The case of street entrepreneurship manifests the features of a free market economy. It is the platform open to all genres of trade on the streets, serving and catering to all sections of society, primarily traded by individuals or groups located in the lower strata of the social hierarchy who lack formal access to privileges like institutional funds by the banks, kafkaesque of red tape, and expensive property spaces.
In the urban spaces of Mumbai, especially in the areas of Bandra, Colaba, Dadar, Kurla, Manish Market, and Chor Bazar, the spirit of street entrepreneurship is undeniable and inevitable. Despite the occasional raids and intimidation by municipal officers or police personnel to evict spaces on the streets, street entrepreneurship continues to gratify pedestrians and other consumers (including the elite). The catallactic function of street entrepreneurship is to bridge the gap between ‘haves’ and ‘have not’ in a subtle way.
Rohit Pandey, a street vendor at Manish Market, wiped the beads of sweat that formed on his forehead as he carefully arranged a row of jeans and trousers on the makeshift display rack. The scorching sun beat down relentlessly, but the bustling street gave him hope and motivation. He believed in his trade, in the power of affordable fashion, and in the dreams that pushed him forward.
As customers passed by, Rohit greeted them with a warm smile, showcasing his merchandise with pride. His humble stall stood in stark contrast to the glitzy clothing brand just across the road, but Rohit knew that his unique position had its advantages. He catered to those who sought quality without compromise, offering them a viable alternative in a world driven by high prices and elitism.
His words echoed through the vibrant air as he engaged in conversation with a potential customer.
"You see, sir," he began, "my clothes come straight from manufacturers who understand the value of affordability."
Indeed, Rohit Pandey's words held a truth that resonated with the other street vendors in the bustling city. Each day, with the morning sun casting its warm glow on the streets, a vibrant array of stalls would line the sidewalks. Colorful fabrics and garments adorned every corner, tempting passers-by with their allure.
Rohit's success had sparked a sense of inspiration among his fellow vendors. They saw him as a beacon of hope, someone who defied the odds and stood against the waves of uncertainty that threatened their livelihoods. The entrepreneurial spirit had gripped their hearts, igniting a fire within them to capture their piece of the market.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, the street vendor community flourished. New faces emerged, each offering their unique wares and services. The once-empty sidewalks were now transformed into a vibrant marketplace, brimming with energy and enthusiasm. People from all walks of life flocked to this bustling hub of commerce.
Presently, with the students of business management at Atlas SkillTech University in Mumbai, the motive of this empirical initiative is to break the psychological and cultural ice between street vendors and UG/PG learners.
Often, in academic spaces, when it comes to the pedagogy of management or marketing, we rarely touch upon pragmatic assignments. To overcome the ‘comfort zone’, students are being guided to interact, collaborate, and even partner with the street vendors and learn what an AC classroom cannot teach about the qualities of entrepreneurship.
[The street] entrepreneurs are innately privileged with negotiation skills and networking, and their sociology is widely underrated in the academic spaces of even the top B-schools in India. To reiterate: the example of business students from Harvard University visiting Mumbai to learn the logistics and chain management of the Dabawalas (delivery men, who form a vast lunchbox delivery and return system, ferrying home- and restaurant-cooked hot lunches, known as tiffins, to the working population in Mumbai). These Dabawalas, along with the street entrepreneurs, are not graduates from any Ivy League of India, but their experiences and skills inherently impress the theories of networking, management, and businesses.
The students, in their interactions on the busy streets of Colaba Causeway, Dadar Market, Manish Market, and Chor Bazar, learned a few crucial insights from their empirical observation:
The representation of men in the venture of street entrepreneurship is higher than the profile of women and transgenders.
Between Rs 500 and Rs 1500 per week or every 15 days, the street vendors manage to bribe the municipal offers, and this step also helps them to avoid the hassles and kafkaesque of formal registration.
The business of food, mobile accessories, clothes, and books marks a huge chunk on the streets, concerning sales and profitability compared to other goods.
The skills of networking and selling determine the altitude of the sales volume for the street traders.
The street entrepreneurs, irrespective of their religion, political orientation, and caste, are not communally tensed at each other and, on the contrary, demonstrate social cohesion with each other.
Most of the street traders belong to the lower strata in the social hierarchy in Mumbai, and they usually and ancestrally do not have a stronger educational and financial background.
The street vendors are employed for 8 to 10 hours per day, and their wages do not stagnate, except during the recession experienced in the COVID-19 pandemic times.
The consumers, hunting for cheaper rates and durable goods, who often visit the street for shopping or purchases belong to the myriad profile and do not necessarily come from the non-elite strata, as assumed.
The street entrepreneurs are mostly immigrants from regional states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
The street entrepreneurs possess sound contacts with their supply chain managers, police, and other municipal officers for seamlessly enterprising, and
The genre of competition that they largely follow is heterogeneous competition without much oligarchic intervention from one another.
The spirit of street entrepreneurship, as we understand and culminate from the above comprehension, indicates the scope of horizontal cooperation, and more importantly, it highlights the exemplary case of decentralization and youth participation.
The students who attended the initiative, not only from the perspective of shopping but also to observe the functions of transactions and communication, expressed their intent to ‘intern’ with them for the time being.
Mahira Shaikh, a street vendor selling chicken biryani at Rs 60/- per plate, stood at the corner of the bustling Dadar Market. The sun beat down relentlessly, casting a golden glow upon the vibrant tapestry of street vendors and their wares. As she watched, a group of well-dressed businessmen hurried past without sparing a second glance at the hardworking street entrepreneurs.
A wave of frustration washed over Mahira. A student who observed and culminated said, "It puzzles me how society failed to recognize the immense determination and resilience possessed by these street entrepreneurs. To me, these street vendors are not just peddlers of goods; they are creators, innovators, and risk-takers who defied all odds to bring their dreams to life.”
Moved by Mahira’s conviction, this student decided “it was time for a change.” She would embark on a mission to bridge this gap—to shed light on the incredible stories behind each vendor's humble beginnings and relentless pursuit of success.
She set out to interview street entrepreneurs from different walks of life, along with me, capturing their journeys with her pen.
This gesture is sociologically important to bridge the gap between the learners and street vendors when the privileged class often shies away from confabbing, connecting, cooperating, communicating, and collaborating with the informal zones of modern society.
Dr. Jaimine Vaishnav
