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

The exchange and return policy allows customers to exchange or return products either in-store or through convenient home collection services. New Delhi : Swedish home decor and furnishing retailer Ikea has introduced a 365-day exchange and return policy to make the consumer shopping experience more convenient and flexible, a release by the company said on Monday. Products including home furniture and furnishing accessories can be exchanged or returned to IKEA, either in their original packaging or assembled, allowing customers to test and try them at home for fit, comfort, and functionality. With the new ‘Change of Mind’ policy that covers exchange and returns. The exchange and return policy allows customers to exchange or return products either in-store or through convenient home collection services, regardless of where the purchase was made. The new policy offers customers the flexibility to exchange or return products within a full year from the purchase date or the delivery da

The brand has also set a target of becoming a  Rs 500 crore brand in the next two years New Delhi : Surat-based healthy foods brand Alpino has raised $1.2 million (Rs 8.6 crore) in its maiden funding round, with participation from Paresh Ghelani and other prominent angel investors from Aashar Capital, a release by the company said on Monday. The brand which was also featured on the Television reality show Shark Tank has also announced Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty as its brand ambassador and key investor. Fund proceedings will be utilized to boost offline presence, drive international expansion, and fuel product innovation. with a growth rate exceeding 150% this year. “We are beyond thrilled to welcome Shilpa Shetty to Alpino,” said Chetan, CEO & Co-founder of Alpino Health Foods. “Shilpa’s dedication to transforming India’s approach to health and her genuine love for our products make her the ideal face for our brand. Her zestful, fun-loving nature & passion towards fitn

The purpose of big box formats like SmartBazaar is to participate in the total consumption basket of the family New Delhi: Reliance Retail, the country’s largest retailer, has increased the trading area for non-food and general merchandise by almost 50% in its grocery stores in a bid to improve margins. The move is also likely to bolster the retailer’s hyper-local aspirations through its e-commerce platform Jiomart, through which it is connecting its Smart and Smart Bazaar stores providing a wider variety to consumers, according to a senior industry executive. Reliance Retail is now going for space revision at its stores, allocating higher trading areas for non-food and general merchandise items, a segment which offers higher margins than other segments such as grocery and apparel. The extended retail space would allow Reliance Retail to offer a complete range of products for a segment and fill in the gaps in its offerings, the source said. The purpose of big box formats like Sm

Twenty-four-year-old Sanya Runwal, director – Retail, Runwal, speaks about the guiding principles behind the group’s retail transformation, future developments and her vision for brand Runwal as the next generation leader When travelling on the Eastern Express Highway in Mumbai it’s hard to miss the gigantic hoardings by Runwal, Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s leading real estate player enticing people to book a home at many of its upcoming projects. As you near Mumbai’s suburb of Ghatkopar, the narrative changes to one enticing inviting you to step into the group’s massive 1.2 million sq. ft. Mall R City, launched in 2009. The 1978-established realty group is one of the early entrants in the shopping centre business with a mall launched in the early 2000s. Today, it has the most number of malls by any real estate player in Mumbai, strewn across the maximum city’s central suburbs. Its mall portfolio includes R Mall, Mulund (2.5 lakh sq. ft.); R City, Ghatkopar (1.2 million sq. ft.), R M

The study identified several discrepancies, including varying net weights, inconsistent barcodes, and poor-quality images Bengaluru: As many as 34.83% of grocery products (approximately 1,000 products) listed on a major e-commerce platform have incomplete or inaccurate information, according to a study by health and retail tech platform Natfirst. The study analysed 2,871 grocery products listed on the platform. It identified several discrepancies, including varying net weights, inconsistent barcodes, and poor-quality images. Specifically, 65 products were missing multiple key labelling elements such as nutritional table, ingredients, and net weight, 232 products featured illegible images, and 139 products lacked a nutritional table altogether. In response, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently reactivated the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2022. According to the FSSAI , e-commerce companies are now re

