Indian Packaging Industry, An Overview

The success of the business sector is often hard-pressed upon the marketing sector but in actual there are many other sub-sectors or segments which combine well to enhance the commercial aspects of any business. One such important segment is the packaging aspect. Any product irrespective of its capacity has a shelf life and this shelf life depends heavily on the packaging capacities. Packaging is the process of enclosing products for the purpose of protection during storage, distribution, sale and use.

Be it the food products’ segment or the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) industry, the packaging companies and sector supports a good range of product based companies. Unlike United States and Europe, a good percentage of the Indian packaging industry is still considered a part of the small to medium scale industry with vendors and agencies offering this aspect for many production companies.

Many bigger entities, more so those having a global presence have their own packaging divisions directly coordinating with the logistic departments. All in all, the packaging sector in India gets clubbed as follows:

• In-house packaging divisions of product based companies
• Outsourcing of packaging requirements to vendors

There is however a third type of packaging service provider aspect popular with the multinational companies where the main company itself detaches a part to form a service based entity. It is like a product based company parting with its service based part for better efficiency.

Packaging, labeling, logistics, marketing, warehousing, transportation etc. are some services which often get clubbed via such set-ups within bigger companies. The main industry indirectly governs the smaller entities, and on the other hand it is often seen that the efficiency, effectiveness and results of such smaller in-house set-ups have been heartening.

The Indian packaging industry like fraternities the world over, works via 3 core aspects as follows:

• Packaging machines
• Packaging processes
• Customizations and other arrangements

Packaging processes correspond to packaging machines and these in turn correspond to the requirements. There are many customized packaging machines and arrangements catering to specific needs of the product industry. Lastly, the Indian packaging industry depends on many other processes like labeling, transportation etc. to a good extent.

The Indian Import Export Business-An Overview

The import export business in India is the subsequent result of globalization and the growth of trade relations between countries. Through these trade relations the Indian exporters have gained opportunities to expand their businesses overseas.

The Indian products have a huge demand in the foreign markets. The export business in India has been flourishing and according to reports it contributes a huge share to the development of the country. The Indian exporters have succeeded in with standing the stiff competition prevalent in the foreign markets through skilled manpower and quality products.

Some of the Top Import Export Sectors in India

Agriculture: The agricultural industry in India contributes a major share to the import export business as, unlike other countries in the world, agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. Some of the most valued products in the international market include spices, wheat, rice, sugar, tobacco and tea.

Jewellery: The outstanding collection of jewellery in India is another important export industry. The Indian exporters have carved a niche for themselves in the field of jewellery both within the country and abroad. With intricate designs and exquisite masterpieces which speak volumes of the never fading Indian tradition, the jewellery from India are in great demand in the foreign markets.

Textiles and Apparels: Another sector which contributes a massive share to the country’s GDP is the textile industry. According to recent reports around 30 percent of the total exports include the textile exports. The demand of Indian textiles, with its exemplary texture and colors, has increased its value in the international markets.

Leather Products: The Indian exporters find it easy to market leather products of the country because of its high availability and excellent quality. It is one of those industries which contributes to the growth and development of the nation. Most of the foreign branded companies have invested in the Indian leather industries. It is known to be one of the top export industries in India. The Indian leather shoes, wallets, belts, carry bags are popular in the global markets.

Chemical products: The chemical industry in India is another well known sector where the Indian exporters contribute around 7 percent to the country’s GDP. India has made outstanding achievements in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Almost majority of the chemical products which include dyes, paints, medicines, soaps and other products are exported to foreign countries on a huge scale.

Furnishing products: India with its ethnic designs and traditional styles manufacture home furnishing products like curtains, bed linens, cushions and so forth. These products depict the cultural essence of the country. Since the textile industry in India is one of the best in the world, the Indian exporters make huge profits with the export of these accessories.

The export business in India has further accelerated with the use of business to business directories. With companies from all over the world listed in these online directories, foreign trade is automatically accelerated. The b2b directories in India list almost all the top notch Indian exporters which has facilitated in better business opportunities in the global market.

