Indiantelevision.com Team

(15 May 2008 9:00 pm)

BANGALORE: Karnataka state government-run Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd (KS&DL) has started a pilot project with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) through an arrangement. Bus conductors on nine routes to the new Bengaluru (Bangalore) International Airport Ltd (BAIL) will sell KS&DL’s Mysore sandal soaps to commuters when they are not issuing tickets, and also at bus stands. Bus services to the soon to start operations BIAL airport are from BMTC’s ‘Vayu Vajra Volvo’ service.

These routes have been selected as they are likely to cater to international travelers which is the niche segment that KS&DL is targeting for now through this channel. After gauging the response on the ‘Vayu Vajra Volvo’ service, the sales initiative could be rolled out onto BMTC’s 5000 plus fleet of ‘Parisra Vahini’ and ‘Suvarna’ buses.

KS&DL hopes to gain by further building its already well known Mysore Sandal brand. BMTC and the conductors will benefit too. Each conductor will be given an honorarium or commission of 13 per cent on sales. The target is hawking 10 million soaps per year through this channel and one per cent will be forwarded to the BMTC family welfare fund for the benefit of BMTC employees.

Reportedly both KS&DL and BMTC are profit making organizations, which by itself is a remarkable phenomenon for state government run companies.