Moajungshi Menon
The Naga community has no shortage of entrepreneurial spirit. In recent years we’ve seen a surge in local businesses from retail stores and cafés to home-based ventures and tech startups. Yet despite the enthusiasm and creativity a common trend emerges, which is these businesses don’t survive for long. Why?
The core issue lies in the lack of business ethics and professionalism among many Naga entrepreneurs. While there are exceptions and countable local businessmen and women who are doing exceptionally well but the larger picture is concerning and calls for serious introspection.
1. Poor Customer Care and Service Attitude
One of the primary reasons customers avoid local shops is the poor customer service. Too often, shopkeepers and business staff treat customers with indifference or arrogance. There’s a widespread failure to understand that customers are the very reason a business exists. Respect, politeness, active listening and addressing complaints are rare traits. Customers don’t expect luxury but they expect dignity. When these basic principles are absent people naturally turn to non-local businesses that treat them better.
2. Overpricing Without Value
Pricing is another major issue. Many local entrepreneurs charge steep prices without providing quality, warranty or added value. What makes it worse is the attitude that customers should buy from them just because they are local. However, we must remember that customers are spending their hard-earned money. They deserve fairness and value, not emotional guilt trips.
When customers realize they can get the same product and sometimes even better quality for a lower price elsewhere, they will choose that option no matter where the business owner is from.
3. Lack of Discipline and Professionalism
Punctuality is a foundational business ethic, yet many Naga-owned shops open late, close at odd hours, or remain shut without notice. There is a casual approach to time and consistency and this unpredictability makes customers lose trust.
Professional businesses, whether local or not, follow schedules, maintain order and plan ahead. These practices signal reliability and respect toward the customer’s time.
4. Financial Mismanagement
Many local businesses fail not because the idea was bad but because of poor financial discipline.
Entrepreneurs often mix personal expenses with business funds, fail to keep records or make big investments without forecasting returns. This leads to unsustainable operations and eventual collapse.
Without basic accounting practices and reinvestment strategies, even a popular business will not last.
5. Lack of Focus and Vision
A successful business takes time to grow. Unfortunately, many Naga entrepreneurs give up too early or switch to other ventures before one is properly established. This “trial and error” approach may seem dynamic but in reality, it reflects a lack of planning and commitment. Building a lasting brand requires patience, consistency and a clear vision.
6. The Herd Mentality Trap
Another destructive pattern is the tendency to copy what others are doing. If one person opens a bakery or thrift store and becomes successful, many others jump into the same line often in the same locality without researching the market or offering anything new. The result is overcrowding, poor competition and business burnout. What works for one person may not work for everyone. Success depends on innovation, timing and individual strengths not imitation.
Why Customers Choose Non-Local Businesses
This brings us to an important truth that is we would love to support local entrepreneurs. There is pride and joy in buying local and uplifting our own people. But the very issues discussed above push customers toward non-local shops which consistently offer better customer service, fair pricing, professional behavior, product consistency and accountability. In the end customers choose businesses that respect them.
It would be unfair to paint all local businesses with the same brush. There are a few countable Naga entrepreneurs who are setting great examples. These individuals are disciplined, polite, financially sound and customer-focused. Their businesses are not just surviving but they’re thriving. These success stories prove that it is possible to run a professional, ethical and sustainable business in our context. What is needed is for others to learn from them and embrace the same principles.
Business is not just about making money but it’s about building relationships, earning trust and contributing to society. For Naga entrepreneurship to reach its true potential there must be a fundamental shift in mindset. Local businesses must understand that customers are not doing them a favor by buying from them rather it is the responsibility of the business to earn customer loyalty through service, discipline and fairness. If we truly want to see our economy grow, our entrepreneurs must rise above casual attitudes and embrace professionalism. We must also break free from the herd mentality. Every successful business is built on originality, creativity and persistence. Copying others may bring short-term gains but only innovation and commitment bring long-term growth.
Yes, customers are willing to support local businesses but only when they see honesty, dedication and accountability. If our entrepreneurs can commit to these values, there is no reason why Naga businesses cannot compete not only with non-local shops but even grow to be recognized at regional and national levels and even international level. The choice lies with us either continue in the old cycle of short-lived ventures or embrace ethics and professionalism to create businesses that stand strong for generations to come.
