Latest Retail Insight, News, Information & Articles from all top sources for the Internet.

The company’s retail foray has begun with ‘Gatoonga’ brand by tapping the Assam market  N ew Delhi : For the first time in its over-100-year history, B&A Ltd has forayed into the retail segment through its ‘Gatoonga’ brand of black tea, a top company official said. The brand was launched in Assam on Saturday, with the company looking to tap the market in the home state before entering other parts of the country, B&A Ltd Managing Director Somnath Chatterjee said. “The company’s retail foray has begun with ‘Gatoonga’ brand by tapping the Assam market and it will gradually expand across India based on a demand-driven growth strategy,” he said. B&A Ltd Deputy Managing Director Dhruba Jyoti Dowerah said the company’s parent group had four verticals previously, and the retail branding being the fifth one. The existing verticals are tea manufacturing and processing, packaging, tea tourism and broking. B&A Ltd is the listed flagship company of the Rs 300-crore Barooahs &a

P Venkatesalu, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at Trent Ltd. engages in a discussion with Rasul Bailay, Group Managing Editor of IMAGES Group, about the success strategy of the value fashion format Zudio, business integration, market position, future potential and much more. The post If Westside didn’t exist, Zudio would not have existed….Period: P Venkatesalu, CEO Trent Ltd. appeared first on India Retailing . from India Retailing https://ift.tt/KSgaMuc via IFTTT

Big e-commerce players like Amazon use advanced AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning) to combat fake reviews New Delhi: The success of India’s thriving e-commerce sector is driven by consumer trust, experts said on Wednesday, while stressing the importance of transparency, data security, and good shopping experience in fostering this trust. The year 2023 marked a crucial turning point for India’s e-commerce sector, with notable changes in consumer trends, technology, and regulations. In a webinar conducted by InGovern Research Services on ‘E-commerce Year-Round Up & Safeguarding Customer Interests’, experts highlighted how leading e-commerce players prioritise clear communication of policies and product details, invest in stringent data security measures, ensure intuitive user experiences, maintain efficient logistics, and offer responsive customer support channels to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. The webinar was conducted to deliberate on the notable d

In 2023, the retail industry experienced an 8% rise in job applications, while demand surged by 18%, indicating a robust interest in retail roles   New Delhi: More than half of all retailers (52%) are planning to onboard fresh graduates in the fiscal year (FY) 2025, while two out of five (38%) seek to recruit experienced professionals, as per a survey by Gi Group Holding, a company offering temporary and permanent staffing solutions with presence in over 60 countries. In 2023, the retail industry experienced an 8% rise in job applications, while demand surged by 18%, indicating a robust interest in retail roles. About 86.86% of applicants were aged between 18 and 30. Tier-1 cities emerged as hubs for job seekers, constituting 58.49% of the total applicant pool, followed by tier-2 and tier-3 towns. The logistics sector faced a 13.89% decline in active jobs during the third quarter of FY24, attributed to challenges during peak season fulfilment. However, the onset of 2024 saw a 10.24

The monthly reach of the brand is roughly four million people and its website users are over 100,000 every month Bengaluru: From selling products door to door to building his eyewear business, Abdus Samad has done it all in just three years. His eyewear brand Sam & Marshall India has seen its client database grow 350% annually, taking the current count to about 1 million customers. And from the start of this year to September, the brand has served about 15,000 customers in one go. Setting up the business Abdus Samad started his entrepreneurial journey in 2019 by riding his scooter to sell second-hand smartphones and then eyewear door to door to customers. A year later, he started his eyewear brand Sam & Marshall India from his partner’s bedroom. In those days, Samad just had enough space to pack orders and do nothing else, as the rest of the space was mostly occupied by his products. By 2021, the brand had grown its social media presence immensely and built a community arou

From Augmented Reality and virtual try-ons, 99-year-old Kerala-based Bhima Jewellers has moulded itself to stay relevant to today’s digital-savvy customers New Delhi: The 1925-founded Bhima Jewellers is credited with bringing a paradigm shift—from made-to-order to readymade jewellery—in Kerala’s jewellery trade. The 99-year-old brand, which will soon be celebrating its centenary has been at the forefront of delivering quality, exquisite designs, and a customer-centric approach. Started by Bhima Bhattar (K. Lakshminarayana Bhattar), the first store at Alleppey still holds the position of being the first to offer ready-made gold jewellery in Kerala. With over 60 stores across five states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana as well as four stores in UAE, the brand currently holds an industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 96. Bhima Jewellers, with an average store size of 8,000 sq. ft., has expanded its presence into the realm of e-commerce, par

