App-solutely fresh fish

HERALD: You have pioneered by selling fresh, cut and clean fish via the mobile app. What made you shift from conventional mode of selling fish?

SIDDHI SHANTANU BHONSLE: We and our family are in this business of fish selling for last 30 years. Actually market forces and technology up-gradation made us think. My husband and I were in Pune and we observed that people were buying vegetables on mobile app. If it could be vegetables then why can’t it be fish? Customers are very aware nowadays and the young generation are tech freaks.It is not only fresh and clean with experiencing no mess of fish market, no parking woes and it is delivered home within two hours of the order placed by your mobile. Yes, we can proudly say that we are the first in India to sell fish through mobile app and we launched this Fresh Fish Basket on December 9, 2014.

HERALD: Why didn’t you launch your website?

SSB: Many people do not carry their laptops always, but certainly most of them do carry smart phones and do online purchasing through mobile. We did a lot of study and finally decided to do our business through mobile app only.

 It is almost real time and at your finger tips. Why not take advantage of the faster and simpler technology if we have it? We are at present operational on android phones but we are soon planning to bring this app available on IOS also.

HERALD: What is your mode of operation on a daily basis?

SSB: We update our mobile app on a daily basis. This includes availability of fish and shell fish, their current price etc. The app is activated daily at 6 am and it remains active till 7 pm in the evening. Anyone who resides in the area of Provorim, Panjim, St Inez, Carenzalem, Miramar, Taleigao, Alto Betim and Saligaon can order via this app and the order will be delivered within two hours. 

HERALD:  What are your delivery commitments and how much do you charge for the services rendered? Is it at par with Panjim fish market price?

SSB: Yes, this the key to our business. We are against frozen fish and as we are from Betim we are aware of the daily catch and its prices. What matters most to us is the customers’ satisfaction. As soon as we receive an order, we call back our customers to confirm and understand what kind of cut they want for their fish and we ensure that it is done to our customers’ satisfaction. We do free delivery at home within two hours if the order is of Rs 500 or above, or else we charge Rs 50 for the delivery. The price of our fish is at par with that of Panjim fish market, but we add value to it by saving your time, fuel and delivering to our customers at their door step, neatly cut and clean. 

HEARLD: Are you capable enough to cater to large size orders within this stipulated time?

SSB:  As I mentioned to you earlier that we are in this business for last 30 years and we have the capacity to cater to all the demands made through the app within the time frame and at the same time maintaining the quality.