Who becomes a Hissedaar

Qualification checklist.

Every Hissedaar must pass these gates before activation. The process is not bureaucratic — it is the foundation of the trust that makes the program work. A bad associate causes more damage than no associate.

Gate 1 — Personal connection

🤝

Must be personally known to Maanorah team or referred by an active Hissedaar

Cold applications are not accepted. Every Hissedaar enters through a warm introduction. The referring Hissedaar's reputation is implicitly linked to who they bring in.

Non-negotiable

💬

Introductory conversation with Maanorah team — 30 minutes

Not an interview. A conversation. We are assessing: Do they genuinely believe in the product? Are they comfortable with the honest selling approach? Do they understand what a Hissedaar is — and isn't?

Required

Gate 2 — Identity and documentation

🪪

Aadhaar + PAN verification

Required for commission payouts (TDS compliance) and as a basic identity anchor. Self-attested copies held on file.

Required

🏦

Bank account details for commission transfer

Collected before first commission is due, not before activation. Associates can start as Referral without this, but must provide before any payout.

Before first payout

📋

Hissedaar Agreement signed — digital or physical

Covers: Maanorah owns all stock at all times, return windows for approval stock, commission terms, discount authority and its limits, brand representation rules, exit clause, anti-misrepresentation clause.

Must sign before activation

Gate 3 — Genuine product belief

💎

Product orientation — in person or video call, 60 minutes

Walk through the LGD explainer, the objection handling guide, and the scheme details together. Confirm understanding of what they can and cannot claim on behalf of Maanorah. This is not optional even for very confident associates.

Required

✍️

Brand representation acknowledgement

Associate confirms in writing: they will not make verbal quality claims beyond what the IGI certificate states, they will not modify or substitute pieces, they will not represent non-Maanorah jewellery as Maanorah.

Signed alongside agreement

🛍️

Purchase or experience with a Maanorah piece (strongly encouraged)

The strongest Hissedaars are ones who personally own or have genuinely worn a Maanorah piece. It is not a requirement — but if an associate has never held the product, orient them with a physical sample session before they meet customers.

Strongly encouraged

The one question to answer before approving anyone:
"If this person sells something they shouldn't, or makes a claim they can't back up, does Maanorah know who they are and how to reach them — and is there a signed document that protects us?" If both answers are yes, the process is working.

Trust is earned, not given

Graduated access to stock and authority.

No associate receives physical stock on day one. Trust is built through demonstrated performance and time. This is not about suspicion — it is about making the relationship sustainable for both sides.

Phase

0–60 days

Referral only — digital catalogue, no physical stock

Associate shares the personal catalogue link, introduces customers, earns commission on sales that close through the Maanorah website or store. No pieces leave Maanorah's possession. Zero trust risk on physical assets.

Catalogue link active Commission on referrals No physical stock No discount authority yet

Phase

60+ days, 3+ sales

Approval stock unlocked — limited pieces, documented handover

After 3 successful referral sales and 60 days with no complaints, the associate can apply to hold Approval stock. Maximum 5 pieces at a time. Each piece is photographed and logged in ERP on handover. Fixed return window agreed in writing.

Up to 5 pieces on approval Discount authority unlocked (L1) 30-day audit cycle Photo documentation required

Phase

L2 tier, 6+ months

Full Stock associate — larger inventory, extended window

L2 Hissedaars with 6+ months of clean record can hold permanent Stock. Larger piece count, longer holding window, higher discount authority. Audit cycle extends to 45 days. ERP tracks every piece in real time.

Up to 20 pieces L2 discount authority (15%) 45-day audit cycle

Phase

L3 · Paarkhi

Full partnership — negotiable inventory, deepest involvement

Paarkhi associates have demonstrated sustained performance and integrity. Stock limits are negotiated case-by-case. They participate in design selection previews and quarterly Hissedaar Insights sessions with the founding team.

Negotiable stock quantity L3 discount authority (20%) Design preview access Quarterly founders session

Stock limits by phase

Phase / Tier	Max pieces held	Return window	Audit cycle	Insurance required
Phase 1 — Referral	0 (no physical stock)	—	—	No
Phase 2 — Approval (L1)	5 pieces	Agreed at handover	30 days	No
Phase 3 — Stock (L2)	20 pieces	45 days rolling	45 days	If stock >₹50,000
Phase 4 — Paarkhi (L3)	Negotiated	60 days rolling	60 days	Required

When the relationship ends

Disqualification — immediate and warned.

Some actions end the relationship immediately with no warning. Others result in a formal warning, with a 30-day correction window before disqualification. The distinction is between fraud (immediate) and poor performance (correctable).

