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Storwel Division, Delhi Branch felicitated Master Parimarjan Negi, the under nine Asian Chess Champion. Winner of a number of national and international titles, Parimarjan is the pride of Delhi. It was in this light that Godrej decided to present him with Godrej i-space at a press conference on 31 January, 2003 at Hotel Centre Point, New Delhi. The event was the first of its kind for Storwel Division to promote the product.

Anil Sain Mathur, Vice President, Storwel Division presented the keys of i-space to Parimarjan and wished him all the very best for the future. Speaking on the occasion, he explained the concept of the product and how it was ideal for young minds. The media showed great interest in the Godrej group’s recent forays into the home furniture market.

Anil Sain Mathur, Vice President, Storwel Division, presenting the keys of Godrej i-space to Parimarjan Negi, Asian Chess Champion. On the extreme ends are (left) G.B. Joshi, Parimarjan’s coach and (right) Dhruv Sharma, General Manager (North).

Dhruv Sharma, General Manager (North), who also graced the occasion, explained the need for corporates to sponsor sports such as Chess, which do not attract large numbers, and the need to motivate young prodigies like Parimarjan.

Sushil Thariani, Sr. Branch Manager, Delhi Branch thanked the members of the media, members of the Delhi Chess Association, Parimarjan’s parents and his coach, G.B. Joshi, for gracing the occasion.

B.K. Karanjia released Dollar Bahu, a novel by Sudha Murthy, Chairman, Infosys Foundation at Crossword on Friday, 21 February, 2003. Seen from L to R are Ulhas Latkar of Ameya Prakashan who published the book, Karanjia, Sudha Murthy and Sujata Sabnis who translated the novel, originally in Kannada, into English.

Mr. Arun Shourie, Minister for Disinvestment, Information Technology and Communications, Government of India, opened CII’s Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur on 24 February. This is the 12th international office of the CII.

Mr. Shourie said: “The office should serve to beam the learnings from Malaysia and the region back to India. The change happening in Malaysia is remarkable and there is so much to learn from Malaysia.” Similarly the opportunities in India need to be communicated to Malaysia.

Mr. Jamshyd Godrej, Past President, CII and Chairman of the CII ASEAN Committee said that the office would look at strategic areas to increase cooperation between India and Malaysia. The office would also help strengthen and build CII partnership with partners in Malaysia, including Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), MAIDA, and MATRADE.

Courtesy: Communique, a journal of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Volume 12, No. 3, March 2003. Edited, printed and published by Tarun Das on behalf of CII, New Delhi.

Honesty, Best Policy

O.A. Puraharan, Technician with the Security Business Group at Kochi Branch, while repairing some locker units of the Bank of India, Shanmugham Road Branch, Kochi, detected one of the lockers open. He immediately brought this to the notice of the Bank officials who, on closer inspection, found that the safe deposit locker was not locked properly by the hirer. This locker contained a lot of jewellery and valuable documents. The inspection was carried out in the presence of the hirer of the locker as also the Bank officials. All items were found intact. The Bank, appreciating O.A. Puraharan’s honesty and integrity, issued a letter to our Kochi Branch mentioning: “Without Mr. Puraharan bringing this almost undetectable fault to our notice, what the consequences could have been need no stretch of the imagination. Accordingly, we issue this letter to Mr. O.A. Puraharan as a token of our gratitude and appreciation for his honesty and integrity and for exemplary services rendered.”

G. Venu Gopal,
Kochi Branch

Dealers’ salesmen play a very important role in getting business for Godrej. In order to motivate and train them, Jamshedpur Branch organised a training programme at Hotel Centre Point, Jamshedpur on 14 and 15 February, 2003 from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Role play session in progress being monitored by Sumonto Chatterjee,
Sales Executive, Storage Solutions Group.

Realising the significance of Web-Based Distribution System (WBDS), a powerful software, Jamshedpur Branch introduced it to its dealers. On 22 February, the Branch organised a training programme on this new system for dealers at the Branch office.