This GenAI-driven platform leverages sophisticated artificial intelligence to personalise shopping experiences, making them more engaging and intuitive As the retail landscape rapidly evolves, the fusion of physical and digital commerce—termed ‘phygital’—is becoming increasingly crucial. RetailGPT, developed by Pathfinder, is at the forefront of this transformation, promising to revolutionise how retailers and consumers interact within this vibrant market. RetailGPT seamlessly blends digital efficiency with the tactile authenticity of traditional shopping to create unparalleled customer journeys. This GenAI-driven platform leverages sophisticated artificial intelligence to personalise shopping experiences, making them more engaging and intuitive. By understanding individual customer preferences and behaviours, RetailGPT facilitates tailored product recommendations and promotions, which not only delight customers but also increase conversion rates. One of the most significant impact

Rajesh Verma is a seasoned CIO/Head of IT with over 22 years of experience in spearheading digital transformation initiatives across diverse retail sectors. With a keen eye for identifying operational gaps and a knack for deploying cutting-edge digital solutions, from fast food chains to fashion brands. His expertise encompasses the seamless integration of advanced technologies such as AI/ML, IoT, and cloud computing to elevate customer experiences across in-store, online, and internal platforms. Rajesh’s strategic vision has consistently yielded tangible results, driving enhanced customer engagement, operational efficiency, and sustainable business growth. Throughout his career, Rajesh has orchestrated the implementation of transformative solutions, including AI-powered applications for personalised dealer experiences, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), analytics platforms, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and infrastructure modernisation initia

These opportunities include direct and indirect jobs across India in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Chennai, among others Bengaluru: Amazon India has created more than 110,000 seasonal job opportunities across its operations network to cater to increased demand during the festive season, the company said in a press release. These opportunities include direct and indirect jobs across India in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Chennai, among others. “We have hired over 1.1 lakh additional people to strengthen our fulfillment and logistics network and ensure we can handle the increased demand seamlessly,” said Abhinav Singh, vice president-operations, Amazon India. “A number of these associates continue to work with Amazon even after the festive season and many others return year after year to work with Amazon.” A majority of these new hires have already been onboarded, the release added.

How beauty brands can successfully handle the high traffic volumes and meet the surge in demand during festival season With the festive season upon us, expenditure is mounting across all cities and all income levels. People are keen to invest in festive looks, and this is especially true when it comes to beauty and cosmetics. In 2023, Diwali witnessed a 51% increase in orders for beauty and cosmetic products. This is excellent news for Indian beauty brands — but there is also the challenge of handling the higher volume of orders on time, and without error. Addressing this challenge calls for beauty brands to invest in supply chain planning. Strategic planning, data analysis, and investing in technology such as inventory management systems can be extremely helpful when it comes to stocking up, anticipating demand patterns, and planning the best delivery routes. Adopting well-thought-out strategies can successfully help meet the high festive demand. These include: Early inven

Rajesh Sethuraman is an accomplished sales & marketing professional renowned for his expertise in planning and implementing comprehensive growth strategies to drive business success. Passionate about brand strategy, digital ecosystems, consumer experience, and research, Rajesh has accumulated diverse experience across various industries including telecom, lifestyle, consumer durables, retail, and fashion. With over 22 years of experience, he has made significant contributions to renowned brands such as RPG, Titan, Reliance, Spencer’s, Walmart, Vishal Megamart, and the Landmark group. Outside of the professional realm, Rajesh is an avid sports and wildlife enthusiast. He is deeply committed to supporting the cause of providing education for underprivileged children in India, reȷecting his strong sense of social responsibility and community engagement. The post Digital Icon : Rajesh Sethuraman appeared first on India Retailing . from India Retailing https://ift.tt/LNbeXRy via

The latest Zara store spans more than 36,000 sq. ft. and is situated at Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru Bengaluru:  Inditex-owned global fashion brand Zara has opened its 24rd retail store in the country, located at Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru, the company said in a press release on Thursday. The newest outlet totals over 36,000 sq. ft. and is located on the first floor of the mall. The Zara store features the latest technological innovations from the company’s integrated online and physical store platform including self checkout with cash option, fitting room reservation, in store pick-up, check store availability, location of product on the floor (through Zara app), dedicated return counters for both online and store purchases, and smart fitting rooms. There are 13 self-checkout counters in all the sections  combined, along with 6 normal cash counters. It also houses a new boutique  space for Zara’s baby collection, first of its kind in any Zara store in India. This stor

