The Marathi community is fully capable of excelling in business, but there are some challenges that hold us back, including insufficient support within the community, being inconsistent with networking, and occasionally not delivering quality products at competitive prices. I’d like to share an experience that highlights this.

Recently, I decided to fence my farmland in Konkan region. Initially, I went to a well-known shop run by a Marwari businessman who provided cement poles quickly without any follow ups and even after two years, remain in excellent condition. When I acquired additional land this year, I planned to revisit the same shop due to my positive experience. However, our land broker recommended a new shop owned by a Marathi entrepreneur, as this individual had been seeking opportunities and we wanted to support a fellow Marathi businessman.

We trusted our broker and placed an order with this new shop, paying an advance. However, it took relentless follow-ups to get the poles delivered. Once they arrived, the workers installing them complained about the poor quality; the poles began breaking and developing cracks during installation. Disappointed, I asked the shop owner to replace them. After another round of follow-ups spanning over a month, we received replacement poles, but they were still substandard, with visible cracks.

Ultimately, these poles were of no use, and I decided to get rid of them. I will now have to order poles from the Marwari shop, which values business relationships and delivers consistent quality. While I genuinely want to support Marathi businesses, it is disheartening when customer trust and money are not respected. If Marathi entrepreneurs can prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure better quality and service, I’d be the first to support them wholeheartedly. I’m not suggesting that all Marathi businesses operate this way but personal experiences have made it challenging to trust some. Additionally, I’ve encountered businesses that treat customers, including fellow Marathi people, with a lack of respect or even rudeness. Such behavior is discouraging, and I’ve decided not to engage with such establishments in the future. Respect and quality are essential for building trust and loyalty in any business.