Franchising is still in its nascent stage in India. Will the industry manage to get over its teething problems and get on with business?

Himalaya Drug Company is involved at every step of the process from setting the benchmarks for qualifications to intervewing the candidates. According to Ravi Prasad, President & CEO, HDC, "After the recruitments, the franchisee and the store employees undergo rigorous training at our head quarters where they are given in depth information on the products, selling skills, etc."

But more often than not, clear do's and dont's that franchisees have to follow give an identity and the customer a feeling of familiarity. HDC franchisees are provided with a complete set of guidelines and processes. Including software for billing, how to deal with the customers, the consumer feedback system, etc. "This not only makes it very easy for the franchisee to run the business, but is also good for the consumer, because she can walk into any Himalaya showroom and we assure that she will get the same quality of service everywhere," observes Prasad.