Prabhudesai Electronics in Margao boasts of a happy customer base of 8,000. And all this has been possible because of the vision of Deepraj Prabhudesai, owner of the outlet, who credits his staff for the growth he is witnessing today
BHARATI PAWASKAR
As soon as you step inside, everyone – from the sales persons to the owner – seem eager to greet you, and don’t be surprised if the owner himself approaches with a warm welcome to ask how he can help you in making the best choice. If you encounter such a situation, be sure that it’s none other than the Prabhudesai Electronics in Margao – the most popular one-stop-showroom that offers a variety of electronic home appliances of reputed brands.
A range of these products from companies like Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, IFB, Bosch, Whirlpool among others, adorn the cosy showroom where each person seems to be engaged seriously in businessr, and yet when a client steps in, offer his or her total attention in satisfying his query.
“Believe me, my staff works harder than me and are a step ahead in attending to customers. I must admit, it’s me who has learnt many things from them,” smiles Deepraj Prabhudesai, the owner of this showroom and the first businessman from his middle-class family that has earned a reputation in the market in a short span of time, thanks to his MBA (finance) and his extensive experience in MNCs where he worked on the managerial level before plunging into his own business.
With headquarters in Margao, the Prabhudesais have two outlets, one in the most developing area near Power House and the other in the busiest localities in the very heart of this commercial capital of Goa. “Though our base is Margao, ours is the most popular electronics home appliances showroom in South Goa as we get footfalls not only from surrounding areas but from remote regions in Quepem, Sanvardem, Sanguem and Canacona talukas,” boasts Deepraj, an MBA in Finance who with his extensive experience of working in the most challenging environments outside Goa.
“Most of our clients are from South Goa and the referral rate is high among these. Then there are those who go for budget products. We have both types of clients and both get similar service,” points out Deepraj who has an engineering background. Having done engineering from NIT and then MBA from Symbiosis in Pune, he has served in Asian Paints, Nokia and Kodiak.
The only son of Damodar Prabhudesai, Deepraj worked in Kodiak at Verna for three years before joining Asian Paints in 2005. From 2005-07 he worked as head of Asian Paints (Home Solution) in Mumbai and sales manager of Goa, UP, West Bengal and Maharashtra and had to comb the remotest parts of these states. “The perks were too good and I enjoyed my work thoroughly but after about years of hectic life, with no time left for family or myself, I decided to say goodbye to this highly paid job,” shares Deepraj, who then joined Nokia for a brief span of time before calling it a day and returning to Goa.
Looking back at his life, he recalls, “I took a wise decision to quit well before I could become a permanent part of the rat race. I withdrew and returned to my hometown to settle for the rest of my life. That was the wisest decision of my life. If you are hardworking, you succeed and sustain wherever you are and I truly believe in myself.”
With a base of 8000 happy customers, Deepraj is confident of the growth of his business. Talking about business opportunities for the youth, he adds, “Look at retailing as a good option for career. In future you can start something of your own but start from retail experience. It needs a lot of planning, self-discipline and hard work. Branded retail is a good area to begin with. Even if you are selling something, your job is that of a manager as you have to do management at all levels. There is documentation, understanding fine prints in warranties and guarantees, problem-solving. You can learn to sell something as well as to please customers and listen to their queries or help in problem solving. Look at retailing as a mainline career.”
India has lot of talented youth but most are misguided. If a person can learn how to sell something, he can sell it anywhere across the globe. Good managerial skills are always welcome in big cities and businesses. There are many job opportunities in Goa so if one taps them and learns, he or she can succeed anywhere else in the world – only sky is the limit.
