AT THE START LINE<\/h2>
Dad ran his first full marathon in 2016 at 56, while working in Muscat. But he didn\u2019t just wake up one day and decide he\u2019d run 42 kilometers. He\u2019d run a kilometer or two, which somehow grew into 7, then 21, and before we knew it, he was clocking 36 km. Along the way, he’d chat up fellow joggers and walkers, becoming this friendly, wide-eyed, bright-smile guy who just wouldn\u2019t quit running. Some were inspired\u2014\u201cIf he can do it, maybe I can too!\u201d\u2014and others just\u2026 well, kept on walking.<\/p> And that\u2019s the thing\u2014whether it\u2019s running, building a brand, or starting a small business, you don\u2019t start at the finish line. You build your way up. Just like Dad\u2019s marathon journey, even if it feels small at first, consistency is the secret. For small businesses, this means focusing on delivering quality and engaging meaningfully with early customers.<\/p> Take BlissClub<\/a>, for example. Instead of competing with global giants from day one, they focused on creating functional activewear tailored to Indian women\u2019s needs. With consistent quality and customer-centric designs, they grew steadily into a trusted name.<\/p> The lesson? Whether you\u2019re selling leggings, desserts, or high-tech gadgets, consistency is your best friend. Treat your first customers like gold\u2014respond to their feedback, delight them with exceptional quality, and maybe even surprise them with a heartfelt thank-you message. Over time, these loyal customers will become your most ardent advocates, and that\u2019s how you snowball into something bigger.<\/p> Along with running marathons, Dad\u2019s also great at running his mouth (sorry, Dad). He was part of the Khimji Toastmasters club, and once he got hooked on running, that\u2019s all he talked about. He\u2019d tell anyone who\u2019d listen how he started at 55, managed his cholesterol and diabetes, and felt younger and stronger. People at the club were motivated, inspired\u2026 and probably a little shocked. Soon, some brave souls started joining him, which led to the creation of his first running club\u2014Khimji Toastmasters Muscat Runners (KTMMR<\/em> for short, because that\u2019s a mouthful). What began with Dad convincing one person to run with him grew to over 200 members in just two years.<\/p> Word-of-mouth is marketing gold, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.<\/p> Take Avimee Herbals<\/a>, started by 85-year-old Radhakrishan Choudhary<\/a> and his wife Shakuntala. What began as a personal project to help their daughter with hair fall became a nationwide sensation. They created an herbal oil that was initially shared with friends and family. Its impressive results sparked word-of-mouth buzz. Now, their small venture receives around 200 monthly orders from across India.<\/p> This is the magic of word-of-mouth marketing: authenticity, quality, and genuine connections. Brands can create similar moments by focusing on delighting customers. Whether it\u2019s an extraordinary product, personalized gestures, or going the extra mile to solve a problem, these efforts ensure that your customers become your loudest cheerleaders.<\/p> As KTMMR<\/em> grew, Dad realized the name was not only a mouthful but also didn\u2019t really scream “running club.” It needed a rebrand \u2013 something that captured the spirit of passionate runners building a community for health and joy. And that\u2019s how Acers and Pacers<\/em> was born. The goal? To step away from the Toastmasters image and focus solely on running and the happiness it brings. Their new tagline, \u201cRun Beyond Limits\u201d (crafted by yours truly), was all about proving that no matter your age or how out of shape you think you are, you can push beyond your limits.<\/p> For small businesses, rebranding or tweaking your approach can be a game-changer. Look at what Urban Company did. Formerly known as Urban Clap, they rebranded to Urban Company to reflect their global ambitions. The new name embodies versatility and resonates with international markets while staying true to its mission of delivering trusted home services.<\/p> It wasn\u2019t a drastic shift, but a smart one that let them tap into a broader market while staying true to their essence. Reinvention is just that\u2014adapting to what your audience needs without losing what makes you, you.<\/p> Let\u2019s fast forward 7 years \u2013 Dad\u2019s retirement. He first moved to Mangalore, my maternal hometown, with all the time in the world to start a new running club. Sounds predictable, right? Well, not quite. He didn\u2019t know Kannada (though he\u2019s fluent in Malayalam, Hindi, Gujarati, and English), and connecting with people was harder than expected. Building a community in Mangalore wasn\u2019t the same as in Muscat. After a few failed attempts to rally runners, he decided to stick to solo runs and picked up other hobbies\u2014table tennis, and horse riding, and even tried learning Kannada (which lasted about five minutes).<\/p> But Dad didn\u2019t give up. When he next moved back to Gandhinagar, his home ground, he gave the running club another shot. He had the President of a local community club blast a WhatsApp message to its 700+ members. Despite that, at first, just 8 people showed up. And of those 8, only 2 stuck with it in the first few weeks. Did Dad give up? No. Through word of mouth and sharing his own running story, he slowly built up the club. Today, the Capital Runners Club stands at 150 members.<\/p> Dad didn\u2019t use any fancy marketing tools to build his community\u2014he just followed his gut, told his story, and inspired people along the way. He always says, \u201cIt\u2019s always a no until you ask,\u201d and that\u2019s basically his life motto. The only person he hasn\u2019t convinced yet? Me. But in all honesty, the strategies he uses\u2014building trust, motivating others, and creating a sense of community\u2014are still relevant for any brand today. Sure, I\u2019m the one with textbook marketing gyaan, but when it comes to real, down-to-earth marketing? He\u2019s the OG. There\u2019s always something new I can learn from him.<\/p> Ever wondered if a 60-something marathon runner could teach you about marketing? In this blog, our Senior Copywriter Rachana Radhakrishnan deep dives into the parallels between her dad\u2019s world of running and the world of brand marketing. Discover how the principles of perseverance, community-building, and adaptability can be applied to help your brand\u2014and even small businesses venturing out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":1883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[243,251,252,245],"tags":[235],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-10-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> Gyaan 1: Start small and be consistent<\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Bliss_club-1024x683.jpg\")
THE INITIAL SURGE<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-1-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-2-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> Gyaan 2: Capture the power of word-of-mouth marketing<\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-3-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> FINDING A RHYTHM<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-4-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-5-1024x683.jpg\")
Gyaan 3: Reinvent if and when necessary<\/h3>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Urban-Clap-1-1024x256.jpg\")
<\/figure> HITTING A WALL<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-6-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-7-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Marathon-Running-Dad-Blog-8-1024x683.jpg\")
THE FINISH LINE<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.redbangle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/44083859_10156158656374514_6182912654487584768_n.jpg\")
<\/figure> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"