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.…
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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…
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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…
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The Times of India Bangalore, March 5, 2012 Prepaid cards have become the latest retail tool to keep consumers hooked to brands. They offer convenience and safety, because customers don't have to carry cash, and they often come with a variety of offers , including discounts. Brands like Cafe Coffee Day, Pizza Hut, Provogue, Kaya, Fastrack, Gili and a host of others have launched prepaid cards. A prepaid card works like a debit card with a PIN number that can be redeemed at the brands' outlets. The cards in India are based on the closed loop model - that is,…
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Sarah Jacob , The Economic Times Bangalore, March 2, 2012 Apparel and home products retailer Marks and Spencer's has appointed Venu Nair as head of its India operations, replacing CEO Martin Jones who is moving back to the parent company. Nair takes charge as managing director, the London-headquartered company said. Sources said Jones was moving back for personal reasons. Nair was head of sourcing for the £9.7-billion British retailer in South Asia and director of buying operations for India. M&S operates in India through Marks & Spencer Reliance India, a joint venture with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, selling clothes and…
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