If we think about the creation of anything, then the idea of such innovation first comes to mind. Later, many people are giving a concrete form to this idea. Ideas can sometimes be about business or any skill or innovation. But before anything can stand, it is very important to have an idea. After coming up with an idea, efforts are made towards it and that idea is made a reality. We see many industries built in this way. Accordingly, what is the brand in the field of shoes and slippers? If we are asked this, the name immediately comes to our eyes or lips. Bata is a brand, which is reputed for high quality and affordable footwear. The story of the creation of this brand is very interesting. In this article we are going to take important information about how the Bata brand was built.
Opening of Bata company :
The Bata Company was started in 1894 by Thomas Bata. It was founded in Czechoslovakia in Central Europe. In a small village of Jlin in this European country, the Bata family made a living by making shoes. Many years passed in a state of conflict. Thomas changed the picture of the family. Tamas decided to enlist the help of his sister Enna and brother Antonin to commercialize his traditional shoemaking business. The siblings got their mother’s consent. For this he took help of 320 dollars from his mother. He rented two rooms in the village itself. After that, he started the business by buying two sewing machines on installments and raw materials on credit. He employed 10 full-time paid tanners in the company. After starting the business he took a huge loan to expand the business. But as they could not repay the loan, the company went bankrupt. After this Thomas returned to England and started working as a laborer in a shoe manufacturing company. While working here, he learned the ins and outs of the chappal business and after returning to home nation, he started once again with vigor.
But this time he did not have to be disappointed. Soon after starting the company, Thomas faced some financial difficulties. As the purchase of leather was not affordable, he decided to use cheap canvas material as a solution to these problems and this idea was successful. People loved these canvas shoes. The solution was successful as a compromise between financial constraints and the number of workers in the company increased from 10 to 500.
Meanwhile, the fame of a machine in America reached Thomas’ ears. This machine would make it possible to produce on a large scale. Thomas brought this machine. The first machine-made product was the Batovka. It was a product for leather and textile shoe makers. But light in weight, stylish and affordable. By 1905, the company had become the leading footwear company in Europe, making 2,200 pairs a day. During World War I, the Bata Company supplied the army’s need for boots. But the economic depression after World War II hit the company’s production hard. Prices fell sharply. This time the company was supported by the workers. The workers decided to work with a 40 percent pay cut. This faith was shown by the workers as Thomas also promised all the workers in return food, clothing at affordable prices. Many companies fled in the wildfires of the Great War. But due to the strong support of the employees, the Bata production continued. The company has always shown a caring policy towards its employees. Batavillage, spread over several hectares in the Czech Republic, provided excellent facilities for the staff. Facilities like houses, hospital, library were given to the employees. World War II was also a tough time for the company, but the company came out bright. After the business boomed, they started opening Bata stores in other countries. By 1925, Bata had opened 122 branches worldwide. Along with shoes, Bata also started manufacturing socks and tires, before long the company was transformed into the Bata Group.
Entry of Bata in India :
In 1920, Thomas Bata was on a tour of British India. At this time he saw many Indians walking barefoot. He realized that there was a good business opportunity in India. In 1931, he started Bata Shoe Company Private Limited in India. Bata emerged as an indigenous brand in independent India. Bata advertisements were published in newspapers and magazines. Bata was a name that Indians could easily pronounce. He didn’t seem like a foreigner. That’s why people believed that it would be an Indian brand only. In 1932, Thomas Bata died tragically in a plane crash. After Thomas’s death, Bata was taken over by his brother Jan Antonin Bata. After receiving a good response in India, he started a large unit at Bhatnagar near Kolkata in 1937. In India, Bata sells about 5 crore shoes every year. Bata India has more than 1500 stores in India. Bata footwear is also supplied to approximately 30,000 other retail shoe stores. So Bata shoes are easily available anywhere in India. More than 1 lakh 20 thousand customers visit the stores every day. In the highly competitive footwear market, Bata offers great options for customers. Even today Bata is a symbol of faith in India.
In 2020, Sandip Kataria took charge as the Chief Executive Officer of Bata Group. For the first time in its 127-year history, an Indian has got the global leadership of Bata.
Secret behind the success of Bata :
Thomas implemented the idea of odd number pricing during his lifetime. Their unique pricing or pricing strategy is a key aspect of Bata’s success. All Bata products are never at full price. 499 Rs., 999 Rs. Such their odd figure is the key to changing the mindset of the customer in a positive and more importantly positive way. Even though the price of Rs.499 is one less than Rs.500, the utterance of four hundred words makes the customer feel that the amount is closer to four hundred than five hundred and makes the purchase. Today Bata has 5200 retail shops in 70 countries. The company produces 600 million pairs of footwear every year. It caters to the needs of all age groups. Ambassador Classic Collection for men, Marie Claire for women, Baby Bubbles and Tuffy for kids, Safari for desert travel, Spikers for sports and many other collections have impressed people. There are many reasons for a brand to gain popularity. Sometimes the net profit sometimes the prestige tag magnifies that product. But Bata meets the three criteria of quality, trust and price and that’s why it is popular. It is special that this popularity has continued for 127 years.