Lessons from a Vendor

Today, as I boarded the usual 9.58a.m local, two guys boarded in right away. Quite customary to the scene these days, the guys, one aged 19 and odd and the other in his pre teen, were in the ladies compartment, not selling anything, but just avoiding the General section crowd.

In a relatively less crowded environment, I was enlightened by the conversation of these two guys.
The pre-teen seemed to be a potential entrant in the world of train vendors, while the other guy was a tycoon who had mastered the art of switching business lines.
Proudly calling himself as an experienced player, this 19 year old something was now giving business management lessons to the younger one.

Within a span of 20 mins, the following lessons were delivered.

Oranges, available these days, are more of the sour category. This guy had started off as a fruit vendor but soon left the business due to high perishability level of the product. Though an attractive business, advisable only for the well experienced.
(My Inference: The pre-teen should not be eyeing this option)

Notebooks are in high demand. A famous roadside vendor in Dadar sells notebooks in bulk and reasonable rates. (I was all ears, to hear the name, but he chose to keep it a business secret!). Timing is important in business. In an exam season, notebooks sell the best. (My Inference: A hint to the pre-teen, from where to begin)

Train Time Table and Pass Covers are ever green business options. Always have a steady source of income as a back up. Even if the core business doesn’t sell, these products are always in the list of wants.
(My Inference: The pre teen must carry a stock of TT and Pass covers apart from whatever he sells)

There is no harm in starting your day late, so long as you are ready to stretch yourself to late working hours.
Encash the opportunities, either in the peak hours of morning or rush hours of the evening. The latter is preferable, given that people are more “tension free” on their way back home. It also gives you the pleasure of getting up late.
Not sure, of what the pre-teen got out of this, but my inference was two fold.
One: Start early or Work Late
Two: Squeeze in some pleasurable moments, along with work, whenever you can.

By now my station was almost nearing, which meant I had to abandon the class half way through. In the final session that I could attend, the pre-teen was being educated on how to avoid being caught by TC’s.
Guess, the master was touching on the subject of “Challenges in the Way of Business”…