B2B Marketplace and Business Promotion Strategies

Online directory listing has always been a practical solution for business promotion. B2B business directories are the directories specialized to promote and facilitate business-to-business transactions at the global level. Posting trade leads at these directories help business buyers and sellers to find one another.

B2B business promotion being an inexpensive option attracts innumerable sellers and exporters. However, those who are able to employ some good B2B promotion strategies are able to achieve success at this global marketplace. Here are some strategies that should help you make best out of B2B directory listings.

Choose Right B2B Directories
Begin with search for the most suitable B2B directories available online. A good business directory should:

• Have the reach in the country where you wish to entertain the potential buyers.
• Support the language that your potential buyers speak and understand.
• Have a good standing in the search engine rankings for import export trade leads that are specific to your industry.
• Have a standard pricing structure.

Prepare a Professional Listing
You must prepare a detailed and informative listing for your business while posting trade leads at a B2B directory. Provide information like your company’s history, its aim, its experience and most importantly, the important contact details. Buyers at these directories are interested to know about different sellers in detail before choosing the best one.

Make Use of Product Catalog
The most important promotion tool that B2B directories offer is the product catalog. These catalogs allow the sellers to post description about their products and services. You must provide detailed information about your topmost products in the product catalog and the trade leads. This information may include products’ size, color, unique selling points and different models they are available in.

Product price is another important part of a product catalog. The buyers who view the catalog would compare the prices you offer with those offered by other sellers. Make sure that you carefully decide your prices, considering the prices offered by your competitors. Also, you must regularly update your product catalogs to attract the attention of buyers.

Entertain Your Buyers
If a buyer likes your trade leads, he or she may visit your website to know more about you. Make sure that your website is designed in a way that it entertains the expectations of your buyers. Another important thing is to maintain good communication system to interact with the buyers. All these things further extend positive aspects of the image that you created using the b2B directory.

Promote Your Listings
Posting import export trade leads at B2B directories is not enough, but they need to be promoted and made visible on the web. For this, you must use different ways to promote your listings at online forums, social networking websites and all other possible platforms. Keep a track of how your B2B listings appear among the search engine results.

B2B directories are the excellent mediums to post trade leads for your business and to find buyers in the local and foreign markets. Follow all these strategies to let B2B platforms bring the profitable business opportunities.

An Overview of Product Manufacturing Industries in India

The Indian economy is based upon three important sectors that offer pillaring support to the economy’s fast growth rate. These three sectors include agriculture, manufacturing industries and service sector. Earlier, the agriculture sector was a dominating sector. At present, it is the service sector which has maximum contribution towards the country’s GDP.

However, the future of manufacturing industrial sector is big and bright. The manufacturing industries in different segments are constantly on a rise and the industrial products from India are increasing in demand all over the world. Among the developing and emerging economies, the industrial supplies sector of India ranks at fourth position and it is expected to keep on moving ahead of other economies.

Way back in 1990, India and China started from the same point. The GDP values for both the countries were more or less same. However, China took the initiatives in the manufacturing sector and started progressing in the production of different industrial products at a fast pace. Today, there is a huge gap between the GDP values of the two countries, with China leading and still going strong. It is not wrong to say that China will soon secure its position at number two among the most powerful economies of the world.

The economical reforms that began in India in 1990s have started bearing fruits. Industrial de-licensing and removal of ban from foreign investments allowed the foreign manufacturing companies to make investments in India. Besides, India has made a huge progress in the field of science and technology. Above all, India already has a big pool of technical talent in the form of its workforce which is specialized in different fields of manufacturing.

Another factor that is favorable to the growth of the industrial products manufacturing industry is the availability of the workforce and labor at a much cheaper rate in Indian as compared to various North American and European countries. Being a member of the world Trade Organization, the Indian economy is fast adapting the international standards of manufacturing and exporting industrial products and industrial supplies. Subsidization practices followed by the Indian government too support the growth of the manufacturing industries, especially those at the small and medium scales.