Risham Jewelry increased its revenue two times in 2022 and is looking to diversify into another jewellery category in the near future Bengaluru: Risham Jewelry is transforming the market through its unique approach to creating handcrafted designer bead jewellery. The diversity of colour and inspiration from natural elements enables the brand to create high-quality, affordable and timeless pieces that can serve as heirlooms for customers, to be passed from one generation to another. Alternative thinking It was 12 years ago that Srutiza Mohanty began learning bead weaving. She considered the art form gorgeous and unique, and so had become fond of it. In those days, she was working as a software engineer in the IT sector, and in her free time, would make bead jewellery. “People who used to see my creations were in awe of them, as the designs were outstanding. My products ticked all the boxes I wanted in a piece of jewellery from a customer’s perspective— they were lightweight, colourf

Rilastil will offer a range of premium dermatological products through medical clinics, pharmacies and e-commerce New Delhi : Italian dermatological skincare brand Rilastil has announced entering India this month, the company said in a press release on Friday. Rilastil will offer a range of premium dermatological products for depigmentation, hydration, acne, face cleansers and sun protection curated for Indian customers. The products will be available at select medical clinics, pharmacies and e-commerce. “Introducing our product range in India is a momentous occasion for the brand, representing a significant milestone as we connect with a new cohort of discerning consumers,” said Giorgio Berni, Managing Director, Asia Pacific. Rilastil is the new exclusive skincare partner of FC Barcelona women’s football and basketball teams, the release added. “Bringing beauty to India isn’t just about importing products; it’s about introducing transformative experiences that empower individuals

The new store is located on North Park Drive, Brampton New Delhi: Bengaluru-based retail brand Soch will open its first international store in Canada to customers on Saturday, becoming the latest Indian retailer to embark on a global journey. The new store is located on North Park Drive, Brampton and will open on the 18th of May, a company release said on Friday. “Expanding into Canada is a decisive moment for the brand. This step signifies the brand’s growth beyond borders, increasing the stakes and expectations of our consumers,” said Vinay Chatlani, chief executive officer and co-founder, of Soch. “Our strategy is to extend our presence into overseas markets with significant Indian-origin populations, and Canada aligns perfectly with that vision. It speaks of the accessibility we promise to deliver to our customers.” The store will house the brand’s latest collection including a wide range of designer ethnic wear, including sarees, salwar suits, kurtas, tunics, kurta sets, lehen

40 Indian startups have come out strongly in support of the draft Digital Competition Bill New Delhi : Nearly 40 Indian startups have joined forces to pledge support to the draft digital competition bill, describing its proposed ‘ex-ante’ regulations as potential “game-changer” in tackling the anti-competitive practices of big tech companies. With battle lines drawn within the industry over provisions of the draft bill, prominent names like Matrimony.com, TrulyMadly, Innov8, QuackQuack, Magicbricks, Hoichoi, and Medibuddy are among startups which have written to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on the issue. Asserting that the digital competition bill, with its focus on ‘ex-ante’ regulations, could potentially be a “game-changer” for the Indian startup ecosystem, these companies have urged the MCA to move forward with the bill “at the earliest” even as they accused the big tech players of often indulging in delay tactics. As many as “40 Indian startups have come out strongly

Thanks to the rising mercury levels and heat waves sweeping the country, ice cream brands are expecting a 20%-40% increase in sales this Summer Mumbai: With the mercury soaring across the country, ice cream companies are experiencing a surge in demand for frozen products, leading brands told IndiaRetailing. According to a study published in the science journal Nature, 2023 was the hottest in 2000 years. And according to experts, 2024 might just be worse. In April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted an above-normal summer in terms of heat. And the forecast is turning out to be on point. On 13 May, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius, a degree above the normal for this time. The temperature in the capital city was expected to rise further during the week indicated IMD. The situation is no different in other parts of the country. On Wednesday (15 May), Mumbai recorded a temperature of 37.6 degrees Celsius—3.7 degrees above normal, making

