December 31st, 1657


    The Western New Year is here, but since it holds no significant importance to the people of the Bharatiya Empire, there wasn’t much celebration. On the other hand, the Europeans staying in the Bharatiya Empire for various reasons celebrated the New Year wholeheartedly in a foreignnd.


    Especially in Thiruvananthapuram, which hosts more than 99% of all the Europeans in the Empire, the whole city hase alive due to the Current New Year and prior Christmas festivities.


    "Come one,e all! A 5% discount on all bulk furniture purchases from Lakshmi Furniture Company!"


    "Everyone, please take a look! We have a limited-time Christmas discount of 10% on all Professional Tools purchased from Shakti Tools Company!"


    "Gentlemen! It is the New Year! Please take a look at our extensive fireworks collection and take home a full set of our specially curated New Year Fireworks Box, costing only 10 varaha per unit!"


    "Christmas discount: 10% at Bakshi Textiles!"


    "Beautifuldies,e take a look, at up to 8% discount on all designer clothes at Latha Bhai’s Apparel Company!"


    "Arge 20% discount on all bulk purchases of mango and lemon mixed pickles over 1,000 units at Jayamma Pickles Company!"


    "30% off on penicillin for the New Year!"


    "25% off on morphine for the New Year!"


    "15% off on all medical concoctions sold at Bhupathi Pharmaceutical Company for the New Year!"


    Thiruvananthapuram had be the liveliest city in the Empire, with shopkeepers loudly advertising their products and Europeans filling every street stall, all engaged in heated negotiations with the shopkeepers.


    The streets and alleys of Thiruvananthapuram had already been decorated with flowers and various antiques in the style of different European countries, giving the Europeans in the Vijayanagar Empire a sense of nostalgia for home.


    There was even arge Himyan pine tree at the city centre of Thiruvananthapuram, as it was used for the Christmas festivities that had taken ce a week ago. When the Christmas festivities were held, there wasn’t much excitement from the merchants of the Bharatiya Empire but the Europeans celebrated happily.


    Truth be told, the lively situation was not like this on the eve of Christmas a few weeks ago, as there were only decorations and celebrations by the Europeans. The market was not lively since the model of discounts for special asions had not been introduced yet, which caused not many Europeans to be excited about shopping.


    However, it all came about quickly after a Bharatiya merchant brought this model to life out of desperation.


    One week ago...


    Balwan Harihara was in his office holding a meeting with a troubled expression on his face.


    "Director, we still have 200,000 units of appliances lying in our inventory unsold." The warehouse manager’s face was filled with concern. "It looks like we have miscalcted our demand," he was tapping the table with nervousness.


    The finance manager also looked troubled, his face downcast. "Also, until we are able to clear our inventory, we will not have any funds to manufacture new products. Director, we are in a critical situation."


    "The best solution I could think of is either getting a loan from the Raya Bank or bringing in a new investor."


    All eyes were immediately directed toward Balwan Harihara.


    Harihara knew that bringing in an investor would solve his problem, but he was very unwilling since he did not want someone else to meddle in hispany. Just when he was left with no other options and was about to consider an outside investor out of desperation, he suddenly remembered something: "During thest yugadi, the sales of Kitchen appliances increased by 150%.


    I heard that it is the Christians festival of Christmas tomorrow and New Year in a week. Is there a possibility of selling more appliances to foreigners during these few days?" The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the idea was feasible. Without further ado, he decided to take action.


    "Today, our shop in Thiruvananthapuram will work overnight to decorate the interior ording to the decorations made by the city administration for Christmas."


    "Starting tomorrow, announce that we are providing a discount of 15% on all kitchen appliances due to Christmas."


    The managers were shocked, They did not expect their boss to make such a decision


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    The finance manager was panicked. "Sir, including all the expenses of the product, we only have a profit margin of 20%. Now, with the discount of 15%, our profit margin will shrink down to 5%. With the money we have to pay for additionalbour and other expenses, we will be left with nothing. Are you sure about this decision?"


