allocated or utilized appropriately. The citizenry need a system that promotes transparency and openness.
POPULAR DOLLAR- CONCEPT STORES – Say what you will about Indian entrepreneurs but they sure know how to choose their line of business. In the city of Toronto, Canada for example, Indian immigrants notably those who have already been granted citizenship status demonstrated their knack for pouring money into a business that deals in cheaper consumer-based products. As the Chinese businessmen drive-up Toronto’s mini-convenience and grocery store business and wet market operation, enterprising Indian traders, on the other hand, dominate the dollar-store concept trend.
What may appears to be a simple business endeavor has become very popular among small spenders, middle-income bracket, and of course to the thrift-minded and tightwads. If you happen to go shopping at Toronto’s popular megamalls or at various commercial areas, you’ll doubtless find a dollar-concept store owned by Indian traders. Their business outlets and retail stores peddle cheaper consumer-based products, mostly manufactured in China ranging from garments, electronics, gadgets and accessories, fancy jewelries, kitchenware, to school and office supplies, toys, food stuff and many more. Name it they have it.
Consumers will always remember these retail outlets simply because of the store sign and indicator that similarly sounds the same – “Dollar Store,Dollarama or Absolutely Dollar,” sort of a name recall, presumably because it is closely associated with the dollar. And to make it easier and convenient for the consumers, owners even revolutionized a catch phrase that says “All items at $1 unless priced.” Venturing into the dollar-concept store business gives Indian traders a presence as well as a vehicle to put to good use their entrepreneurship touch.
Despite stiff and tough competition, specifically from aggressive Chinese businessmen, there’s still a lot going for the Indian capitalists. They want to share a piece of Toronto, or Canada in general, the small entrepreneurship action and target niche sector, especially the low-income bracket and medium-class consumer audience. However, the most encouraging development is the unexpected acceptance by the city’s thrift-oriented sector and has been showing true to form. After all, the dollar-store enterprise is positioned primarily as a cost-saving business play.
Furthermore, the booming dollar-concept store business experience shows that patience, courage, dedication, hard work and entrepreneur spirit do pay off. Some economists note that the Indian-inspired business endeavor comprises a significant portion of the cheaper consumer economy. Even in high-growth countries such as Canada, small spenders and medium-class families can truly appreciate a market where cheaper consumer-based products are selling unselectively, thus putting these low-end retailers in a good competitive situation.
Such notions of an overwhelming cheaper consumer economy triggered by the dollar-store concept popularized by the Indian entrepreneurs are based on its success. Remember too, Indian traders favor small to medium enterprise fostered presumably by their ancestors. Indian businessmen in Toronto conduct their trade similar to their countrymen who are doing business in our country, Davao City in particular, minus of course the dollar-store concept. Surprisingly, I had not seen even a single motorcycle-riding Indian 5/6 collector on the streets of Toronto. I presume it’s an unacceptable business idea.
