Prashant Naik, Joint Proprietor and Partner in Margao-based ‘Lily & Lilac - The Flower People’ is witness to the evolution of the florist business in the State since he first stepped into it in the mid-90s. In an interview with THE GOAN, Naik discusses the various nuances of this trade, while demanding the withdrawal of certain taxes levied on this business by The Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board, as he claims there is no corresponding service provided to the flower industry in lieu of the taxes so levied
Q: How did you step into the florist business?
Prashant Naik: Kalpana Divkar and myself are joint proprietors and partners in ‘Lily & Lilac - The Flower People.’ I started off in a kiosk near Fatima Convent Margao in the year 1994. It was when my wife noticed the potential for a florist in Margao. I entered this business by accident. The idea of starting this florist shop was entirely of my wife Ratnamala Divkar. I started this shop along with my sister-in-law who had secured a government job and agreed to quit it to take a plunge into this business.
Q: How does this business work in terms of sourcing the flowers and other such aspects ?
PN: Almost 70 percent of the flowers are sourced from Bengaluru while the rest are procured from Kolhapur, Belagavi (Belgaum) and Pune. This was the scene but two years ago, we are now procuring flowers from Goa, which includes zerberas and orchids.
Q: How do you handle competition in this trade ?
PN: Being a service-oriented industry and prone to competittion, clients prefer quality service. If you deliver quaility service, no amount of competition can affect you in this trade. Moreover, this trade required a lot of commitment.
Q: What is the client profile?
PN: We have a fixed clientele. We supply to most of the hotels in South Goa. Since these supply contracts are tendered as per market rate, the prices are on a lower side. Nevertheless, we get an assured business. Besides this, small time retailers in Goa also purchase from us as the consignment charges tend to be on a higher side thereby making it economically unviable for such small retailers to procure their flower consignment from outside the State. We act as wholsalers to such small retailers. We also handle the OTC (Over The Counter) Sales.
Q: How has the business evolved over the years ?
PN: I deal with cut flowers. As Salcete is a minority community dominated taluka, they require flowers in a big way for weddings, funerals, christening and other works. So, our retail clientele depends on them. Also, since many events are theme / colour specific, we have to deliver flowers of a particular colour to match the theme / colour. In addition to this, we are one of the leading florists who take online deliveries to destinations anywhere in Goa. Moreover, starting off from a small kiosk dealing with retail and wholesale deliveries, we have entered the hotel industry and events.
Q: What would you describe as the USP of your business ?
PN: Dealing with fresh and quality flowers and timely service is the USP of our business. Add to that, the unique design patterns and the fact that our shop is open for 365 days in the year.
Q: Mention the employee
profile.
PN: We have got trained manpower who perform all the aforementioned tasks. The flower industry is dominated by manpower from West Bengal.
Q: Have you encountered any obstacles in this trade so far ?
PN: Recently, ‘The Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board’ has levied certain taxes on flowers which are procured from outside the State. We have demanded that these taxes be withdrawn as there is no corresponding service provided to the flower industry in lieu of the taxes so levied.
Q: What is the percentage of the aforementioned clientele?
PN: 50% of our clientele comprises of the hoteliers and retailers while the balance is the OTC sale, including the decorations.
Q: What is the scope for the blooming of flower industry in the State ?
PN: Immense. No proper study is at hand as regards the requirement of the variety of flowers needed in the State. If everybody starts growing Zerbera and Orchids, the market will get over-saturated and everybody will incur losses. Instead, the growers must find out from the flower trade, the requirements of this trade and grow accordingly. There is a variety of flowers and foliage which can grow abundantly in Goa and has a good market in Goa itself.
Q: Describe the success mantra in the florist business.
PN: Business must be the first priority and is a full-time profession. One must be aware that one is in the service industry and hence must take utmost care to provide quaility service.
