By Devangshu Dutta, Tarang Gautam Saxena While the Indian consumers have aspired to own international fashion brands, India’s large population base in turn has been an aspirational market for the international companies. To remote observers, the Indian market may appear to be a virgin territory as far as international apparel and footwear brands are concerned. But India has seen the presence of international brands for almost a century, including mass brands such as Bata and luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton. However, as the colonial government systematically repressed local textile production, the local resistance to foreign products grew as well.…
In a recent workshop on fashion styling, we were discussing how the retail seasons have evolved. In the developed economies, from the traditional two seasons - spring-summer and autumn-winter - the number of seasons grew as fashion brands discovered or invented (take your pick!) sub-seasons to create and satisfy distinct demand in specific time periods. For many companies, the number of "seasons" has grown to 10-12 now including transitions and “promo season” series. India, you would think, essentially has two seasons, the summer and the festive season. However, in the last decade or so, as exposure to the global culture…
Wal-Mart has just opened a new store Supermercado de Walmart in Houston (Texas). The Houston Chronicle reports that the Supermercado aims to reach out to the Hispanic population, tailoring the foods more to Hispanic tastes and needs and adding signs in Spanish. Wal-Mart is also reportedly planning to open a Mas Club this summer, based on its Sam's Club warehouse outlet, but focussed again on Hispanic customers. (The original article is here: Wal-Mart gives its Supermercado concept a tryout). Going by some of the negative comments attracted by the article, it is legitimate to ask: what will Wal-Mart's existing customers think, and how…
An article in Convenience Store Decisions wonders "Can Packaging Boost Sales?" According to the article, in November 2008 McDonald's reported that 82 percent of its packaging in its nine largest markets is now made from renewable materials. And "convenience store retailers are following Mickey D’s lead, seeking to capture a greater share of takeout sales as well as respect the earth with reliable, environmentally friendly packaging that won’t drive up the cost of takeout meals." The question is: how much of a selling point is green packaging at retail? Is the sales lift worth the investment in green packaging? (At the…
Retailwire.com prompted a discussion on what, if anything, should grocers and other stores be doing to accommodate the growth in stay-at-home dads?According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the recession is putting more men out of work than women, which has led to an increase of stay-at-home dads who are increasingly taking on the traditional women's roles of childcare, housework, school life, and shopping. Here's my contribution to the Dad wishlist: salespeople who don't look down their noses when asked a ("stupid") question Mom would never have dreamt of asking. (Also, considering this is the gender that apparently never…
Brands are ready to roll the red carpet for consumers this festive season. But for #India's #jewellery brands this #Diwali will likely be a tad different from previous ones.
Reliance Retail & 7-Eleven ending 5-year franchise deal in India @SagarMalviya_ET
@devangshu:"convenience stores pressured by q-comm; family-kiranas survive with lower overheads & different margin expectations than corps"
Speciality Restaurants expanding into high-margin QSR and cloud kitchen spaces - @devangshu shared his perspective on the opportunities and realities of managing a diverse "house of brands" in the food service sector #India #strategy #diversification
