Retail Insight on 20th July 2009

News


Trent changes gear
Business Standard
Trent is trying hard to make up for lost time. Consider this: In the last 10 years, the retail arm of the Tata Group set up only 68 stores with around one million sq ft of space. But Trent's slow pace is history now. By the end of this financial year, the company will sign up for an additional two million sq ft space to open 25 new stores.


Welspun Retail plans to have 400-500 Welhome stores
Hindu Business Line
Home furnishing retail chain Welspun Retail is planning to increase its number of stores under the brand Welhome to around 400-500 in the next three years, a top company official said.


Siyaram to expand retail footprint
Sify
Textile player, Siyaram Silk Mills, plans to invest Rs 60-80 crore in the next three years to roll out 200 stores in India and the Middle-East as well as grow its fabric business in the global market.


GFA set to add 40 outlets by March 2010
mydigitalfc.com
Global Franchise Architects (GFA), a Switzerland-based builder, operator and franchiser of Pizza Corner and Coffee World among other specialty food retail brands, is regaining its focus on the India market.



Future rejigs Best Deals format, shuts 3 outlets
Daily News & Analysis
Future Group Ltd, the diversified retail group, has decided to rework the model of its small-format grocery store, Big Bazaar Best Deals, which it was testing in the suburbs of Mumbai.



Pavers Foresight plans more stores
mydigitalfc.com
The UK's Pavers and Foresight Group is ramping up its presence in the Indian footwear retail market. The partners, who have floated four entities in India under a joint venture (JV) for research and development, retail and manufacturing in the footwear segment, are eying revenues of $20 million over the next three years.



Retail Trends


Wal-Mart to mark merchandise for environmental impact
domain-B
The world's largest retailer is taking its commitment to the environment to the level of a mission to assess the social and environmental impact of every item that it puts up for sale.


Retail sector witnessing winds of change
Economic Times
A palpable improvement in economic conditions and low inflation have helped the retail sector stage a recovery in the recent past. After two bad quarters, same store sales (SSS) have again turned positive. While discretionary spending remained low, value retail has been the show stealer during this recovery.



Retail Insight

Customers Want a Consistent In-Store Experience

Mercer

Improving store-level operations rarely is top of mind for senior executives in retailing. But it can yield a high return on investment, especially when it serves to deliver the same customer experience at each site. An effective site operations program creates hard-to-copy differentiation and more productive employees for retailers of all sizes and formats.