    Harihara was determined. "It doesn’t matter even if we don’t make any profit; I am happy with breaking even. All I want is for the inventory to be emptied and converted into capital again so that we can get some blood to run thepany and produce more products."


    "With this, we can not only avoid taking a loan from the bank but also avoid asking for investment. Now! I have decided, to get to work."


    Immediately, within a few minutes, a message was sent from Godhavari River Bank Industrial Zone, which is the headquarters of Harihara Kitchen Appliances to the shop of Harihara Kitchen Appliances Co. in Thiruvananthapuram, through the Arkha Drishti Communication Station.


    Although the finance manager was a little pained since the expense was huge, he also understood that, ording to his boss’s n, time was of the essence, so he did not hesitate too much.


    One nightter, Unexpectedly, Harihara’s move turned out to be a big hit. When the Europeans saw the bold red font of discounts on the board of Harihara Kitchen Appliances shop along with the celebration of Christmas, they immediately swarmed to the stall and emptied his inventory of 200,000 units within a day. Not only that, the shop was getting more and more orders.


    By the end of 48 hours from when the discount was provided, not only had he emptied his inventory, but he also received orders for 296,000 more appliances.


    Sadly, Harihara was in apetitive market, so any move made by a big yer would be known to itspetitors.


    Immediately the next day, December 27th, several more shops in a simr industry started to put out discounts for Christmas, which immediately increased the excitement of the Europeans for purchasing industrial goods of the Bharatiya Empire. There was excitement in the kitchen appliances industry, The money began to flow in quickly.


    Seeing the anomaly in the kitchen tools industry, the rest of the industries began to emte the discount model one by one, as they were surprised to find that the model indeed worked and their sales increased significantly.


    Sadly, though, Balwan Harihara, who had started the whole process, began to feel that the orders he was receiving were starting to decline.


    "Director, the orders we received yesterday only increased by 5%."


    "Sir, Jayaram Kitchen Appliances, Raidu Kitchen Appliances, Naidu Kitchen Appliances, Shetty Kitchen Appliances, and Gowda Kitchen Appliances have all provided simr discounts to ours. The customers are being divided among us six yers."


    Balwan Harihara had red eyes as he read the sales data and heard the reports; hispany was actually at the lower endpared to his fivepetitors. So even though he had the first mover advantage, sadly, his innovation could not be protected under any IPws. Hence, he had no power to do anything about the whole industry copying his model.


    Thinking about his future ns, he suddenly became ruthless.


    "Announce that from tomorrow we are providing 25% discounts."


    The finance manager was stunned, as he did not understand why the director wanted to sell the products at a loss of nearly 8% or more. But looking at the aggressive glint in the director’s eyes, the manager immediately became silent. "I will get it done, director. I hope your n works." He left the room in a hurry, leaving only hisst words reverberating through the room.


    Balwan Harihara had a firm expression in his eyes as he immediately left his office to meet with a regional bank manager of Raya Bank.


    "So Mr. Balwan the percentage of yourpany you would like to mortgage," said the bank’s general manager, his face showing a kind expression.


    "100 % of mypany." The determination on Balwan’s face was unquestionable; even the bank’s general manager was taken aback.


    The managers were surprised when the director called for an emergency meeting.


    "We will be acquiring therge-scale military manufacturing factory next door."


    They looked at each other, unable to understand where the director had gotten the money from. Just in the morning, the director had said that the discount would be 25%, which was bound to cause a huge loss for the Company. Now, where did the moneye from? Their doubts were cleared when Balwan exined that he had fully mortgaged thepany.


    The expressions on the faces of every one wereplicated.


    With the money arranged, Harihara immediately contacted the Department of Industry for the sale of therge-scale industrial factory that used to produce cooking items for the military and decisively bought it.


    He did not have enough money even after mortgaging his medium-sized factory, but he also added the previously umted 60% of the money that he got from his inheritance to the mortgaged funds of thepany.


    To Be Continued...