WBDS training being conducted by S.K. Roy, Sr. Officer, Kolkata Branch for Jamshedpur Branch dealers.

The response was quite encouraging. 12 out of 18 dealers attended the programme.

The Mahatma Gandhi Medical College is one of the leading medical colleges and hospitals of Jharkhand, situated in Jamshedpur. Jamshedpur Branch has close association with this College as the Godrej Furniture Group sells Health chairs to doctors here, especially orthopaedic doctors.

To further improve relations, the Branch came up with the idea of presenting a Godrej Scholarship of Rs. 1,000/- every year to the Best Medical Student in the final year of this College. For this the Branch has donated Rs. 18,000/- to the College and the interest accruing would serve as reward money.

Bibhash Biswas, Branch Manager, Jamshedpur Branch handing over the cheque for Godrej Scholarship to D.N. Mukherjee, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College.

D.N. Mukherjee, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, expressed a desire to felicitate Jamshedpur Branch in a big way. On 4 March, 2003 Godrej called a press conference where teachers, faculties and students of the College were also invited. Mukherjee acknowledged the efforts put in by Godrej. The cheque of Rs. 18,000/- was thereafter presented to him. A Memorandum of Understanding, giving details of the Scholarship, was signed by the Company and the College authorities.

This has helped Godrej foster even closer relations with doctors, especially the ones at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College.

Librarians of leading management institutes of India have formed an association called MANLIBNET. Every year MANLIBNET holds an annual convention where librarians across the country participate.

The fifth National Convention of Librarians was organised at XLRI, Jamshedpur for three days from 6th to 8th March, 2003. Around 50 librarians from various national libraries and management institutes came together to discuss various issues pertaining to libraries.

Godrej’s Office Consumer Products Group offers a range of products to libraries.

Storwel Group: Book case, glass door storwel, storwel, filing cabinet, etc.
Furniture Group: Chairs, tables, computer furniture, card index cabinet, etc.
Security Group: Data line safe, close circuit television, etc.
Storage Solutions Group: Library stack, multiflex items, etc.

Jamshedpur Branch took this opportunity to promote the Company’s products, which were displayed at a stall provided at the venue. A corporate presentation was also made where the Branch spoke about Godrej and its range of products for libraries. Dignitaries present were quite impressed and enquired whether the Branch had any systematic storage of floppies and discs in data line safes.

Sumonto Chatterjee, Sales Executive (Storage Solutions Group) responding to queries
raised by participants of the National Convention of Librarians.

Natraj Sen, Assistant Manager (Common) and Sumonto Chatterjee, Sales Executive (Storage Solutions Group) played a key role in making this event a success. Such activities help the Company in building a long-term relationship with librarians.

Influencer Interaction: Carpenters Meet
The Division conducted a Carpenters’ Meet in Mandya on 17 February, 2003 along with distributor, M/s. Mahendra Hardware. About 50 carpenters participated. Product features were explained and demonstration made on the correct method of fixing door locks. Carpenter queries were resolved and feedback received on product problems. The programme ended with dinner and a small memento was given to each carpenter.

Retailers Meet
The Division conducted a Retailers’ Meet in Bangalore on 16 March, 2003 and in Mysore on 2 March, 2003. About 275 retailers attended the Bangalore Meet. 80 retailers of our distributor M/s. Excel Enterprises participated in the Mysore Retailers Meet. Lucky draw for the Aap Ke Liye Scheme was conducted and prizes distributed to the winners.

Channel Partners’ Meet

Locks Division conducted a Retailers Meet on 16 March, 2003 along with our distributor M/s. Maple Furniture Pvt. Ltd. The Meet was held in Hotel Sishmo, Bhubaneshwar and was attended by about 50 people.

