Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️

ELI - 408 | Revolutionizing Rural Retail: Sameer Gandotra on Building Frendy Malls in Bharat


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In this episode of Eli, we sit down with Sameer Gandotra, the CEO and founder of Frendy, a digitized convenience store network transforming rural and small-town India. Sameer shares his journey from working in the family tea business and the oil and gas industry to founding Frendy, a venture aimed at modernizing the shopping experience in under-served regions. We dive into the challenges and opportunities of catering to rural consumers, the innovative use of technology in retail, and the unique business model that empowers micro kirana stores. Sameer also discusses his insights on entrepreneurship and the future of retail in India’s smaller towns. Tune in to discover how Frendy is bringing a mall-like experience to places where it’s most needed.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Sameer Gandotra’s Background and Journey to Entrepreneurship
02:39 - The Genesis of Frendy: Identifying the Gap in Rural Retail
05:06 - Differences Between Urban and Rural Buying Patterns
10:23 - Frendy’s Unique Retail Experience: What Sets It Apart
14:29 - Product Range and Assortment at Frendy Marts
16:18 - Role of Micro Kirana Stores in Frendy’s Ecosystem
20:46 - Reducing Costs Through a Localized Delivery Model
22:20 - Choosing Locations for Frendy Marts
26:26 - Surveying Consumer Buying Power in Small Towns
30:19 - Leveraging Technology in Frendy’s Operations
34:28 - Insights on Entrepreneurship from Sameer Gandotra
38:51 - Closing Remarks: The Role of Entrepreneurs in India’s Future

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Entrepreneur's Live Interviews 🎙️By Priya Ranjan Mohanty