Retail Insight on September 18th 2009

Sep 18, 2009

News and Analysis for the retail industry

News

Tanishq Launches 'Queen of Diamonds' contest Business Standard Tanishq is set to mesmerize its customers with exciting prizes and gifts besides offering a new range of jewellery designs that are distinct and fascinating. Keeping alive the festive spirit, Tanishq today launched “Queen of Diamonds”.

Vijay Sales heads north DNA Vijay Sales, the consumer electronics and durables retail chain that is predominant in the western India, is now looking at entering the northern region, with Delhi as its next focus.

Alok Retail in talks to raise Rs 100 cr Business Standard "We are in talks with some PE firms and intend to raise Rs 100-crore soon. We will also be diluting some stake," Alok Retail's Director Varun S Jiwrajka told reporters here today.

Welspun Retail to add 50 stores in FY10 Livemint Welspun Retail, the retail arm of Welspun India Ltd, expects to add 50 stores in FY10 due to a demand revival this fiscal, taking its store tally to 250, its director said on Thursday.

Retail Trends

India unlikely to allow FDI in multibrand retail Business Standard "It's a sensitive sector. I don't see it happening... Certainly not in one or two years," Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Joint Secretary Gopal Krishna said during his interaction with Swedish industry captains.

Retail kiosks low-risk option for entrepreneurs Economic Times Dhiraj Kumar Singh always dreamt of setting up his own retail venture but was constrained due to lack of capital. He finally started selling chocolate brownies in a mall and without much by way of investment.

Retail Insight

Leaner Retailing: Overhauling your cost structure for sustainable, long-term effectiveness Kurt Salmon Already industry analysts and experts are calling 2009 a write-off. Amidst a flurry of bad news that amounts to the most challenging retail environment in nearly a century, many industry giants are fighting to survive. Yet history demonstrates that investing in building key capabilities now will likely mean faster, stronger growth once the economy recovers. So what are the right priorities for retailers? Certainly, cost reduction is critical for all retailers. For healthier retailers, aggressive but prudent cost reduction can fund an investment in key capabilities. whereas a more aggressive approach to cost reduction may be appropriate for retailers facing significant profit or liquidity issues. The key for both groups is to act quickly. Retailers that delay profit improvements run the risk of creating a liquidity crisis, which can result in ruin in the current credit crunch.