Business Strategy with Hirav Shah
Before we dive into the oceans, let’s understand the water we’re sailing through…
Strategy is simply a plan to win.
In business, it means deciding:
- What to offer,
- Who to offer it to,
- And how to win in a way that others can’t easily copy.
You can either fight in a crowded market—or create a new market. That’s where Red Ocean and Blue Ocean come in.
🔴 RED OCEAN: The Bloody Battle Zone
(Competing in an Existing Marketplace)
A Red Ocean is a space where many businesses are already competing for the same customers. It’s called “red” because of all the cut-throat competition—everyone’s fighting for a bigger share of a shrinking pie.
- You compete by trying to be better, faster, or cheaper than your rivals.
- Most products and services are similar.
- The market is saturated.
- Everyone is following the same rules.
In short: Everyone is doing the same thing, just with slight variations.
- It’s hard to grow.
- You’re forced into price wars.
- Customers struggle to tell the difference between you and your competitors.
- You spend more just to survive—leaving less profit and more pressure.
🧪 Real Examples of Red Ocean Battles
- Uber vs. Ola: Same service, similar pricing, same cities.
- Cola Wars (Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola): Decades of advertising battles over taste.
- Local salons, cafés, or gyms offering identical services in the same neighborhood.
“In a Red Ocean, businesses bleed time, energy, and profits just to stay afloat.”
🔵 BLUE OCEAN: The Calm, Creative Waters
(Creating a New Marketplace)
A Blue Ocean is a market space you create yourself.
There’s little to no competition because no one else is offering what you do—at least not in the way you’re doing it.
It’s not about being better. It’s about being different in a way that customers instantly notice and value.
- You identify unmet needs or ignored frustrations.
- You solve problems differently—by blending, removing, or reinventing parts of what already exists.
- You create new demand instead of stealing existing customers.
- There are no rules—because you get to set them.
- Customers don’t compare you—they remember you.
- You don’t compete on price—you create value.
- You grow faster, with better margins.
- You build a brand, not just a business.
🧪 Real Examples of Blue Ocean Strategies
- Airbnb: Didn’t fight with hotels—gave people a new way to travel.
- Tesla: Merged sustainability with luxury. EVs weren’t just green—they were desirable.
- Cirque du Soleil: Not a circus, not a play—something in between. No lions, no clowns, but tickets sold out.
“In a Blue Ocean, you’re not chasing customers—you’re creating new ones.”
🛠 How Can You Create a Blue Ocean?
- Find frustrations
– What do people dislike about current options? - Mix unexpected ideas
– What happens when you mix fashion + tech? Or fitness + education? - Don’t copy, design
– Build a customer journey that feels refreshing. - Validate your new idea
– Use frameworks like Bizz6 to test your idea before launching it blindly.
Q: Is it safer to stay in a Red Ocean since it’s proven?
A: It might feel safer, but growth is slower and risk of failure is higher due to heavy competition.
Q: Does Blue Ocean mean I have to create something totally new?
A: Not always. You can reimagine an existing product by changing the experience, target audience, or delivery.
Q: Can any business shift from red to blue?
A: Yes. Even crowded businesses can find new angles. It starts with customer insight, not product features.
In business, you have two choices:
- Compete for attention
- Or create something worth noticing
You can swim in the Red Ocean—and fight.
Or you can sail into the Blue Ocean—and thrive.
“Success isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes, it’s about doing it differently.”
The writer is a well-known Business Turnaround Specialist, Astro-Strategist, and Best-Selling Author
Email: [email protected]
