A century of success
Niikhil Ballal
They literally stole the headlines and that too of New York Times a few years ago by selling 171 Mercedes Benz cars in a day! It was indeed news for the world which looked at India as an impoverished and ‘backward’ country. The man behind this incredible feat was none other than Babulal Uttamchand Bhandari aka BU Bhandari group, who are also the owner of largest Mercedes showroom in India.
The humble beginning
Starting with a small grocery shop in 1920, BU Bhandari is a global name in automobile industry today. They have cruised into construction too. Today they boastof all German, Japanese and Indian top automobile brands dealerships in Pune. No wonder their Volkswagen showroom has undoubtedly remained at first position for last five years.
Due to severe drought Uttamchand Tulsiram aka UT Bhandari was compelled to migrate to Pune from Rajasthan in 1920. They started living with a family and helped them in their business. The family was so impressed with their approach that they encouraged him to expand their business. BU Bhandari, the son of UT Bhandari joined him in the business and expanded the activityto sale of kerosene and furnace oil.The year 1936 was yet another year of change when B U Bhandari began trading and distribution of kerosene, industrial oils, lube oils etc. Usually, son names business after his father. In case of Bhandari’s it was a different scenario. Father UT Bhandari named business after his enterprising son BU Bhandari. Perhaps, Mr. Bhandari had foreseen the potential of his exemplary son then.
BU Bhandari – the dynamo
BU Bhandari was a dynamic personality. Taking risks was his passion. He doubled his dad’s business by exploring new avenues. When travelling within Pune itself was a tall order, BU Bhandari would travel to different docks in Chennai, Mazgaon etc to participate in auction of dock goods. He would refurbish them and then sell it in market. “We wonder how he got this novel idea, how he used to travel, and how he may have adapted to different cultures and conversed in those local dialects”, wonders Mr. Chandravadan Bhandari, the grandson of BU Bhandari.
BU Bhandari was a voracious reader. He was the most fluent English speaker in Pune then. Perhaps, this attribute of Mr. Bhandari lured many foreign business groups. They trusted him. Due to this, Caltex (now popularly known as Hindustan Petroleum) offered him a dealership. This was the first brush Bhandaris had with automobile industry.
After the Second World War, Late Shri B U Bhandari brought engineering, farming machinery & various goods from Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai docks and retailed it to industries, agriculturists, general market as well as automobile service stations.
Then, the independence of India was a big moment, especially for the entrepreneurs who could look beyond growth parameters, and for the B. U. Bhandari Group it was an opportunity to create new benchmarks in the expanding service sphere.
The year 1953 fuelled the growth factor by the commencement of Petrol Pump and Service Station for Caltex now Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HP).
Taking the legacy ahead
Unfortunately, BU Bhandari passed away at an early age. His three children Vasantlal, Maneklal and Jaikumar maintained the momentum of their father. In 1964, Bhandaris generated one more petrol pump in Puneand also secured dealership of Exide batteries. MB Bhandari was very sharp businessmen. In 1964, the Group ventured into sugar trading business to become one of the most trusted names and achieved turnover of Rs. 110 crore then. Shri. M B Bhandari became a tycoon of India in the sugar industry, by being crowned as the ‘Sugar King of India’.
The first rendezvous
While their existing lubrication business had made their life well lubricated, Bhandarisnever complacent. Their series of acquiring dealership started in 1969 with Bajaj Tempo. In 1972, they exhibited the first Kinetic moped of India – Luna in their showroom. In association with Pune police, they mobilized the entire police by replacing the cycles with these new mopeds. Twelve hundred Policemen were seen moving on the streets of Pune on the same day with Lunas.In 1986, Bhandaris ventured into dealership of Kinetic Honda scooters.
As their family expanded in 1979, they branched out also into construction under the leadership of MB Bhandari. The future generation of the B. U. Bhandari Group, took the businesses to new levels. Chandravadan, Rajnish, Anuj and Shailesh Bhandari were the change-makers for the Group.
Currently, their generation next representatives,the charismatic Rajnish Bhandari and dynamic Anuj Bhandari are looking after the flourishing realty business that was started in the 80s decade. They built Pune’s first SEZ.Moreover, the credit of Pune’s first big housing complex, ‘Abhimanshri’, goes to the duo. With continuous thrust on product innovation, today, BU Bhandari Landmark group has covered more than 60 lakh square feet of construction where more than 5000 happy families reside.
Launching Tata’s dream
Witha tremendous goodwill in automobile market, they got the opportunity to launch the dream car of Ratan Tata- Indica. As it was the first showroom of Tata Indica, Mr. Tatatook personal interest to design it. As Mr.Tata never goes for any inaugurations, it was difficult to convince him. But Bhandaris not only won over him for the inauguration, but also made him participate in their practiceof planting a sapling. Today that plant has grown into a tree. On 6th September every year, Bhandaris send a letter along with a photograph of the tree to Mr. Tata to which, he replies with his signature. Indeed, Bhandaris do their business in style!
Going international
Subsequently, foreign groups started approaching them for dealerships. One such was Honda Motorcycles, which they started selling since 2002.
Bhandaris have strong bonding with Germans too. In 2009, Germans approached them to start a Mercedes showroom. In first year itself they broke all records and created a name in German automobile market. Perhaps that motivated one more German player, Volkswagen, to also get associated with the Bhandaris. In 2010, Bhandaris opened Volkswagen showroom too. Shailesh Bhandari’s out of the box ideas made it, the best one in India.
The Group is proud to be associated with Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. who think and work on similar principles and proactive environmental concern through their “Think Blue Initiative”. The Volkswagen workshop in Pashan is powered by solar energy, thus decreasing the vital use of electricity and becoming a leading entity to utilize solar energy. Efficient waste water management at all the service stations is yet another self-implied discipline. Using recycled materials is also a part of the B U Bhandari Group philosophy. They have been practicing all these measures for a very long time, even before they were imposed as strict norms.
Recently, they have bagged the dealership of Triumph Motorcycles and are coming up with a fully solar showroom soon.
Gen next
Though 5G is yet to launch in India, Bhandaris 5G is already in market and are carrying forward the legacy successfully. Deven, Jashank, Nidhi, Shreyansh, Yash and Samay, with their innovations,are taking the business to the next level. The Bhandaris are definitely on the move and that too in the top gear.
Deven Bhandari is spearheading the way to the topmost in the Mercedes-Benz and Honda dealerships. Jashank Bhandari has recently ventured into a brand ‘Prendo’ that furnishes temporary renting of luxury handbags and accessories. Nidhi Bhandari has made her name in the fashion biz with her brand ‘Nidhi Bhandari – fine couture footwear’.
Despite the generations in the same business, they share a strong bond with each other and credit the success to it. They have overcame the generation gap and are well-connected, thus rooting in their values and blending them with the changing times.