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Q: Why did you choose the name Hash10?
We wanted a unique name that strikes the reader’s consciousness instantly and can be recalled effortlessly. Plus, it had to reflect the sector we are in. Hash10 fitted the bill perfectly.
It is an intriguing coinage. The logic behind is that cell phone numbers are always 10-digit numbers. And the hash symbol is used to notate the numbers. So, Hash10 cues cell phone numbers. It’s a coincidence that #10 is associated with power centers like #10 Janpath House, #10 Downing Street etc. Great personalities like Ganguly, Mardona, Pele, Ronaldo, David Beckhem, prefer #10. In fact, 1 represents Jupiter-the sign that grants great fortune.
Q: What is the reason behind making more rural moves?
During the past two decades, the rural economy in India has grown significantly faster than the urban economy. Particularly, during the last decade alone, the rural economy is estimated to have grown on an average by 7.3 percent as compared to 5.4 percent in the urban economy.
More tariff reductions are expected to happen and the industry is poised to take off in the rural market. With leading telecom analysts projecting more than 50 crore subscribers in next two years, the major portion of the growth is expected to happen in the rural segment. And we want to be present there and have a significant share of the market.
Q: Brief about your franchisee models.
Experts and entrepreneurs consider ‘franchisee model’ to be the best for business expansion. It gives better control, even on an extensive network, like us. So, we have aligned our existing business structure to this proven model. Moreover, with margins getting slimmer everyday, we feel that this is the best model, which will help us succeed in the sector.
Q: You have planned to rollout around 1,000 franchisee models. Do you see any hurdle in managing these tasks?
We have a group of expert team who are experienced in understanding the needs and wants of the customers from the day cellular phones were launched in India. In Tamil Nadu, we are rolling out franchisee models directly, whereas in other states, we are going through the master franchisee route.