The IPO of PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd got fully subscribed within a few hours of opening for bidding on Tuesday and ended the day with a two-time subscription New Delhi: The initial public offer of jewellery retail chain PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd. received 59.41 times subscription on the last day of bidding on Thursday. The Rs 1,100-crore initial share sale received bids for 1,00,31,19,142 shares against 1,68,85,964 shares on offer, according to the NSE data. The quota for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) garnered 136.85 times subscription while the category for non institutional investors got subscribed 56.08 times. The portion for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) fetched 16.58 times subscription. The IPO of PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd got fully subscribed within a few hours of opening for bidding on Tuesday and ended the day with a two-time subscription. PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd on Monday said it has raised Rs 330 crore from anchor investors. The price band for the offer is Rs 45

The shares were sold in the price range varying from Rs 495.01-496.12 apiece, taking the combined transaction value to Rs 1,601.71 crore New Delhi: Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA), and four others on Thursday divested a 10 per cent stake in Honasa Consumer , which owns Mamaearth brand, for Rs 1,601 crore through open market transactions, while ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Morgan Stanley acquired stakes in the company. Peak XV Partners through its arm Peak XV Partners Investments VI, Fireside Ventures through its affiliate Fireside Ventures Investment Fund I, Sequoia Capital Global Growth Fund III-US/ India Annex Fund, Sofina and Stellaris Venture Partners India I sold more than 3.23 crore shares or 10 per cent stake in Honasa Consumer, as per the data. According to the bulk deal data available on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Peak XV Partners sold over 1.23 crore shares or 3.81 per cent stake in Honasa Consumer and Fireside Ventures offloaded

The multi-product retailer is planning a major push into offline retail, aiming to launch shop-in-shops and exclusive brand outlets across India Bengaluru:  Swiss Military, a global lifestyle brand with a 30-year legacy, is targeting major growth across India, aiming to reach 10,000 retail touchpoints within the next three years, a top company official told IndiaRetailing. Currently, Swiss Military operates approximately 3,500 retail touchpoints in India. The 10,000 retail touchpoints it aims to achieve will be a mix of shop-in-shops (SIS), multi-brand outlets (MBOs), and exclusive brand outlets (EBOs). “We are intensifying our efforts to accelerate growth and aim to become market leaders in the Indian market within the next three years,” said Anuj Sawhney, managing director of Swiss Military Consumer Goods Ltd. Swiss Military specialises in non-luxury premium and innovative products with over 4,500 stock keeping units (SKUs) across eight major categories. It is present in 26 count

The Rs 1,100-crore initial share sale received bids for 11,61,92,123 shares against 1,68,85,964 shares on offer, as per NSE data. New Delhi:  The initial public offering (IPO) of jewellery retail chain PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd got subscribed 6.88 times on the second day two of the share sale on Wednesday. The Rs 1,100-crore initial share sale received bids for 11,61,92,123 shares against 1,68,85,964 shares on offer, as per NSE data. The non-institutional investors portion was subscribed 15.74 times while the category for retail individual Investors (RIIs) received 6.97 times subscriptions. The quota for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) subscribed to 8%. The IPO of PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd was fully subscribed within a few hours of opening for bidding on Tuesday and ended the day with a two-time subscription. PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd on Monday said it has raised Rs 330 crore from anchor investors. The IPO will conclude on September 12. The price band for the offer has been fixed

Pradeep Krishnakumar, Co-Founder of Zouk speaks to Anagha R Ratna, Business Reporter at IMAGES Group about the Mumbai-based lifestyle brand’s retail journey, sustainability initiatives, growth objectives and more. The post Zouk’s priority is expansion across channels: Co-founder Pradeep Krishnakumar appeared first on India Retailing . from India Retailing https://ift.tt/MQDS6cL via IFTTT

