Retail
Once rebuffed, a Chinese company finds the Ambani route to India
It seems a safe India entry for Shein because this time the ownership and control of the platform will remain with Reliance Retail's subsidiary; the platform will be hosted on infrastructure in India; and all platform data will remain in India, which Shein will not have access to, or rights over, ET has reported based on information from sources.
Reliance Industries Invests Rs 4,330 cr in Retail Unit in FY24
Reliance Industries invested Rs 4,330 crore into its flagship retail company, Reliance Retail, in the past fiscal year, a shift from previous reliance on debt funding. The investment, made through its subsidiary RRVL, included both equity and debt. Reliance Retail transferred its supply chain assets to RLWH at a valuation of Rs 8,000 crore. This move aims to unlock value from assets and improve cash flow, following recent investments by ADIA and KKR in RLWH.
Video commerce offerings gain traction, Indians spent over 2 mn hours video shopping: Flipkart
Flipkart announced on Thursday that its video commerce platform has seen significant adoption, with Indian customers spending over 2 million hours on it from June 2023 to May 2024. The increase in usage highlights the growing trend of video commerce in India, driven by tech-savvy and digitally inclined consumers.
Titan Eye+ to resume expansion strategy amid growing eyewear market
Titan Eye+, an eyewear retailer, will resume network expansion from July. The company, an arm of Titan, has over 900 stores across 350 cities and recorded earnings of Rs 707 crore in fiscal year 2023-24. The company is aiming to expand its premium eyewear market share to 10% or less, with the launch of retail store Runway for premium sunglasses.
KwikChat to power over 5000 eCommerce brands globally, aims four-fold revenues increase
KwikChat, a WhatsApp commerce solution by eCommerce enabler GoKwik, aims to quadruple its revenue and support over 5000 brands and 3 billion conversations in the next six months. Launched after acquiring Tellephant, KwikChat helps brands engage shoppers, increasing ROI on marketing campaigns, recovering abandoned checkouts, and boosting repeat purchases. Within a year, it expanded to multiple platforms, significantly increasing engagement and automated support queries. Brands using KwikChat, like Foxtale, report higher conversions and recovery rates, contributing to GoKwik’s expected revenue growth this fiscal year.
Reliance Retail sets the ball rolling on delivery in an hour, starts pilot service in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai
Reliance Retail's Mumbai delivery service aims for quick fulfillment in 30-45 minutes, integrating with kirana stores for wider reach. The company is utilising tech platforms like FYND and Locus for efficient operations.
Shoppers Stop aims to open 60 new INTUNE stores in FY25
Shopper Stop plans to open 60 new INTUNE stores this fiscal, aiming to capitalize on mass premium opportunities in India's value fashion sector. With strategic investments in merchandising and analytics, the retailer is expanding its private labels and beauty brands to cater to evolving consumer preferences and growing brand consciousness.
Food contamination cases: E-tailers turn more watchful, prepare to delist errant manufacturers
A human finger found in an order of ice cream recently brought food etailing into sharp focus. Following this weird episode, etailers are beginning to cast a keen eye on their suppliers, and bringing new policies with provisions to penalise errant partners.
RAI's Budget wishlist: Lower taxes for individuals, benefits on land rates, electricity
BUDGET EXPECTATIONS: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the Union Budget FY25 to focus on lowering individual taxes to boost demand and consumption. RAI's pre-Budget recommendations include low-cost financing, subsidies on land and electricity, and the adoption of supportive policies to strengthen the retail sector, which contributes 10% to India's GDP
Retailers report only 3% growth in sales in May
Retail businesses across regions have indicated growth in sales compared to May 2023, with South India showing the highest increase at 4%, followed by East and West India at 3% each, and North India at 2%.
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It was ‘closing’ time for many retailers in FY24; V-Mart, W, Aurelia among cos that downed more shutters
Retail chains like Pantaloons, Spencer's Retail, and Nature's Basket have closed down more stores in 2023-24 than they opened new ones, leading to a drop in their total store count. V-Mart Retail, W, Aurelia, and Titan Eye+ had higher store closures than openings in the January to March quarter. Pantaloons store count dropped from 431 in FY23 to 417 in FY24, with 33 stores closed to improve network quality.
Amazon announces expansion of its grocery service unit to over 130 cities
Amazon India announced on Tuesday that it is expanding Amazon Fresh, its comprehensive grocery service. This service includes both wet and dry groceries such as fruits, vegetables, chilled products, and a range of personal care items.
Stop, thief! Retail giants are facing a new 'lifting' problem - not just from customers, but also staff & vendors
Indian retail faces increasing shrinkage issues due to thefts and errors, with Trent Ltd reporting a rise in shrinkage to 0.41% of sales in FY24. V-Mart Retail's shrinkage increased from 0.4% to 0.5% in the same period.
Myntra ropes in Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador for 'Trend IRL' campaign
Myntra has unveiled Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as its new brand ambassador for the ‘Trend IRL’ (Trend in Real Life) campaign. Known as the 'Baadshah of Bollywood,' Khan will lead this initiative to position Myntra as the top destination for discovering and staying ahead of fashion trends. The campaign, featuring Khan in stylish outfits in everyday settings, underscores Myntra’s mission to democratize fashion and inspire unique style expressions.
DPIIT officials, Flipkart, toy makers to meet on Wednesday on ways to increase sourcing
Senior officials from the Commerce and Industry Ministry, Walmart group firm Flipkart, and domestic toy makers will discuss ways to enhance India's position in the global toy supply chain and increase sourcing on the e-commerce platform.
Indians get hooked on 10-minute grocery apps, squeezing small retailers
India's quick commerce boom is reshaping how Indians shop, with Swiggy leading the charge in the fast-paced delivery game. The SoftBank-backed company's grocery warehouse in a middle-class suburb of Mumbai operates with precision, aiming to deliver orders within 10 minutes. Swiggy's bikers, clad in bright orange T-shirts, race against time to collect and deliver packed grocery orders, with the warehouse manager emphasizing the need for speed in the entire process.
