Question for Assignment 4: Unstructured Business.

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

Q) Who started this business? Is it a business inherited business?

A) My name is Syed Muhammad Salim and Father Syed Muhammad Khalil

started this business in 1944. And I inherited this business from my
father.

Q) Since how long have you been into this business?

A) As my father started this business in 1944 it’s been 66years that we

are in this business. We also have another shop in Urdu bazaar, which is
handled by my father. We also keep imported books in that shop.

Q) Approximately what will be your customer base? (Approx Number)

A) It can’t be counted or I can not give you an absolute figure. I can just
say who ever is a keen reader of English books knows the name of TIT
BITS.

Q) How did you get the idea of starting this business?

A) My father started this business and I suppose since he has a very close
attachments to books. It inspired him to go for this business.

Q) What is your educational background?

A) I have done my Matriculation and since then I have been in to this

business with my father. I couldn’t get the time to study further.

MACRO ENVIRONMENT:

ECONOMIC:

Q) Seeing the current inflation and economic condition of the city and country, how
does it affect your business?

A) Surprisingly it has not had any affect on my Business. Alhumdulilah

business is good. We have just passed on the inflation to the consumer
and there is no Import Duty on books which has caused No problems what
so ever on our business. Although the younger generation have totally
lost track of reading books. But still People come and buy books.

Q) Is there any specific season in the calendar year where sales increase or
decrease sharply? Why?
A) No there isn’t any seasonal affect on my sales. Its normal throughout
the year. Because readers have no particular season for reading. They
come in to buy the books when ever they need one.

Q) Terrorism is a factor affecting every business? Does it have an impact on your

business?

A) Yes! Due to turmoil in the city due to terrorism acts. It causes a

problem for us and we have to close our shops. This indeed affects our
sales of the day.

POLITICAL:

Q) Karachi is a city consisted of various political parties. Any particular party having
impact on your business? What do you do in return to counter it or sustain the
business?

A) Due to strikes from various political parties I have to close down my shop which
affects the business but what one can do about it. Neither friendship of these
political parties is beneficial nor being there enemy.

Q) Does change of government (from the hands of one political party to another)
affect your business? Why or why not?

A) Our business has nothing to do with the change in government. Several

Governments have come and gone since 1944. But it never had an impact
on our business.

LEGAL:

Q) Do you pay tax? Or is Tax applicable on your business?

A) Only income tax. Which I guess every business like us pays. But we pay
no taxes on sale of a book.

Q) Government has a role to play in fostering small businesses like yours. What do
you think should be done by Government?

A) Im so pissed off from the government that I don’t want to waste my

precious time or energy in giving any kind of advice, cause I know nothing
will be done about my suggestions or as matter of fact any ones
suggestion. So it’s better to keep doing what we best, sell books to good
educated people like yourself :”). Thank You Sir. For your kind words.
TECHNOLOGICAL:

Q) Do you agree that because of internet, sale of books as hard copy version has
declined significantly? Yes or no? Reasons. And how do you coupe with the
problem?

A) Yes the new generation is totally in to internet, they totally depend on

the internet rather then hard copy of the book. Through your medium id
like to say that not all things are authentic on the net. One should always
refer to hard copies of the material to be authentic about the material.

One cannot change the habits of people, so what I try to do is retain my

current customers by giving discounts and sometimes giving free books
because I want people to read and enhance knowledge

MICRO ENVIRONMENT:

CUSTOMER:

Q) Who do you think is your real customer? On the basis of demographics (age,
gender, occupation, income etc).

A) Normally People in there mid late twenties and mid thirties. But not
particularly. All income group and people from all occupation are my
customers. Cause I even give books for free. If I think a person can’t
afford it. Because I think reading is much more important then making
profit. I have a passion for books and I want to instill that passion in to
our society by facilitating book reading as much as possible. Through my
own petty efforts. I’m always friendly with my customers and I believe
that this is the reason, it makes customers purchase repeatedly and
ultimately converting them in to loyal customer.

Q) What are the common complaints/suggestions that you get from customers?

A) Customers are always satisfied we have never faced any such

problems. But if get a customer who wants to change the book or any
thing we facilitate him. And that is also rare.
COMPETITION:

Q) Who do you consider your competition? On what grounds/basis?

A) No competition left as such in saddar. But if we look, every book shop

has a set on uniqueness to its collection of books; as a result every book
shop has it own sets of loyal customers.