Today (10-October-2007), representatives from all sections of the supply chain including farmers, traders, wholesalers, hawkers and daily wage workers from areas around Mumbai gathered at Azad Maidan in Mumbai to protest the decision of the government to allow FDI in retail ventures by overseas and big domestic businesses.
Most establishments, including wholesale markets and retail shops across Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, and its suburbs were closed. The protest was organized under the banner of Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) who had given a voluntary trade shutdown across the state.
Click here for details of the protest.
Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retail. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
A twist in the retail story
There has been a new development in the Indian Retail Onslaught Scenario.
The Government of India has come up with a scheme to introduce licencing for large retail players planning to open retail outlets for the sale of food and grocery items.
The plan, as it appears, is that anyone wanting to open a retail outlet to sell food and grocery items - including grains, fruits, vegetables, edible oils etc. with a space of 10,000 square feet or more will have to procure a licence from the local urban administrative body - the Municipal Corporation or its equivalent.
It may be recollected that the Reliance Fresh outlets in Ranchi, Indore faced stiff opposition from the local sabjiwalas (vegetable vendors) recently. Considering the shop size limit of 10,000 sqft it seems that outlets like Reliance Fresh, that are already operational in some towns, may not come under its perview as they occupy of much smaller premises.
It remains to be seen how much this proposal will effect the retail ventures of the big guys, especially Reliance and Bharti - both of whom have been preparing in a big way to open a chain of retail outlets in the country. Their outlets are being planned with sizes ranging from 50,000 sqft to 1.5 lakh sqft of floor space.
Many of the industry bigwigs are raising eye-brows at the very thought of licencing. The past experience of the licence regime have not been very good and a lot of apprehension creeps in with the very thought of it being reintroduced.
The Government of India has come up with a scheme to introduce licencing for large retail players planning to open retail outlets for the sale of food and grocery items.
The plan, as it appears, is that anyone wanting to open a retail outlet to sell food and grocery items - including grains, fruits, vegetables, edible oils etc. with a space of 10,000 square feet or more will have to procure a licence from the local urban administrative body - the Municipal Corporation or its equivalent.
It may be recollected that the Reliance Fresh outlets in Ranchi, Indore faced stiff opposition from the local sabjiwalas (vegetable vendors) recently. Considering the shop size limit of 10,000 sqft it seems that outlets like Reliance Fresh, that are already operational in some towns, may not come under its perview as they occupy of much smaller premises.
It remains to be seen how much this proposal will effect the retail ventures of the big guys, especially Reliance and Bharti - both of whom have been preparing in a big way to open a chain of retail outlets in the country. Their outlets are being planned with sizes ranging from 50,000 sqft to 1.5 lakh sqft of floor space.
Many of the industry bigwigs are raising eye-brows at the very thought of licencing. The past experience of the licence regime have not been very good and a lot of apprehension creeps in with the very thought of it being reintroduced.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Traditional Retailers on the Technology Track
The traditional retailers have visibly embarked on the technology track.
Computers, closed circuit television (CCTV), modern gadgets are now the latest in thing in the retail infrastructure scenario. Obviously the traditional retailers - owners of the mom-n-pop stores - are gearing up.
Most of the participants of this modernisation campaign are in it to be able to meet the stricter reporting requirements of the various government agencies. Their consultants - tax advisers and auditors - are insisting that they deploy the hi-tech reporting mechanisms to be able to better comply with the statutory reporting which, in India, is clearly headed towards the e-world.
Some of the retailers are modernising because their principals - the manufacturers and brand owners of their products - are insisting that they do so. I am aware of a couple of such principals who want their dealers to be online all through the day and use their common infrastructure of their billing and information requirements.
Their is yet another group of retailers that is upgrading because it is the in-thing. They use these modern tools to demonstrate that they in sync with the latest. For this group modernisation is more of a marketing gimmick. They like to be recognized as trend-setters in their group.
Then, there is one group that is upgrading because his neighbour has done it.
Whatever be the reason, the modernization will certainly help these small retail establishments survive the retail onslaught of the big business houses.
Computers, closed circuit television (CCTV), modern gadgets are now the latest in thing in the retail infrastructure scenario. Obviously the traditional retailers - owners of the mom-n-pop stores - are gearing up.
Most of the participants of this modernisation campaign are in it to be able to meet the stricter reporting requirements of the various government agencies. Their consultants - tax advisers and auditors - are insisting that they deploy the hi-tech reporting mechanisms to be able to better comply with the statutory reporting which, in India, is clearly headed towards the e-world.
Some of the retailers are modernising because their principals - the manufacturers and brand owners of their products - are insisting that they do so. I am aware of a couple of such principals who want their dealers to be online all through the day and use their common infrastructure of their billing and information requirements.
Their is yet another group of retailers that is upgrading because it is the in-thing. They use these modern tools to demonstrate that they in sync with the latest. For this group modernisation is more of a marketing gimmick. They like to be recognized as trend-setters in their group.
Then, there is one group that is upgrading because his neighbour has done it.
Whatever be the reason, the modernization will certainly help these small retail establishments survive the retail onslaught of the big business houses.
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