With companies increasingly setting up operations in smaller tier II and III cities, there is a significant pool of untapped talent ready to cater to retail expansion New Delhi : As many top brands, both domestic and global, are expanding their footprint deeper into the country, industry experts believe it is likely to create a surge in job opportunities in the retail sector in smaller cities. Experts also mentioned that there is a significant pool of untapped talent ready to cater to retail expansion in smaller cities. “We anticipate around 25,000-30,000 permanent and temporary jobs to be created in the retail sector over the next 12-18 months, and this number will grow incrementally on an annual basis. Interestingly, there has been an increasing demand for retail jobs with around an 18-20% uptick in job applications over the last 12 months,” Randstad India Director, Professional Talent Solutions, Sanjay Shetty told PTI. Moreover, he said, with the entry of major domestic and inte

By Aditi Kashyap A lot of tasks which earlier were too difficult to automate can now be automated to a great extent New Delhi : Cloud-computing platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Wednesday announced the launch of its generative AI service Amazon Bedrock in the Asia-Pacific (Mumbai) region, promising lower latency and simplified services. The availability in the region will help customers nationwide, including public sector organisations and regulated industries, to innovate and scale with generative AI applications, according to the Amazon subsidiary. Speaking at the AWS Summit in Bengaluru, Head of Business Development at AWS India and South Asia, V G Sundar Ram said Bedrock is built to efficiently handle complexity in large data sets. The Mumbai centre, he said, would further expedite processes with low latency being one of the benefits. “This will fundamentally change the way companies operate. A lot of tasks which earlier were too difficult to automate can now be automat

Here’s the list of brands that are anticipated to join the Reliance Brands family in 2024 or 2025 Bengaluru:  International brands are increasingly turning their attention to India, drawn by its expanding consumer base and rising purchasing power, making it a prime destination for expanding their global presence.  A host  of them are keen to partner with India’s largest retailer by sales: Reliance Retail Ltd. Since its inception in 2006, Reliance Retail has signed up as India partner for a gamut of global brands, from premium labels to uber luxury brands across fashion, food and lifestyle. Reliance Brands Ltd., the retail arm for high-end labels, has forged exclusive partnerships with brands such as Bottega Veneta, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, Versace, Armani, Balenciaga, Boss and Zegna, among others. Reliance’s endeavour to introduce more and more global brands in India has also received a boost by the opening of India’s largest luxury mall, Jio World Plaza, situated at Mumbai’s c

A significant contribution to the fundraising in the last quarter also stems from the television reality show Shark Tank Season 3 IndiaRetailing Insights: Fundraises in the retail sector in the fourth quarter (Q4) of the financial year (FY) 2023-2024 crossed over Rs 1,105 crore according to the analysis by IndiaRetailing Insights, a retail intelligence unit. According to the data compiled in the fourth quarter of the last financial year, several D2C brands and other retail players like Bummer, abCoffee, Subko, The Ayurveda Experience, JustDeliveries, SuperK,  Iluvia, Kushal, Koparo, The Baker’s Dozen, Salty, Wow! Momo and Arzooo have all raised funds totalling over Rs 1,105 crore. Monthly Figures In January, brands and D2C companies like fashion brand Unirec, clothing brand Kribea, Bakery brand The Baker’s Dozen, D2C brand Salty, and food chain Wow! Momo, consumer electronics company Arzooo collectively raised capital of over Rs 450 crore. Fundraising in February was subdued, wit

The central bank has projected the CPI inflation for 2024-25 at 4.5% New Delhi : Retail inflation eased to an 11-month low of 4.83% in April as prices of some kitchen items declined though overall food basket firmed up marginally, according to a government data released on Monday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation was 4.85% in March. It was 4.7% in April 2023. The previous low inflation was at 4.31% in May 2023. The inflation in the food basket was at 8.70% in April, marginally up from 8.52% in March, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO). Inflation in egg, meat, spices, and ‘cereals and products’ was lower in April, while fruits, vegetables, and pulses were expensive. The index for ‘fuel and light’ in the CPI declined to 4.24 % in April on a yearly basis. The government has tasked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure inflation remains at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side. According to the RBI, which factors in consumer

