Pune: The Maharashtra Khadi and Village Industries Board will soon launch its first retail outlet, as a pilot project, in Pune to sell products manufactured by the beneficiary businessmen and entrepreneurs of the Board’s various schemes.
In order to facilitate a larger market, bring credibility and raise brand connect for these products, the Board has also registered certain brand names for the products to be sold at the outlet.
According to the District Village Industries Officer, Ashok Laad, the outlet is set to be inaugurated soon at the Handmade Paper Institute near Agriculture College. “We have shortlisted about 20 to 25 beneficiary businessmen and entrepreneurs that are financed by us and they will supply a range of products to the outlet. We are only developing the infrastructure for the outlet, which will be run by a third party. The said third party and manufacturers will communicate directly thereafter for supplies,” he explained.
Laad said that the Board has already registered the brand Mahakhadi and all the Khadi material produced by the businesses will be sold under this brand name.
“Since the name Mahakhadi has already been registered, we have sent the logo and other packaging data to the Khadi manufacturers to start production. We are also in the process of registering another brand name - Mahagram - for the other products that will be available at the retail outlet. The products include cosmetics, ayurvedic medicines, dry fruits, spices, pickles, earthen pots, wooden toys and others. Our honey brand, Madhuban, will also be available at this outlet,” he stated.
He further stated that the main motive behind registering the brands and opening an outlet is to create a larger market for the village industries.
“These businesses and entrepreneurs are not very well-known and do not have a large-scale market. The credibility of their products is also lacking. The products they manufacture are of good quality but they do not know much about packaging and marketing. Through this outlet, we can help them get a better market for their products and also credibility because of the registered brand names,” Laad added.
