Among consumer sectors, very few can match up to fashion in terms of its global nature. Despite food having led the way in global trade through spices, it is the fashion sector that led the global march of brands. As the economies in Europe and Asia recovered and grew, historical colonial linkages as well as modern culture-vehicles such as movies carried images of what was cool in the benchmark culture. Fashion brands were the most identifiable representation of cool. India itself has known international fashion and luxury brands for several decades. From the mass footwear brand Bata to the top-notch…
Madhurima Nandy, MINT Bangalore, March 11, 2012 Planet Retail Pvt. Ltd, which sells a clutch of international clothing and accessory brands in India, has shrunk both its expansion and investment plans on the back of a weak global economy and slow sales. The retailer of Guess, Body Shop, Accessorize, Next and Nautica brands in India may also miss its 2015 break-even target. Planet Retail, after a substantial restructuring and clean-up exercise in 2010, embarked on an expansion plan not just for a wider reach but also to bring in new brands and build existing ones. All that is on hold…
Malini Goyal, The Economic Times New Delhi, March 11, 2012 Satish Kumar used to hate shopping. The 43-year-old techie from Delhi found the crowds intimidating and the haggling tiresome. The fickleness of his mother and wife jangled his nerves. Kumar would come back from shopping in a foul mood. To keep things simpler, the Kumar household divided its shopping chores a few years ago. His wife took care of shopping for veggies, clothing and household items. Kumar had the job of lugging the groceries from the kirana shop, even though Mrs Kumar prepared the monthly list of items to buy.…
Shilpa Phadnis, The Times of India Bangalore, March 9, 2012 Titan Industries, which started as a watch brand in 1984, is taking a fresh gamble-to turn into a full-scale lifestyle company. The firm's youth brand Fastrack will drive this transformation, an effort partly to ensure that the parent brand Titan is shielded from any risk. Fastrack is already into watches and eyewear, and now it is looking at categories like bicycles, helmets, shoes and apparel. Titan's play in the lifestyle category is similar to what US watch and accessory brand Fossil did -- diversifying into eyewear, handbags, jewellery, shoes and…
Priyanka Golikeri , Daily News & Analysis (DNA) Bangalore, March 7, 2012 There was a time when ready-to-eat and ready-to-make edible products relating to India’s traditional cuisine were available only at neighbourhood provision stores. Now, they are careening their way into ultra-modern supermarkets / hypermarkets across India, as if to give company to Western foods like Dutch Gouda and Edam, and the Italian Parmigiano. Take the Big Bazaar at Malleswaram in Bangalore for example. Right opposite the entrance, a wheel-cart, emblazoned with the Hinglish term “Banana Mandi”, sells traditional bananas like yalakki (yellow-skinned finger-sized bananas), nendran (big- sized plantains used…
Geopolitical friction has again sparked renewed concerns over inflation and rising input costs for FMCG companies as @itmeansjustice @whysnavi write. @devangshu commented.