Here are some of the main highlights of the manufacturing industries in the country that are worth taking a look at:

• The Indian chemical manufacturing industry is among the top industrial products manufacturing industries as it contributes nearly 30 billion dollars towards the total GDP value every year.
• The growth in the pharmaceutical product manufacturing in the country is driven by lower costs involved in the research and development as well as low cost of manufacturing of medicines.
• Auto manufacturing industry is also on the rise as both domestic as well as international manufacturers are investing big in the industry.
• Glass manufacturing, rubber manufacturing, electrical component manufacturing industry and many other segments of manufacturing industry are too developing fast in the country.

There is need to develop infrastructure and manage the energy resources effectively, so that the growth of the manufacturing industries in the country keep on moving further towards growth and progress.

The Essentials of Starting a Small Business

People often tend to set up small businesses after retirement for a regular source of income in the dusk of their lives. In fact, most of the entrepreneurs start small with their enterprises and then bloom it up slowly and steady into a bigger firm. Though, there are certain cardinal pointers which one should follow to start up a successful business. Mentioned here are few suggestions which can help in setting up a small business while simultaneously minimizing the risks associated with it.

Starting Small Is Wise
It is always wise to start up a business with small capital. No matter how much money you have at your disposal, but start by investing a small amount as gambling with huge amounts can be too risky.

Have a Job to Lean Back
As a first timer in business, the safest bet is to have a secure job in hand so that if the business does not work out, you have a regular supply of money as a financial back up thorough your job. Also if you plan to start a business after your retirement, it rather wise to start it few years before the retirement for, the business would be would be up and running by the time you actually retire.

Prior Industry Research
Try to grasp as much as you can about the industry you are getting into as it would obviously help in broadening your mental horizons and understanding the business better. Get to know the ins and outs of the industry and brace yourself to dive into the business world.

Proper Filing of Documents is Necessary
It is rather essential to put the documents separately for personal expenses and business expenses so as to track them conveniently when required. Same should be followed for income files as well.

Have an Eager-Beaver Attitude
At the start of every business one needs to put in extra efforts to inculcate the nitty-grtties of that particular field into the day to day operations. It is the craving for learning which actually takes people to places. Hence an eager-beaver attitude is necessary while setting up starting up a new business.


B2B Business Resources:

Trade Leads | Business Directory | Product Catalogs

Exploring Top 10 Business Sectors in India

The Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and this is evident from the increase in b2b business space India shares with the world. Apart from the big business houses, the real contributors towards the economic growth are the small and middle sized enterprises belonging to different industries.

To learn about different business sectors of India, there is no better place than a b2b business directory, where these businesses open their doors for the world. Considering the popularity and growth rate of businesses, here is a list of the top 10 business sectors of India.

Foods and Beverages
The foods and beverage industry of India has gained popularity in the past 3-4 years, mainly due to the changing lifestyle and eating habits of the people. Most of the segments have recorded an increase in revenue from 2005 to 2009, the alcohol segment being on the top. A growth rate of 7.5 percent is expected between 2009 and 2013 to make it a 330 billion dollar industry by 2013.

IT Industry
The information technology business sector of India is expected to increase by 14.1 percent from 2009 to 2010. The expert analysis predicts the industry to become 67 billion dollar industry in 2010 and to increase by 11 percent by the year 2013. IT services, software as well as hardware segments are making great contributions towards the growth rate of IT industry as a b2b business.

Health Industry
Due to a huge different in the healthcare costs in India and the western countries, the health industry of the country is experiencing a growth in terms of business. The analysis shows that the current 35 billion dollar industry is going to touch the figure of 75 billion dollars in 2012 and 150 billion dollar by the year 2017.

Telecom Industry
The growth of telecommunication business sector in India can be easily termed as a revolution. The country enjoys the second rank as the telecom network provider. The rise of 3G services and mobile telephony has also contributed significantly towards the growth rate in the sector. The mobile subscribers in the country are expected to grow by 11 percent from 2010 to 2014.

