Subhiksha – started in 1997 was only 150 stores company till 2006 – and suddenly grew to 1,600 stores by 2008. The rapid expansion brought in revenues, but over-confidence blinded the company and we all know where it stands today (inspite of Premji buying 10% stake in Subhiksha) – the company needs Rs. 300...
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Even though consumer spending is heading south, aspirations are not! Big Bazaar, in an attempt to redefine experience (and consumption) is mulling over an idea of renting clothes for occasion wear and sell second-hand clothes. The initiative (details not yet out) will allow customers to hire high-end clothes, bags, jewellery and other accessories for a fraction...
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It has been long since e-commerce made its debut in India but it is still to catch on in a major way. The absence of Amazon from Indian market is a major indication that it is...
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Recession is hitting the retail industry quite badly and Shubiksha has announced that it has closed 90 stores in the last 1 month. “We were paying huge rentals
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Image via Wikipedia UniverCell has announced that it received Rs. 100 crore investment (in four tranches since 2007) from Peepul Capital (earlier iLabs Venture), and the money is being used for expansion : 167 stores now to 300 by March, 2009. Branded Mobile retail outlets are swamping the mobile market and is expected to capture ~40%...
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Small retailers are losing out to the larger retail outlets (Reliance, More, Subhiksha etc) and TN govt. is working on an interesting project in the city of Madurai. The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) is working with 500 small retailers to build a loosely coupled chain that will: Display common interiors and colors. Have...
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Ajim Premji has bought 10% stake in Subhiksha for Rs. 230 crores. Subhiksha was planning an IPO to raise Rs. 350 crores earlier, but given the current market situation decided to raise money from investors (wondering why Premji and not PE investors?) ICICI Venture earlier invested in Subhiksha (reportedly, they own 24%...
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Subhiksha, the retail chain outlet’s license in Maharashtra has been suspended over hygienic issues in it’s warehouse. While Subhiksha will appeal to the Maharashtra High court and has blamed the rivals for manipulating the case: As everyone is aware we follow a Lowest price strategy and offer 10% discount on all medicines and have been subject...
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20 Indian cities account for 10% of India’s population, but generates 31% of disposable income! A study by Roopa Purushothaman and Rajesh Shukla (co-authored Goldman Sachs’ famous BRIC report) has conducted a study (on behalf of Kishore Biyani’s Future Capital Research and National Council of Applied Economic Research’s (NCAER)) The authors have identified 20 key cities...
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Imagine going to an apparel shop that allows you to try out shirts, but not to collect the delivery (even after the payment!). That’s Zerostock! ZeroStock is an interesting retail startup that is attempting a breakthrough in supply chain. Their stores do not have any readymade apparel available, i.e. zero inventory model. All a customer has to do...
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Future group is foraying into self-publishing vertical and apart from enabling authors to publish their books, Depot (Future Group’s book, music and stationery retail arm) will also sell these books in their retail stores across the country. Writers, most of the times, are clueless as to what to do about their works. Our self-publishing initiative...
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Reliance has decided to shut down it’s petrol pumps stations over denial of subsidy on par with public sector retail companies ‘Reliance plans to shut two-third of its 1,400 petrol pumps in the country by next month as it is unable to match the fuel price offered by public sector oil retailers,...
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Kishore Biyani is a model businessman at least for me. He is sowing seeds into a lot of interesting businesses and when the time comes, he would reap rich rewards. He is displaying the true spirits of entrepreneurship. In the process of building his companies, he is helping his customers realize his dreams. His...
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This year, online Diwali sales was supposed to cross Rs. 250 crores. Did it meet the expectations? While the exact diwali sales numbers are not yet announced, here are a few interesting tidbits: This year, over 45 per cent of online sales have been of electronic items (In 2006, electronic items accounted for a...
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The online retailing is finally happening in India. We have covered few interesting products like InfiBeam and Autsun, and here is introducing a newly launched product : Storrz. What’s storrz? storrz is an online retail shop that is using interesting ways to break the online shopping barrier. It’s probably the first Online shopping mall...
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Autsun (stands for “Anything under the sun”) is an interesting online retailing site that is attempting to make online shopping experience pretty similar to offline shopping. For e.g. one can watch videos of the product, hear audio readings of books and get upclose with the product before making the buying ...
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We have covered online photo printing services in India, but more than online, offline retailing channels are the ones where I see a strong mullah. Printo is India’s first branded retail chain for print and document services which leverages digital and Internet technologies to offer print products of international standards. You can...
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It’s not very often that I come across Indian sites that makes me say “WoW!” InfiBeam is probably one of those few products which fall under ‘eye candy‘ category! InfiBeam is an online auto portal which basically enables one to search and explore through a wide choice of cars online before you make...
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Here is presenting a summary of great insights (and facts) being presented at the India Retail forum (which was held in Mumbai from Sep 4th-6th, 2007) India has a per capita income of US$900 and, despite this fact, 25 per cent of the people in the country earn less than $1...
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The retail story in India has just started. While Big Bazaars and Food Worlds are expanding in tier-II cities, biggies like Wal Mart are entering the Indian retail market with a big bang. AT Kearney’s GRDI (Global Retail Development Index) ranks India the #1 spot for retail investments (India scored 92/100, while Russia...
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