Simple Experiments can Improve Sales

Effective Product display is a technique used by large stores and branded product outlets. However, small businesses often neglect the importance of this important tool.


In the year 2000, I was working as a part time cashier at Dairy Queen outlet in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Owners were two Italian friends who had other businesses as well. This outlet was managed by a Senior Staff member. His name was Mark. He was a great guy. He trained me in the art of ice cream making (I am still good at it!).

We used to make ice cream cakes and other products from raw ice cream. I am sure not many of you have heard RAW ICE CREAM. This means ice cream coming direct from the freezer. The process is simple, plastic container full of homogenized and pasteurized milk is attached with the freezer via pipes. Freezer sucks milk and rotates it at a certain speed, raw ice cream is ready to use in 30 minutes.

We had cold displays cabinets in which ice cream cakes and other packaged products were displayed. I observed that specific products were staked in a specific cabinets, and customers pick the first available container only, and the rest of the containers remained unsold. It was our duty to replenish these cabinets.

I had an idea, without asking Mark. I changed the display setting, which allowed customers to see every flavor available in the cabinet. Two benefits, customers were selecting from a wider variety, and sales increased the same day this change was made. Mark asked me how I got this idea, I said simple – I placed myself as a customer and quickly learnt what needed to be fixed.

You know what, I got a 1$ raise in my hourly pay – I was making $5 extra everyday!

Simple things can bring major changes; one does not need to know ROCKET SCINECE. Message is “keep experimenting!”

Where to stay in Dhaka – I recommend Neat, Friendly, Modern Lakeshore Hotel , Dhaka

Although Dhaka receives a large number of visitors from all over the world that come here mostly to do garments business, there are only four world class hotels in the city, The Westin, The Radisson, Pan Pacific and Sheraton (Sheraton is now run under local management and name has been changed too). Last two are in the heavily crowded and congested location, whereas Radisson is near the airport and Westin is too expensive!


During my last visit to Dhaka, I stayed at Radisson. It is a grand property, but just too far away from the city, so once you are in the hotel, going out for a walk is challenging.

This time around, I was recommended to stay at Lakeshore Hotel located about 7km from the airport in the heart of Gulshan area. I took a chance, and believe me, I enjoyed every moment of my time here. I booked my pick-up which was provided in a superb car at only $10! Right from check-in the professionalism and hospitality has been of highest level.

This encouraged me to express my feelings in this blogspot.

Located next to Lake Banani, this hotel is owned by Mr Kazi Tariq Shams who started this property as a guest house and turned it into a hotel about 5 years ago. The hotel has 60 excellent rooms fitted with all necessary stuff. Bathrooms are spacious and toiletries are of good standard (disposable razor was of inferior quality though, but I use my own so didn’t bother me at all). And FREE WiFi also --

Breakfast is fantastic and ranges from fresh juices, fruits to hot dishes of wide variety. I however did not find decaffeinated coffee and stuck to local Ispahani Tea. For the last three days I was served by MD Baehchu, who is a trainee waiter, but he showed excellent hospitality and care.

Another young man Soumen was there from room service who served me dinners. Food was of high quality and wide variety to chose from. I quite liked the Vegetable Thali and cream of mushroom soup.

While leaving Pakistan, a friend who was born in East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) told me to eat Shagur Kala (banana). Its excellent. Must eat when you are here next!

Most exciting thing was an excellent pool at the rooftop! I would recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to Dhaka and wants to stay close to shopping area of Gulshan.

Entrepreneurship is about turning crazy ideas into Profits

1/3rd Idea, 1/3rd Hard work and 1/3rd Luck – I heard this from a seasoned entrepreneur and mentor only last week! In my opinion, entrepreneurship is an addiction without cure. Once into entrepreneurship career, failures become learning, time becomes money, ideas become cash cows and success becomes the ultimate objective.

• Turning ideas into opportunities


• Securing cheap finance


• Implementation and


• Continuity


Scott Gerber who is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Sizzle It!, a New York based sizzle reel production company specializing in promotional videos for PR and marketing professionals, and the Young Entrepreneur Council says:


“I am proud to have learned such a great deal from my failures, and the fact that I get to share them—and, more important, the hard-knocks lessons learned—with a worldwide audience is a real thrill. After all, what’s the point of ending up in frivolous litigation, nearly losing your shirt, pitching VCs for tens of millions of dollars with no revenue model, or being forced to move back in with your parents if you can’t have a few laughs as a result, right?”


Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group is unique. He says "I don't go into ventures to make a fortune. I do it because I'm not satisfied with the way others are doing business." This shows that some entrepreneurs are just different; they want to do things in a different and in more creative manner.


Richard started his entrepreneurial career in 1967 when he quit school at the age of 16 to start a magazine. He hoped his magazine, titled “Student”, would become a voice for young activists. When in 1968 the first issue came out, the headmaster of his school wrote him a note that said: "Congratulations, Branson. I predict you will either go to prison or become a millionaire." Richard’s passion made him a billionaire with a net worth (in 2010) nearly $8 billion!


I believe that one needs to be crazy and consistent to achieve the rewards of Entrepreneurship!

I wrote this blog as guest writer for Ashraf Chaudhry's blog.