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| Khan
and Sharma
believe that network marketing for IT products will soon
catch up in India |
The
$100 million Network marketing industry is yet to pick up
steam in India despite concerted forays by world leaders like
Amway. Therefore, Cymbionic Marketing achieving a Rs 45 crore
turnover this year a significant portion of which came from
sales of IT-related products and services is certainly remarkable.
Started in 1998 by Arfeen Khan and Harish Sharma, Cymbionic
earned Rs 15 crore in 1999-2000, and is expected to reach
Rs 100 crore in 2001-02. It has sold till date 1,800 PCs from
Zenith Computers and 6,000 units of E.X, the FA package from
the TCS stable in the last 12 months. And these numbers are
expected to double within the next six months. Claims Khan,
“We are definitely the first, if not the only company
in India to offer premium branded IT products through network
marketing.”
Cymbionic is responsible for marketing as well as selling
products to customers. It enables vendors like Zenith to offload
1800 units at a time and with a substantial amount of savings
as no marketing is involved. Even more startling has been
the selling of 6000 licensed units of E.X., at a time when
TCS has been struggling to stave off the sale of pirated versions.
The basic principles of network marketing allows even customers
sufficient financial incentives. Explains Khan, “If someone
buys a PC and then brings in more members, he/she can recover
purchase costs through lucrative commissions besides having
a new source of recurring additional income.”
Currently, Cymbionic operates in 11 cities. Both Khan and
Sharma are confident of the value proposition they offer to
both vendors and customers. Adds Sharma, “Selling IT
products/services through network marketing will soon catch
up in India too.”
Cymbionic also plans to offer online computer training from
Boston and St Agnelo’s. Negotiations are in progress
with HCL for ISP, Microsoft and an MNC brand for PCs.
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