L-R): Shishak Rath, Managing Director, M/s. Maple Furniture Pvt. Ltd. presenting a cheque, a special award, to the Division’s most valuable retailer, M/s. Jayshree Plywoods, represented by Debashish Choudhury.

The huge banquet hall was well-decorated by our latest promotional material like Ultra standee, POPs, and Instabooth, which created interest among the crowd. The entire product range was displayed with special emphasis on Ultra and new products. Prizes were awarded to top retailers, followed by presentation of mementos to all present.

Sabyasachi Ray

Inside Outside Mega Show
Locks Division participated in the Inside Outside Mega Show held from 13th to 16th February, 2003 at Parade Grounds, Chandigarh.

This is a much-awaited event for bringing builders, architects, interior and exterior designers under one roof. This year we took up a stall at the Show and displayed our entire products with display stands and Ultra Key cutouts impressively arranged.

Pallav Chandola, Asst. Sales Manager, Chandigarh Branch (right)
attending to visitors at the Inside Outside Mega Show, Chandigarh.

The response to the exhibition was heartening. We had enquiries from customers who were either building their kothis (bungalows) or were in the process of renovating, upgrading or changing the entire locking system. They were particularly impressed with the Multi point Mortise lock and Multi point Rim locking system displayed on a mounted rotating stand.

Among our products, Ultra is well accepted, more so in Chandigarh. “Free Installation” is another factor which attracts customers to graduate their choice from an ordinary lock to an Ultra.

Road Shows

Locks Division conducted Road Shows at different venues simultaneously viz. T. Nagar, Annanagar and Tambaram from 22nd February to 24th February, 2003. Our complete range of products, including all our new Locks, was displayed at the venues. A crowd of over 1,500 attended the Shows.

V Suriyanarayanan, Sr. Sales Officer, Chennai Branch, explaining the functioning of Godrej locks at one of the Road Shows in Chennai.

Atul Dixit

All India Industrial Exhibition
Locks Division participated in the 63rd All India Industrial Exhibition held from 1st January, 2003 to 15th February, 2003 along with our local distributor, M/s. Nirmal Enterprises.

This Exhibition, being held for the past 63 years, is now part of the Hyderabadi culture. Major Indian companies participate in this mega event. Product launches and consumer schemes were announced here to attract customers. Around 50,000 people visit the Exhibition daily and about 2,00,000 on weekends.

M. Murali Mohan, Chairman, M/s. Jayberi Group, inaugurating the Road Show at YMCA, Secunderabad on 8 February, 2003.

Hyderabad Branch took up a stall in a strategic location, adjacent to the main gate. The entire Fiskars range of scissors and knives was displayed and sold. Customers showed keen interest in the range and our sales personnel educated them about the products and took valuable feedback from them.

The wide publicity and promotion created for the Exhibition justified the hard work and co-operation put in by the distributor Pankaj Gupta and the Hyderabad Branch personnel.

Salad Dressing Competition
The Division organised a Salad Dressing competition at Greenfields College of Catering, Hyderabad along with M/s. Nirmal Enterprises on 10 February, 2003.

About 12 selected students participated in the competition. Students who were already using our products prepared remarkably appetising and attractive salads using different knives.

V.A. Ramachandran (Regional Manager – South) and E.R.S. Reddy (Asst. Sales Manager – Hyderabad) of Locks Division were also present on the occasion. Ramachandran had an interesting interactive session with all the participants after the event.

Each participant was given a Certificate of Participation and a discount coupon. Prizes were given to the top three winners.

The Principal of Greenfields College of Catering appreciated this initiative and requested for more such events at an inter-college level in the future.

“Instabooth”: Direct Customer Interface
To promote product awareness and customer interactions, Locks Division installed “Instabooth,” the selling booth across various key retail outlets. An Instabooth calendar was designed starting 20th January, 2003 to 15th February, 2003, which ensured presence in major areas of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Products were displayed and customer queries were tackled. Our channel partners appreciated this selling concept, which was a major hit in the twin cities.

