What about Luxury in India!

As far as India, i believe Indian have different approach to what luxury means to them, they see luxury from very different perspective. There is three sets of consumers, with the description you gave, i think u are talking about mass luxury consumers, who are mostly middle class but are moving up the value chain, with new money and freedom, these consumers although have more money at there hands but have strong middle class values of saving and they spend on only those brands whom they have read and seen in glossy magazines and lifestyle TV channels and who are also popular amongst celebrities and most importantly which can be recognized in there community or circle of frnds or business associates, like, Levis, Puma, CK etc...they are the chunk of the population.

Other set of consumers have the similar attitude but they differ in terms of there spending Vs saving ratio. They are upper middle class, well to do, have enough money after saving for themselves. They are middle level and senior management people, television actors and SME business men, stock brokers, agents etc...

Third kind of people are rich guys and ultra rich guys, who spend on things which u are talking about. But hear again one must understand we are Indian and there are three sets of mindset in this category. One is flamboyant mindset or attitude, which shows off and is rebel breaking from the society norms and enjoying the luxury money can buy, they are the people who spend from family wealth and actually never experienced hard work,...this people are also sometime seen from the negative perspective. 

Another set of people are sensible (1st Gen) entrepreneurs and kids of rich families with strong values, they spend on luxury stuff not because they aspire but they are use to that kind of lifestyle. And third kind of people are ultra rich they also have the similar attitude as mentioned above but they differ marginally and also would rather not spend to much on luxury goods because they see no value after a point, very interestingly for them street side food and Gucci go hand in hand, and most put that money for good cause and invest in other stuff.

India has its own luxury lifestyle, different from west, because hear in India we see things less from materia possession. Having said that, i don't discourage luxury or lifestyle companies to not look at India as a market. But i would rather say, when selling to Indian, keep in mind Indian mindset.

What is Luxury?

I have heard people saying luxury is a "State of Mind"., it is in "limited edition"., it is about fulfilling all the wishes that money can buy. Its about personal taste or "the Higher Taste" and so on...all are right and all are wrong. From the materialistic perspective one can not define luxury because one can not understand luxury from this level(lower level of consciousness). To truly understand luxury one has to understand from the higher level of consciousness.

When one say "Luxury" one has to think from higher consciousness. "Luxury is Purity", what is purity then? Purity is, ones ability to have "right intentions and thereby right thoughts". What is right intentions and right thoughts? Pure intentions and Pure thoughts i.e. higher degree of positive intention and positive thoughts. (think about it from a business, and marketing of a True Luxury Brand)

This is in fact in Limited editions!!

This creates Luxury not only from higher consciousness but also creates luxury feeling from the lower level i.e. in a materialistic form. The difference with this understanding of luxury is, one is detached from the lower level and yet enjoys the luxury that money can buy.

Festival connection !!

Click on the link above, interesting info!!

connecting with life!

Job-Part of Life Cycle

While meditating on the issue of retaining and attracting people, I realised, that every organisation in every industry is facing the similar problem in the background of this truth, that the world is fast changing, it is becoming flat, and people are exposed to so much information that knowledge can be acquired by anyone and at anytime (smart people are utilising it for good), work life cycle is decreasing, “Work Life Cycle”. In the given situation like this one, retaining and attracting people is a major challenge indeed. (We are assuming all are talented people with college education, who are evolving fast).

In the scenario where expectations are high on both sides’ i.e. prospective happy employees and prospective happy companies, how to keep balance is the question.

I will take side of the happy workers because I like them.

One way to find a solution is by asking what are the needs, wants and motivations of an employee through the various stages of his work life cycle and how can it be mapped.

Before we go ahead…an important trend we all are seeing and hearing is “People Need Work and Life” i.e. work and life balance and another trend we'll see in next 15 years, is the shift in the way people will look at work, change in the attitude. “Work Is Part Of Life”and not life.

At present we will be mostly focusing on how to balance needs and motivations with “Work & Life” through the various stages of our happy workers work life cycle. (In the scenario were working life is declining)

Find above, a simple chart, these are needs apart from equal pay & opportunities. no political work environment and a hygienic work environment.

Chart: C1- Curve one is a 20 yrs life cycle
C2- Curve two is a 10 yrs life cycle

In stage one our happy workers look for:
Learning (initial 1-4 yrs): To acquire soft skills, people skills, technical/professional skills, mastering ones subject or chosen field, independence to think and act, developing managerial skills.

Basic motivations: Wants to acquire needed skills and then wants to implement / demonstrate them to validate the learning (unlearn and learn from mistakes).

What he wants from happy HR people: Training (not the class room type), nice and encouraging boss, opportunities to demonstrate skills, environment where mistakes are seen positively….

In stage two our happy workers look for:
Growth (3-9yrs): To acquire various challenging work experiences and greater responsibilities. They also seek respect, status, money, independence to think & act, acquiring/updating knowledge & developing leadership skills.

Basic Motivation: Wants to acquire experience in the chosen area/subject/field and validate them by learning new skills (unlearn and learn from mistakes), Better standard of living, indulgence in luxury and savings.

What he wants from happy HR people: Give me five reasons, what would he want?

In stage three our happy workers look for:
Stability (10yrs+): Sharing experiences and mentoring, Authority, Challenges (e.g: leading the company), acquiring/upgrading knowledge and developing/identifying management style.

Basic Motivation: Exploring new avenue to grow personally, sustaining the Job and standard of living.

What he wants from happy HR people: Give me five reasons, what would he want?

HR is not my area of expertise, I came across the issue of people management from HR perspective only because my client/the account i handle needs solutions on attracting and retaining talent. So, please do incorporate your views on how to make more happy workers and happy organisations.

Lush...and some more lush for you!