Zomato announced the incorporation of ZPPL in 2021 as its wholly owned subsidiary to carry out the business as a payment aggregator New Delhi : Food tech major Zomato on Monday said its subsidiary Zomato Payment Pvt Ltd (ZPPL) has decided to voluntarily surrender the certificate of authorisation it obtained from the Reserve Bank to operate as an online payment aggregator. “At Zomato, we do not see ourselves having a significant competitive advantage against the incumbents in the payments space and hence we don’t foresee a business in payments space as commercially viable for us, at this stage. “While we were conscious of these developments as they unfolded, the real impact was more apparent as we got closer to putting in place the structure to commence the operations,” Zomato said in a regulatory filing. The development comes months after the company received the licence from the central bank to operate as an online payment aggregator, with effect from January 24, 2024. Zomato sai

Assembling a community around the brand and strengthening the brand’s internal community or team is crucial, according to industry leaders at PRC 2024 Bengaluru:  Building a niche community centred on a brand, backed by thorough market analysis and strong employee involvement remains a cornerstone strategy opted by companies across various retail sectors, captains of the Indian retail industry shared while speaking at the Phygital Retail Convention 2024. “When we launch a new brand, the product is not the immediate focus. It begins with a concept, with our primary emphasis on community-building from the start. Last month, we introduced a footwear brand inspired by music, catering to real musicians and their preferences. Our journey commenced by nurturing a music community,” ,” said Sandip Kanti Baksi, chief operating officer of the European shoemaking company Astormueller. “Our initial focus was on musicians, and from there, we expanded our reach to include our target audience—indiv

A look at some key factors that will drive digital transformation in the retail industry New Delhi: In the dynamic retail business landscape, several key trends are catalysing the adoption of emerging disruptive technologies, such as AI, IoT, smart robotics, MR, and advanced analytics. These trends are reshaping the industry, offering novel opportunities for businesses to enhance their operational efficiency and customer experience. Personalisation and customer experience enhancement Retailers use AI and advanced analytics to provide personalised shopping experiences. AI algorithms analyse customer data to tailor product recommendations, marketing messages, and even in-store experiences. This trend is driven by the growing consumer expectation for personalised and seamless shopping experiences both online and in physical stores. Supply chain optimisation The retail industry is adopting IoT and AI to optimise supply chains. IoT devices track inventory in real time, providing valua

The brand also has a stronghold in the offline market with good operating revenue New Delhi : Fashion brand Powerlook looks to hit a gross merchandise value (GMV) of Rs 300 crore this financial year, clocking a more than twofold growth over the last year, a top official of the company said on Saturday. The fashion brand which markets products mainly on leading ecommerce platforms like Myntra and Flipkart recorded a GMV of Rs 130 crore in the last financial year. GMV refers to the total value of products or merchandise sold over a certain period through a customer-to-customer exchange site. The brand also has a stronghold in the offline market with good operating revenue, Powerlook said in a statement. Powerlook co-founder Raghav Pawar said that the brand’s focus is on customer satisfaction and delivering products on time. “By prioritizing quality products and personalized shopping experiences, the brand continuously endeavours to exceed customer expectations,” he added. The men’

Homegrown Anarock was established by Anuj Puri in April 2017 after serving as country head for 10 years in an international property consultancy firm. New Delhi:  Real estate consultant Anarock Group has posted a 36 per cent increase in its revenue to Rs 566 crore in the last fiscal, helped by better earnings from housing brokerage and other services. During 2022-23, the company posted a revenue of Rs 416 crore. Homegrown Anarock was established by Anuj Puri in April 2017 after serving as country head for 10 years in an international property consultancy firm. In an interview with PTI, Anarock Chairman Puri said, “Real estate markets, particularly residential, across cities, are doing well with sales and launches at a 15-year high.” Inherently, he said, this is being driven by a younger working population wanting to buy their first home rather than rent it. “…we are benefiting from this phenomenal growth in housing sales, having established our tech and digital platform,” Puri sa

Over the last five years, Raw Beauty has built a customer base of over 20,000 people Bengaluru: In the last few years, the demand for clean and effective skin care products has grown in India. Indians are now much more informed and do not shy away from reading a product’s label carefully before making a purchase. Little wonder then that the natural and organic skincare segment is expanding, and brands such as Raw Beauty with products showcasing a blend of traditional wisdom and certified technology are all set to benefit from this growth. The story so far Sunayana Walia’s journey into the natural and organic skincare segment began because of her friends’ sheer support for the products that were always a part of the household she grew up in. “Five years ago, my friends found out that my family and I have been putting together rock salt, turmeric, cloves and cinnamon to use as tooth powder. They were beyond intrigued, and encouraged me to pack my tooth powder in mason jars and displa