Newly opened Balenzia store is located at Pune International Airport, Lohegaon Bengaluru: Homegrown socks brand Balenzia has launched its latest store in Pune, located at Pune International Airport, Lohegaon, according to a company press release on Tuesday. This is the brand’s third outlet at an International Terminal. “We are excited to establish our presence at Pune International Airport, a key location that  aligns with our strategy to expand our footprint and connect with a diverse customer base,”  said Shruti Gupta, head of strategy at Balenzia. “This new store reflects our commitment to being available wherever our customers are.” Balenzia is a part of the Jagran Group and offers curated socks for men, women, and children. It has over 70 licensed designs, including those from DC Comics, Warner Brothers, HBO, Cartoon Network, Disney, Marvel, Playboy, among others. Currently, the retailer operates over 20 outlets across the country. The post Socks brand Balenzia opens new st

Shridhar Marri, CEO & Founder, Flyfish speaks about how his company harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to help e-commerce businesses increase sales, reduce customer acquisition costs and provide a transformative search experience. New Delhi : The convenience of e-commerce is unparalleled. However, browsing through thousands of products is time-consuming and tiresome for consumers. For e-commerce businesses too maintaining catalogues, ensuring search yields accurate results is a constant struggle. Bengaluru-based Flyfish.ai is helping take the “pain out of search” for both consumers and online retailers by harnessing the power of Artificial intelligence (AI). In the year and a half since its inception, Flyfish has worked with over 20 brands helping them increase their e-commerce conversions and sales by transforming their search capabilities. The company has offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram, London, Toronto, New York, Chicago and Bellevue. In an exclusive

Despite repeated pleas to curb the overloading of goods, it continues because of a section of truckers and officials, he said New Delhi : Truckers in West Bengal called for a 72-hour strike from Wednesday over a host of demands that includes a ban on overloading, their association said. The strike called by the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association (WBTOA) could disrupt the supply chain of essential commodities ahead of the festive season. “The strike will begin from 6 am on Wednesday,” FWBTOA office-bearer Subhas Chandra Bose said. Despite repeated pleas to curb the overloading of goods, it continues because of a section of truckers and officials, he said. “As a result, truck owners are deprived of fair transportation fees. Also, overloading causes damage to roads and vehicles, and increases the threat of fatal accidents,” he added. The truckers alleged that Rs 236 per truck were being illegally taken at weighbridges in some districts such as Birbhum and Coochbeh

Ikea’s next destination is Delhi-NCR, where it will first start online sales in the first quarter of 2025 and then open its first physical store at its first ‘Lykli’ centre New Delhi: Global furniture retailer Ikea is looking for the next round of investments in its priority market India as it enters the second phase of growth, its India CEO Susanne Pulverer said. Ikea will open small-format stores with a retail area of 30,000 to 70,000 square feet, in the adjacent markets of its existing and coming large-format stores besides growing its online presence here, she added. “We have done phase one, where we invested in the three first markets in four stores. We have taken the learnings. We have seen and learned even more from the Indian consumers, and now we take that to the next phase of the investment and expanding in India,” Pulverer told PTI. Ikea’s next destination is Delhi-NCR, where it will first start online sales in the first quarter of 2025 and then open its first physica

Apparel Group in India caters to millions of eager shoppers through its 200+ retail stores and 10+ brands   New Delhi: France’s largest supermarket operator Carrefour is re-entering India in a franchisee partnership with Dubai-based Apparel Group that plans to open a chain of supermarkets throughout India. This is the second innings for Paris-based Carrefour that had existed its cash-and-carry business in India a decade ago amid incurring heavy losses in its India business. India allows 100% foreign direct investments in cash-and-carry or wholesale business but they are only allowed to sell products to other businesses and retailers – and not to the general consumers. Now Carrefour is coming to India in a new avatar of Carrefour-branded franchisee stores that will sell directly to consumers and it will compete here with the likes of DMart and Reliance Smart Bazaar among other supermarket operators. On Monday, Apparel Group India Pvt. Ltd part of the UAE-based fashion and lifestyle