Road Shows
Road Shows were organised by Locks Division from 8th to 10th February, 2003 in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad:

Venue I: YMCA, S.P. Road, Secunderabad along with our distributor M/s. Sai Supreme Agencies.
Venue II: HVYA Bhavan, Khairtabad, Hyderabad with distributor M/s. D.N. Agencies.

The Show at the first venue was inaugurated by M. Murali Mohan, a noted film personality and Chairman, M/s. Jayberi Group, and at the second venue by V.A. Ramachandran, Regional Manager — South, Locks Division.

During the Road Shows, our entire product range was displayed. About 3,000 people visited the Shows. “Instant installation” was offered to customers who purchased Ultra locks. The response was encouraging and customers were keen to know about our range and right product selection. Our Customer Care Cell was highly appreciated for its round-the-clock service. Press notes in various local dailies created wise publicity about the Show.

It is noteworthy that on the opening day of the Road Show in HVYA Bhavan, a Retailer Salesmen training programme was organised wherein product information and training were the key focus areas. About 40 salesmen attended the programme. The salesmen were then given a quiz on our products. Prizes were awarded to the top three winners.

Kreta Suraksha Mela

The Division took part in the “Samabay and Kreta Suraksha Mela” organised at the Kolkata maidan from 7th to 27th February, 2003. The event was organised by the largest and most prestigious co-operative society of West Bengal, the Kolkata Wholesale Consumers Co-operative Society. This Society has many branches at prominent locations across West Bengal and Kolkata.

The Mela was inaugurated by Naren Dey, Hon’ble Minister for Co-operative Societies of West Bengal, who also visited our stall.

A. Choudhury of M/s. Choudhury Trading and Pinaki Guha, Sr. Sales Officer, Kolkata Branch at the “Samabay and Kreta Suraksha Mela,” Kolkata.

The stall was put up along with our distributor, M/s. Choudhury Trading, whose proprietor A. Choudhury is an active member of this Society. Our entire range of products was on display and there was an overwhelming response for our products.

The Mela was telecast on the popular Bengali channel, ATN Bangla, giving us good mileage and exposure throughout the State.

S.R. Guha / Pinaki Guha

(L-R): B.K. Rajkumar, Vice President and Business Head, Locks Division, being felicitated with flowers and shawl by Bharat Thakkar, member of the Managing Committee of the All India Hardware Association on 20 February, 2003 at Hotel Leela Kempinski during the inauguration of the Association’s annual magazine, Souvenir 2003. About 600 retailers, distributors, major competitors and other hardware companies participated. Rajkumar was representing Godrej’s Locks Division.

Reaching Out To Mumbai’s Millions
Locks Division has started using a new medium to get across the message of security to millions of Mumbai’s daily travellers. It has started advertising on the inside window panels of train compartments with simple messages such as “Bangladesh winning the Cricket World Cup — Possible; Picking the Godrej Ultra — Impossible,” “Veerappan getting caught — Possible; Picking the Godrej Ultra — Impossible,” etc.

Seven local suburban trains each on both the Central and Western Railway routes of Mumbai carry such slice-of-life messages.

First Godrej Ultra Key Cutting Centre
B.K. Rajkumar inaugurated the first Ultra Key Duplication Centre at Prime Locks Service Centre, Marine Chambers, Marine Lines, Mumbai on 29 March, 2003.

The computerised dimpled keys for Godrej Ultra Locks are high-precision unconventional keys that are very difficult for the local chaabiwalas to duplicate. At the same time, it is necessary for customers to duplicate some of their important keys, such as their house keys, at trusted and reliable outlets. To take care of this need, the Division has decided to set up Key Duplication Centres at important locations in Mumbai and other important cities in the country.

Prime Locks Service Centre (Tel. no. 2209 1216) is located near Bombay Hospital. More information and assistance can also be obtained by calling the 24 Hours Locks Help Line on 9628 100 100.