| From the Editor's Desk |  | |
States have to take the lead in fixing the APMC act
The experience of the GST has taught us that it is extremely difficult for the central government to get the states together on important issues in a diverse country like India. Mr Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India talks about how the APMC (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee) norms can be eased state by state. Indeed, agriculture is a state subject and progressive states can show the way forward by easing norms and making it easier for farmers and retailers to work together. The APMC act requires all agricultural products to be sold only in government-regulated markets. These markets impose substantial taxes without providing any services in terms of grading or sorting. Also, farmers have no incentive to upgrade or invest in quality as they cannot enter into long-term contracts with retailers. While a national policy will make life easier for everyone, achieving consensus can take years. In the mean time, there is an opportunity for a few progressive state governments to fix the archaic laws and help reduce food wastage, improve farmer income and reduce food prices for the end consumer. A few success stories will help inspire confidence for everyone and speed up the process of deregulation.
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| At a Glance | |  |
| News: Apparel, Specialty, CDIT ... | | |
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Tata Sons subsidiary Infiniti Retail said it is targeting an over 65 per cent growth in turnover to touch Rs 1,700 crore in the current fiscal, as it plans to enter new geographies and expand reach. The company that operates 56 'Croma' branded stores, selling a range of consumer electronics, appliances and IT products, will invest about Rs 40 crore by March next year, to have a total of 75 stores. It also plans to launch its own branded computers and notepads. |
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Kishore Biyani's Future Group and Chennai-based education company Everonn Education have joined hands to provide training in organised retail. The 50-50 joint venture between Future Human Development (FHDL) and Everonn Skill Development will offer several short and long-term programmes aimed at school-leaving youngsters and graduates, who will get training opportunities at Future Group's various retail formats. However, neither of the companies disclosed the size of the investment in the venture. |
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The piling debt burden may not be the only worrying aspect for shareholders of Pantaloon Retail. What could raise eyebrows higher is the treatment of certain expenses by the retailer, which has also attracted qualifications by its auditor. Several wrongful treatments in the books of accounts of the company have even led its auditors to make qualifications in their report, according to a report by BRICS Securities. |
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Tata International will soon be entering the shoes segment. The company plans to sell formal and fashion leather shoes under its own brand name. A manufacturer and trader of leather products, Tata International makes shoes for several reputed global brands including Escada and Hush Puppies and owns one of the biggest tanneries in Madhya Pradesh and a manufacturing unit in Chennai. |
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 | Megamart, a pioneer in value retailing and the retail arm of one of India's largest integrated textile manufacturer and leading retailer, Arvind Ltd has launched its fifth BIG Megamart in Thane, at Big Mall, Ghodbunder Road. The 40,000 sq ft new look store will be home to over 200 top Indian and international brands. |
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As economic growth and stock market gains spur spending on luxury, Tag Heuer the luxury watch brand plans to double its exclusive outlets in India. The brand plans to open 15 showrooms in India in the next three years. Right now, it has six outlets. The brand sees the Indian market at about $500 million, big enough to be in Tag Heuer's top 15 markets out of 120. |
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Reliance Trends, the Apparel, Luggage and Accessories specialty format of Reliance Retail, announced its Festive Season promotion and kicked off a new campaign, 'Sirf Dikhne Me Mehenga'. A nationwide promotion to celebrate the festive season with its customers, Reliance Trends is offering its customers some irresistible offers at all Reliance Trends stores across India. |
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Future Group affiliated store Mother Earth has launched a new range of funky T-shirts made from Shop for Change Fair Trade certified cotton. The designs have been selected from the many entries received for the Green Tee competition initiated by Shop for Change, in association with Mother Earth. Just launched at Mother Earth's Bangalore stores, the T-shirts will hit Mother Earth's Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai stores this week. |
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| News: Food & Grocery, QSR ... | | |
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Pizza Hut appoints Hungama as its social media agency
Indiantelevision.com
Pizza Hut has appointed Hungama Digital Media Entertainment to strengthen its social media presence. Hungama will be responsible for the brand and develop various campaigns to enable interactive communication channels between Pizza Hut and the spectrum of users in the digital universe. |
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| Retail Trends | | |
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The Economic Times, India's largest financial daily, is organising Retail Awards 2010 to provide a platform to recognise and acknowledge excellence in the retail segment. To be held in Mumbai on October 22, the various categories for the awards include marketing, operation, innovation business model, popular-derived awards and jury-based awards. |
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 | Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi and LDT Nagold Germany are jointly organizing an international conference, CONTINUUM 10, to map the trajectory of Retail and to offer direction towards emerging opportunities and developing cutting edge strategies presented by distinguished speakers drawn from Retail, Fashion Brands and Academia. The conference will highlight the key strands that have impacted retail and focus on new trends that will shape up the future growth of retailing, especially fashion retailing. |
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 | 'The retail trading environment has become better'
Moneylife Personal Finance Magazine
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) works towards creating a favourable climate for the modern retail industry in the country. Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI, spoke about the various challenges facing the industry. Excerpts: |
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A chain of consumer goods, produced by the inmates of Tihar jail, are all set to catch global attention with the prison authorities deciding to promote its 'TJ' brand online. The products which are sold under the TJ brand include various type of bakery products, pottery, apparels, paintings, hand made paper products, oil, hand woven cloth, apparels, office furniture, carpets, soap, phenyl etc. |
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| Retail Insight | | |
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| The Value of Retail Search and Position |
| iProspect |
Internet retailers are forced to be the savviest and most demanding online marketers due to the commoditized nature of their products, the low profit margins their sales produce, the high volume of transactions they must generate to be successful, and the intensity of competition of their marketplace. While this survey looks at shopper behavior for consumer electronics and computer products, the same trends are at play across all segments of the retail marketplace. The research also closely analyzes the role of various search influences, and better understand how search engines and retail sites work together to deliver the most complete shopper search experience. |
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