Yes, marketing and promotion is necessary.
Yes it happens too but not with every shop... For this reason, we have employed a salesman who knows local shopkeepers well. He doesn't supply rice to troublemakers.
A very good suggestion... can generate good response with comparatively less effort.
Branding has its own pros and cons. Brand needs to be registered and then there will be issue of income tax as well as sales tax and so on... Personally, I won't recommend launching a brand without some field experience. Appropriate rice stock will also be needed along with good money!
Good for him... all of us can learn a few things from this business-minded guy!
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk 2