Steel majors eye huge returns in retail
As the infrastructure sector gaining momentum on the back of an economic revival, steel majors are looking to cash in on the opportunity by revamping retail outlets in India. Companies such as Essar Steel, Ispat Industries and JSW Steel plan to ramp up their outlets and are eyeing at least 30-35 percent growth through retail sales in the next two years. Such expansion in the infrastructure sector would boost business of signage companies dealing with in-store displays and POPs across the country.
Bangalore-headquartered real estate developer Nitesh Estates Ltd is planning to raise around Rs 150 crore in the near future to fund its retail project in the city. The company, which is planning to enter the retail space with the development of ‘Nitesh Mall’, has a plan to invest around Rs 325 crore in this retail project. They also plan to develop mall projects worth around $300 million in Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. For this Nitish Estates has tied up with Citigroup for the projects in the next 2-3 years. Now, big city malls are going to get erected around. So is the reason why signage companies dealing with in-store displays could make themselves ready to grab the new opportunity.
Safal, the brand name of Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt Ltd, will expand through franchisee model and accordingly might set up outlets across India, depending upon the business proposals they receive. The company also plans to launch 100 more fruit and vegetable outlets in the next 12 months. Safal has 400 outlets across Delhi and NCR and 25 big format stores (1,500-2,000 sq ft) in Bangalore. The new expansion policy of the company eventually brings in a business opportunity to the signage companies, such as PSPs, fabricators, sign suppliers and others engaging in retail sector.
store in the national capital region with a floor area of 4,400 sq ft, at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The company plans to open large stores which would have its flagship Bata brand as well as other brands like Power, Reebok and Hush Puppies. The revival of the largest footwear retailer would now depend on larger stores in tier-I and II cities, which in turn would bring in a new business opportunity to a number of signage players, particularly dealing with in-shop displays.
Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetables plans to open 100 additional stores in the national capital region (NCR) in the next one year. National Dairy Development Board subsidiary Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetables plans to open 100 additional stores in the national capital region (NCR) in the next one year. The company has identified around 80-90 locations in the NCR where the company would be opening these outlets, most of which will be on franchise mode. The new Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetables outlets would benefit the signage players who are dealing with the retail shop segment.
Titan Industries has stepped up its efforts to expand in the domestic and the international markets. The watch major that already commands around 65 percent market share in the Indian market and plans to add 100 Titan stores over the next five years as its eyes an annual 2 percent growth over the same period from the domestic market. At present, Titan has 300 stores across 130 cities and after its expansion the company would add another 40 cities to this list. The new cities would include smaller ones such as Coimbatore, Vishkhapatnam and Jaipur. Titan’s new stores would bring new business opportunities to the signage domain where in-store companies would get benefited.
Foraying into steel retail, the Indian Steel Corporation Limited (ISC) unveils its first ISC Steel Zone, a franchised retail store in Ahmedabad. While the company has in all launched two such stores in Gujarat, going forward, ISC is looking at 150 more such stores in the next six months. A joint venture of Ruchi Group & Mitsui Co Ltd , Japan, ISC is a leading manufacture of galvanized steel and cold rolled steel coils/sheets from its Kandla plant in Gujarat. Unveiling of such steel stores would bring a new boost to the signage industry, benefiting particularly those dealing with in-store displays.