NextBillion on Product Franchising

Julie Tran over at the World Resources Institute published a post yesterday about product franchising and the delivery of vaccines.

I think the model is especially appropriate for product distribution in urban settings. From my experience in urban informal markets there seem to be so many people selling the same products. And doing so in nearly every major bus stop or market across the country. There must be distribution systems behind those products. It could simply be a matter of channeling appropriate technology products alongside those same products.

I also like two elements of Abhay's system: supplying doctors with refrigerators free of charge and providing the first 30 vaccines free of charge. Capital equipment and financial risk with a new product are strong barriers to new product adoption. Those are excellent incentives for individuals to become franchisees.