The partnership will benefit 2.4 lakh delivery partners and staff of restaurant partners associated with Swiggy New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Swiggy on Saturday launched an initiative to provide skilling and employment opportunities within Swiggy’s food delivery and the quick commerce network. The partnership will benefit 2.4 lakh delivery partners and staff of restaurant partners associated with Swiggy. The initiative will provide employment, internship and training opportunities for people in restaurant operations, and various aspects of retail management. Under the Swiggy Skills initiative, its delivery partner platform will be integrated with Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), providing access to online skill development courses, certifications, and training modules to Swiggy’s workforce. Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), said, “Today’s partnership showcases ho

The top gig roles that have been witnessing increased hiring are delivery executives, warehouse workers, logistics coordinators, in-store sales executives, and customer care executives New Delhi: As festival season is about to begin, seasonal hiring is projected to surge by 20 per cent over last year, with the e-commerce industry leading the trend amid increased demand, according to the data by job site Indeed. The top gig roles that have been witnessing increased hiring are delivery executives, warehouse workers, logistics coordinators, in-store sales executives, and customer care executives, the data showed. Several industries are reporting a marked increase in demand for seasonal workers, with e-commerce leading the trend with a 35 per cent rise in demand, followed by logistics (15 per cent), retail (14 per cent), and quick commerce (11 per cent). “The festive season is a crucial period for businesses across India, and we’re seeing a significant uptick in hiring for seasonal

Chetlur will be starting his new role this Sunday New Delhi: Retail marketplace and e-commerce expert Sreekanth Chetlur leaves Mumbai-based department store chain Shoppers Stop and joins Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-based United Homeware Company – Nice, a homeware brand as its Chief E-commerce Officer and Marketplace Officer, Chetlur confirmed to IndiaRetailing. “Immense gratitude for the time spent at Shoppers Stop, was fortunate to build and scale the Digital business ground up and make it the top OmniChannel business of the country within the Fashion and Lifestyle domain,” said Chetlur. “As I pursue a new journey, I couldn’t be more excited to move back to the Middle East and join a team which is brilliant at what they do, a massive opportunity to build and scale the business in the Kingdom which is going through major transformations,” he added. With over 15 years of expertise in digital, e-commerce, and omnichannel operations, Sreekanth Chetlur has navigated diverse retail, logis

Prashant Prakash Bokil has a 26-year background in information technology, out of which he spent 13 years in retail. His journey began as a software developer, where he honed his skills and quickly ascended the ranks. Throughout his career, Prashant has acquired diversified experience across various domains, including manufacturing, trading, and retail, among others. With expertise in Digital Transformation, Cloud Solutions, Information Security, and People Management, Prashant has been instrumental in driving organisational success and innovation. His adeptness in project management has enabled him to spearhead numerous initiatives, delivering results with precision and efficiency. Notably, Prashant has achieved significant milestones in implementing cloud-based ERP systems, including SAP, Microsoft Business Central, and SAP B1, with exceptional speed and eȲ cacy. His ability to navigate complex ERP landscapes and streamline operations has been pivotal in optimising business process

How D2C brand The Ayurveda Co. harnesses the transformative power of Ayurveda and modern science to offer high-performance Ayurvedic products The inspiration behind The Ayurveda Co. (TAC) comes from Shreedha Singh’s battle with Urticaria, a persistent skin condition she struggled with for nearly three years, trying countless remedies without success. This challenging journey led her to discover the transformative power of Ayurveda and the need for high-performance Ayurvedic products that seamlessly blend ancient wisdom with modern science. Motivated by their own experiences, Shreedha Singh and Param Bhargava founded TAC in June 2021, with a mission to create high-quality, clinically-tested products that bring the benefits of Ayurveda to today’s discerning consumers, making them modern, effective, and accessible. The USP What sets the brand apart is its commitment to delivering products made with high-performance Ayurveda that are backed by modern science and formulated with high-qua