Shop for a bride or groom

With Shaadi Point, the offline version of the web portal, Shaadi.com, planning to increase its branches from 101 in 67 cities to 500 in 160 towns and cities by 2010, technophobe parents can now walk into Shaadi stores to shop for a suitable match for their wards.

Shaadi Point is planning to take this format into category C towns where technological advancements have not been sufficient to leverage its online version. People Interactive Private Limited, which owns Shaadi Point, is eager to have women franchisees for this expansion plan.

"We will be looking at mid-career women or those looking at a change of career for this purpose. One needs to invest between Rs 8 - 12 lakh and have 500 square feet space available. The break even period for such ventures is six months," said Omprakash Hassanandani, business head, Shaadi Point.

The Shaadi Point branches are also expected to generate employment to 12 per branch. Currently five to six employees work in each of the branches, comprising a workforce of 700, including a 90-member corporate team.

The Shaadi Point stores are good for those parents who are not technology savvy and seek anonymity while looking for a bride or a groom for their children. We have consultatnts who can help them access a database of more than 21 lakh members. Added to this, they can also access the database of Shaadi.com. The business has enjoyed a 100 per cent year on year growth over the last three years," informed Hassanandani.

However, the services come at a cost. Membership fee for three months is Rs 1501, while for a year it is Rs 9501. Members can choose from a database, 90 per cent of which are bachelor or spinsters and six per cent divorcees. Within the next two quarters, Shaadi Point will be tying up with vendors across the nation to have a marriage organisation wing.

It already provides the services of astrologers like Bejan Daruwala and arranges 'Swayamvars' or meeting between prospective brides and grooms. Shaadi Point also spends 20 per cent of its turnover on publicity in newspapers and through other activities.