In 2000, Pleasure Alukkas, now one in every of India’s wealthiest people, walked right into a Rolls-Royce dealership in Dubai, keen to purchase the posh automobile.
However as a substitute of receiving the standard deference afforded to potential patrons, he was directed to a Mitsubishi showroom by the salesperson, who assumed he wasn’t a critical buyer.
Recalling the incident in a current interview with CNBC-TV18, Alukkas, the 67-year-old billionaire behind the Joyalukkas Group, mentioned, “I mentioned I need to see the automobile, a Rolls-Royce. However they advised me, ‘No, no, no. If you wish to purchase a automobile, you go to the Mitsubishi showroom, you’ll get a automobile there.’”
This second of surprising dismissal didn’t deter him; as a substitute, it fueled his resolve. Feeling slighted, Alukkas made an impulsive resolution to buy the Rolls-Royce on the spot.
Regardless of preliminary hurdles in securing the deal, Alukkas succeeded in shopping for the automobile. Nonetheless, he quickly realized that the posh automobile was extra of an extravagance than a necessity.
Relatively than letting it sit unused, he reportedly determined to leverage the Rolls-Royce for a advertising and marketing marketing campaign to advertise his quickly rising jewelry enterprise within the UAE.
Alukkas introduced a raffle, providing the Rolls-Royce to the primary buyer who spent 500 AED on gold at his retailer. The daring transfer created a buzz for the model, drawing huge consideration to Joyalukkas Jewelry and cementing its fame in West Asia — the agency now boasts over 100 shops in India and 60 overseas. Quick ahead to March this 12 months, Alukkas reportedly added one other Rolls-Royce to his assortment — a Rs 6 crore Cullinan.