Textile Industry
Textile industry in India is a globally reputed b2b business sector. The total textile exports from India contribute towards 27 percent of the total foreign exchange. Cotton, silk, jute, woolen, hand-crafted and ready made textiles are the main segments one can find in a global Indian b2b business directory.

Auto Industry
The Indian auto component industry has been growing with a consistent growth rate of about 20 percent since 2000 and the rate is expected to remain consistent till 2015. Engine parts, drive transmission ad steering parts, suspension and braking parts and electrical parts are main contributors towards the growth of this global b2b business sector.

Construction Industry
Accounting towards 11 percent of India’s total GDP, the construction industry is an exporter of various raw materials to the world. For example, China is the biggest consumer of steel exported by India. Besides, the cement industry is a significant contributor in this category.

Handicrafts
Indian handicrafts enjoy a great demand in the foreign markets like those of USA, UK and Australia. Wooden handicrafts, jewelry, hand printed textiles and crocheted goods are some of the main segments that bring foreign exchange of the worth of 3 billion dollar to the country.

Energy
Both renewable and non-renewable energy sources have contributed towards the growth rate of energy sector of India. Natural gas, LPG and solar energy are the segments that have been consistently growing.

Banking and Insurance
Investment banking, credit cards, mortgage and insurance products are the segments that contribute towards the growth of banking and insurance sector of India. For example, the number of debit cards increased by 40 percent from 2006 and 2009.

To find the companies showing growth in the above-mentioned business sectors, you can refer to a b2b business directory. Apart from them, there are many other industrial sectors growing in the domestic as well as global markets.

B2B Vs B2C: A Comparative Study

B2B: The channel, through which two business organizations connect with each other and work together to get the best out of their respective core competencies, is termed as B2B Marketing. The two organizations can be a wholesaler and a retailer, or a manufacturer and a wholesaler or a retailer.

B2B Industries: The B2B industry constitutes not only the business organizations, but, also the channels through which they sell their products and services. The B2B Industry is not restricted to a particular sector, but, spreads across agriculture to science, apparel to FMCG to hardcore services, home appliances to industrial supplies and lots more.

Functioning in a B2B channel brings along certain impediments, quite different from that of functioning in a B2C or any other channels. Hence, these individual organizations work in tandem with certain authoritative bodies, which, with their expertise provide solutions to unique marketing challenges and barriers along the process. The bottom line remains “customer satisfaction”, whether; the customer is in form of another business body or an individual consumer.

B2C: Business to consumer marketing is defined as “marketing of the products to a consumer market”. Here consumers are buyers of those products that are not business related. B2C products include goods and services such as food, clothes, cars, houses, phone services, credit repair services, etc.

B2C Industries: B2C features on a large target market, interested in a single step buying process and shorter sales cycle. Top of the mind recall help in creating brand identity. B2C marketing tools include merchandising and point of buying activities like coupons, displays and store fronts. This type of marketing focuses on the benefits of the product. The purchases are made more on emotional factors than professional motives. The target audience here is more interested to know how a particular product or service will benefits them personally.

Business Opportunities: From what we have understood:

• In case of B2B marketing, one normally connects to one partner or several trusted partners because this marketing encourages relatively static list of trading partners
• Although the two categories employ similar marketing programs such as direct marketing, internet marketing, advertising and public relations, they differ in their communication message co-incidentally creating difference in the related marketing activities
• In B2B the logic behind the product plays the main role, while in B2C, the product needs to capture the emotional aspect of the customer
• B2B marketing takes place between two business players, maximizing the value of the relationship. Normally, B2B features a multi-step buying process and longer sales cycle.
• B2C is product driven and focuses on maximizing the value of the transaction. B2C marketing is highly brand driven, encouraging the shopper to purchase, remain loyal and potentially pay a higher price.

Conclusion:
On a concluding note, we can say that the difference between a B2B and B2C business opportunities depends solely on the buyers’ emotional perspective about the purchase. When consumers make buying decisions based on status, security, comfort and quality, they are definitely B2C business customers. Whereas, when the buying decisions are based on increasing profitability, reducing costs and enhancing productivity, we can be well assured that they are the B2B customers.