Retail insight as on 17th March 2010

March 17, 2010News for the Retail industry










Previous Issues



News: Apparel, Specialty, CDIT ...



ICICI Venture:Subhiksha stake 'written off'

Livemint

Seven months after a corporate debt restructuring (CDR) plan for Subhiksha Trading Services Ltd hit a dead end, ICICI Venture Funds Management Co. Ltd, the main investor in the troubled retailer, considers its investment in the company a "write-off" and is struggling to find buyers for its stake, according to a person familiar with the development.





Promoters working hard to revive Vishal Retail

NDTV.com

Cash strapped retail chain Vishal Retail is in no mood to mirror Subhiksha in its restructuring process. Even if it means getting in a new investor. But sources say, private equity company TPG wants to actually buy Vishal Retail and some of the CDR members are alright with the plan. Vishal Retail's main promoter R C Agarwal is in no mood for a sell out and he is still finding ways to revive the company.





IFC to invest $5 mln in Suvidhaa Infoserve

Reuters India

International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, is investing up to $5 million in Suvidhaa Infoserve Pvt Ltd, a retail services aggregator which offers railway and air ticketing, mobile recharge and bill payment services in urban, semi-urban and rural locations in India.





Cartier's second coming in India

Business Standard

Cartier has been a relative latecomer to India -- luxury labels like Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Christian Dior and Chanel, to name a few, have long preceded it. But it is counting on its high brand recall with maharajas of yesterday to seduce the billionaires of today







Reliance Jewels Expands, Opens Diamond Jewelry Store in Thane

IDEX Online

Indian retailer Reliance Jewels has launched its 17th jewelry store in Thane, the company announced. As the Indian diamond jewelry retail section is experiencing fast growth, the country's largest players are attempting to grab a share in the lucrative market.





News: Food & Grocery, QSR ...



Spencer's Retail hopes to make profit

Thaindian.com

Kolkata-based Spencer's Retail hopes to turn its business around in 12-18 months. The retail arm of power utility CESC had posted a loss of Rs. 220 crore in 2008-09. The company plans to open stand-alone "Fish & Meat" outlets in and around the city, it said in a recent investors' presentation.





Retail Trends



Road ahead for organised retail

Economic Times

Organised retail today accounts for less than 5% of India's retail business, but is bound to grow, forcing choices on the government, and upon itself. China's experience and those of other Asian countries that recently modernised their retail sector can provide valuable insight on what choices make sense





Jugaad marketing

Business Standard

There can be some interesting build-on or Jugaad to the existing vending systems. Modern brands can ride some natural rhythms that exist in our socio-economic fabric





Retail Insight



Store Systems 2015: Planning Today to Exceed Customer Expectations Tomorrow

RIS

While the physical store is still a vital--perhaps the vital--arena for making, maintaining, and influencing positive shopper impressions, it now must compete with numerous other influences on the entire shopping experience. These influences will multiply and change by 2015, so when planning store systems strategy for the coming decade, retailers will need to keep a close eye on what the rising group of younger, digitally savvy customers want, need, and expect from their shopping experiences.