Immediate disqualification — zero tolerance

Selling non-Maanorah jewellery under the Maanorah brand name

Diamond or stone substitution on pieces in their possession (swapping with lower-quality stones)

Making false quality claims — misrepresenting carat, clarity, or grade beyond what the IGI certificate states

Confirmed customer fraud complaint — overcharging, price manipulation, or misrepresentation of returns policy

Non-return of approval/stock pieces beyond agreed window without prior communication

Sharing customer personal data with third parties without consent

Warning issued — 30-day correction window

Offering discounts beyond tier authority (e.g. L1 associate offering 20%)

Repeated late return of approval stock (2+ instances)

Non-responsiveness — failing to respond to Maanorah communication within 48 hours, 3+ times

Two or more verified customer complaints about experience with the associate (not product quality)

Posting social media content featuring Maanorah pieces that contradicts approved messaging (e.g. false price claims)

Zero sales for 2 consecutive quarters without explanation — not disqualifying, but triggers a check-in conversation

Exit process: On disqualification, all physical stock must be returned within 7 days. Commission due up to the point of disqualification is paid in full — earned commissions are never withheld as punishment. Pending approval stock returns are logged and verified against the original dispatch photos before releasing any outstanding commission.

What a disqualified associate's customers experience

Customers registered under a disqualified associate continue to be served by Maanorah directly. Their permanent customer ownership record remains — their commission simply reverts to Maanorah rather than the former associate. Customers are never informed of the disqualification reason.

Protecting the brand and customers

Anti-fraud and verification layer.

The most serious risk in any physical jewellery associate program is stone substitution or counterfeit selling. Every measure below is designed to make fraud difficult, detectable, and consequential. These are operational standards — not suggestions.

QR code on every piece

Each piece carries a unique QR code on its price tag. When a customer scans it, they land on a maanorah.com verification page showing the piece's IGI certificate number, gold purity, weight, and current status (available / sold). If the code doesn't match, the piece is not a genuine Maanorah item.

Customer-facing

Photo documentation at every handover

Before any piece leaves Maanorah for an associate, 3 photos are taken and logged in the ERP: front, back, and clasp/setting close-up. On return, pieces are compared to these photos. Any discrepancy triggers an inspection before the associate's account is cleared.

ERP automated

Direct purchase confirmation to every buyer

When any sale closes — whether through an associate or directly — the buyer receives a WhatsApp/SMS from Maanorah directly, within 2 hours, confirming the piece name, piece ID, certificate number, and a link to verify. This is not optional. It cannot be disabled by the associate.

Customer-facing

IGI certificate independent verification

Every IGI certificate number is independently verifiable at igi.org. Customers are encouraged to check. The certificate cannot be forged — it is in IGI's database, not Maanorah's. Any piece with a mismatched or absent certificate is immediately flagged.

Third-party verified

Weight verification on stock return

When approval or stock pieces are returned, the diamond weight and gold weight are verified against the IGI certificate values using a precision scale. A stone swap — replacing a Maanorah diamond with a lower-grade one — changes the weight by a detectable amount.

Physical audit

Scheduled stock audits with physical inspection

Every associate holding physical stock receives a scheduled audit visit — or is required to bring stock to Maanorah — at the frequency set by their phase. Unannounced spot checks may be conducted for any associate whose account shows irregularities in the ERP.

Operational

Associate marketing review

Any social media post by a Hissedaar featuring Maanorah pieces must use either: official product images from the content kit, or original photos approved by Maanorah. The associate may not claim certifications, grades, or prices not on the official price card. Posts with false claims are flagged and trigger a warning.

Brand protection

Graduated stock limits prevent large-scale exposure

The most effective anti-fraud measure is limiting how much stock any single associate can hold, especially early in the relationship. A Phase 1 associate with zero physical stock has zero opportunity for stone substitution. Trust is earned before exposure grows.

Structural protection

What to tell associates about these measures — and how to frame it:

Do not present the QR codes, photo documentation, and audits as surveillance. Frame them as the system that protects the associate too. "The QR code means no customer can ever question whether your piece is genuine — they can verify it themselves, on the spot. The photo documentation means if a piece comes back damaged in transit, you are protected. These systems make your recommendation credible."

What if fraud is suspected?

If any audit, return inspection, or customer complaint suggests possible stone substitution or counterfeiting: (1) Do not confront the associate directly. (2) Log the concern in the ERP and escalate to the founding team. (3) Suspend new stock handovers to that associate pending investigation. (4) If confirmed, disqualify immediately, recover stock, and assess whether to pursue legal action under the signed agreement's fraud clause.