Professional Documents
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Retail Revolution
R A V I
MACHIRAJU
VIEWPOINT
T
hese days I seem to be spending who has the time to just
every other week in India, do it!
resulting in my expanding middle.
Anyway, it was on
On a recent busy Friday, at the checkout
one of these gorgeous
desk of the hotel in Bombay, there were
drives that I had a “retail
two harried BPO/KPO management
epiphany” of sorts: I
type firangs ahead of me with their
found a mega mall with
busy looks and ubiquitous notebooks
all the leading brands in
and both of them were coming back the
a “C” class town out in
next week to resume their supervision of
the boondocks - a sign
their young Indian IT coolies – one on a
of the times.
Wednesday and the other on a Tuesday,
from whichever country they were off to
for the weekend. The retail
Given the “Work is my life and family, avalanche
what family?” mentality of today’s 30- The news is out! India is shopping. end 2007.
and 40-somethings, I can only hope they Or, if you look closely, Indians are
were heading back home and not to the The “Retail King” of India has just
going to the movies more often in sexy, published his autobiography which
sun-baked deserts of Dubai where they glossy, huge malls and shopping, eating,
were on duty through Saturdays and is prominently placed at the cashier
gawking, ogling on the way in and out counters of all the Big Bazaars (both as a
Sundays! to the ubiquitous multiplexes which are metaphor and a marketing masterstroke),
Since I believe in balance (both in the always on the nth floor of these malls. while Dubai based Damas has stores
bank and in life), the wife and I headed to The list of the players entering India is targeted at newly-weds. I wager that the
Manali and drove up to Leh, truly a trip a who’s who of retail royalty – Walmart/ most popular words in the lexicon of
for the gods. After my recent sojourns Bharti, Reliance Fresh & Retail, circa 2020 will be mega, hyper, arcade,
in Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Birlas, Tatas, Rahejas, RPG, Pyramyd, multiplex, sale, INOX/IMAX, flagship
Ladakh, I see no difference between Pantaloon, Carrefour, Landmark, Tesco, and anchor, as most youngsters today
the fjords of Norway or the mountains Argos et al. It looks like it’s a great time find salvation in glass palaces bearing
of Switzerland and these ethereal places ahead for corporatised, highly efficient, these names on their marquee.
in India except the currency notes that value-driven retail India. So good bye
these countries efficiently separate from But some industry insiders in their
GUM, Hello Macy’s! Adidas is talking distinctly un-mall-like offices are
you at every mountain pass and chalet! about launching a retail “university” to beginning to question the sustainability
With the terrific Major Khanduri at train youngsters to smile better and be of these malls.
the helm, Uttaranchal is set to become more patient with customers.
the destination of the future in mountain Reliance is launching electronics mega
Where’s the revenue?
PHOTOS: Lijesh
travel. The warmth of the Garhwalis malls called Reliance Digital, the Aditya
and the smiles of the Ladakhis are Birla group is planning shops called Walk into any mall as a lay buyer and
magnificent stress busters. The stunning, More and discounter king Subhiksha is see the low-revenue-generating footfall
even awesome Manali-Leh Road closes eyeing king-sized profits with a turnover (that is, number of shoppers) in any
in mid-September so I urge everyone of Rs 30 billion and up to 1000 stores by store. Many malls are far behind their