The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Story of a `gypsy salesman'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 03, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Story of a `gypsy salesman'

<36,2,,,,,,2>`The Gypsy salesman' is back in town, this time adding more wares to his mobile sales room. Anil Bajaj, who has been running around in his vehicle to various parts of south India during the past 19 years has hit upon this novel idea of selling knick-knacks and utility products needed in the hospitality sector and never had to look back, thanks to the patronage he received from the city-dwellers.

In a conversation during his sale-cum-show at Hotel Abad Plaza, he claims that the exhibition this year is three times bigger with more articles, all transported from Bangalore in a roomy Tempo Traveler. The main attractions this time are a range of packaging and disposable products and candles of various colours and shapes, he claims.

Things sought by hotels and the hospitality sector are in display -- varying from tableware in copper and brass, packaging material, crockery, glassware, stainless steel products, and even hotel linen -- which are eagerly lapped up by the customers.

Tourism Minister K. C. Venugopal dropped in to have a look at the products on Sunday.

Such a novel form of marketing provides an opportunity for him to meet his customers personally and the latter can also examine the quality before making the deal.

He operates from a hotel room and the atmosphere is very personal.

He has been coming to Kerala since 2000, and usually camps in all the major towns covering the length and breadth of the State and he claims that he has a regular clientele.

He uses the opportunity to promote an Anti-Drugs campaign too, as part of his role as a committed citizen interested in public good.

K. Venkiteswaran

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