New Business Opportunity

As footwear retailers from across the globe, sees greater possibilities of selling more shoes in a budding market like India, […]

Bangalore-based Rajesh Exports Ltd (REL), one of the world’s largest gold jewellery makers, plans to invest huge in the next 12-18 months to expand its retail business across India. The company would increase the number of retail outlets to 350 from 26 at present to have a pan India presence. The funding for the expansion would be through multiple options. It also plans to raise about Rs 4,500 crore through credit from the gold suppliers in the second phase. REL is importing gold for its jewellery making facility from Australia and South Africa. The expansion of the jwellery leader’s retail presence is a good signal to the signage players, such as min-store media companies, PSPs, etc for new business.

Reliance Wellness is the format of store that will add value to people’s lives, by providing products and services that

Bharti Retail, owners of Easy Day stores, is on an expansion spree after mostly restricting its presence to Punjab for almost three years. Amid reports that the country may finally allow foreign investment in multi-brand retail, the retail arm of Bharti Enterprises, which has a joint venture with world’s largest retailer Wal-Mart in the cash-and-carry wholesale segment, plans to more than double its number of stores this year. It plans to have 125 Easy Day supermarkets and 13 Easy Day Market hypermarts. No time to think over it for the signage sector, in-store signage companies, PSPs, fabricators, can get set to embark upon the new Easy Day zone.

In a cool style, Zara unveils its first fashion outlet in New Delhi. The company is a flagship fashion brand

After consolidating its presence in the retail business, Aditya Birla Group is planning to launch its own private labels in the electronics and consumer goods space in the next two to three years. The company at present has its private labels in selected consumer goods, apparel and fruit and beverages. The company started its retail venture in 2007 with the acquisition of Trinethra Super Retail with more than 170 stores across four south Indian states. In the store expansion front, after Delhi, the company will open a hypermarket in Hyderabad soon and then seven more hypermarkets will follow this year. The company’s new goods’ labels and store expansion plan would definitely accelerate the business of signage players, particularly in-store sign makers, print providers, etc.

Footwear manufacturer and retailer Bata India is planning to spend Rs.150-200 crore in the next three years to open new

Women’s innerwear brand Triumph International announces that the company is eyeing over Rs 450 crore revenue from the Indian market in the next five years. The company, which has a presence in 120 countries, plans to invest nearly seven per cent of its global turnover in India for further expansion. The company at present has 7-9 flagship stores in India, especially in the metros and 20 partner stores, besides presence in 120 department stores. Now, it is certained that the cosy Triumph stores will deliver a new business to in-store media companies, sign suppliers/makers, print providers, etc.

Delhi-based apparel retailer Cantabil Retail India Ltd announces that Tier-I and II cities are under-served in terms of brand offerings

Orra, one of India’s leading diamond jewellery retail chains, recently started selling gold jewellery and plans to open huge anchor stores in metros to expand the company’s presence in the diamond and jewellery sector. This Rosyblue Group company is the only jeweller in India to have tied up with De Beers, Platinum Guild India & World Gold Council. In the company’s expansion plans and brand-building move, signage players like min-store media companies, print providers, sign suppliers/makers will get a golden opportunity to grab new business.

As the long innings of the world economic showdown recovers and spending of consumer improves, big retail chains like Aditya

American clothing giant GAP may revive plans to enter the Indian market. GAP’s team has sounded out prominent Indian apparel makers, including Reliance Brands, Aditya Birla Nuvo-owned Madura Garments and the Future Group. The company seems serious about entering India as its sourcing team spent a few days with a few leading Indian apparel firms. GAP has around 3,100 stores across the globe. Of course, foray of such global clothing heavyweight into India will multiply the potential of business opportunity for in-store signage media across the country.

Arvind Ltd, a vertically integrated textile operator with interests ranging right across from cotton farming to clothing retail, is now

Godrej Appliances, the white goods division of Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, is planning to diversify into kitchen appliances and focus on low-cost water purifiers for growth. The diversification will help create synergy with group firms such as Godrej Interio, which makes modular kitchens. The move will also build on the appliances range, which includes microwave ovens, refrigerators and water purifiers. The affordable purifiers also complement the existing low-cost refrigerator—Chotukool—that caters to the rural market. The expansions will account for close to 30 percent of revenue even as the company remains a white goods maker and what it delivers to the signage segmnent in this respect is a new business opportunity opening to in-store signage companies.

French retail giant  announces its wholesale cash-and-carry business in India within next 2-3 months with the opening of its first

Cash-and-carry retailer Booker plans to open a raft of new stores in India after an initial outlet in Mumbai proved a massive success. Booker chain, which is run by former Marks & Spencer executive Charles Wilson, annnounces that a second branch will be openned in Mumbai this financial year. It will also test the opening of a franchised Booker branch in an unspecified other Indian city with a local partner. The company believes that outside Mumbai, expansion with partners could accelerate the roll-out. Arrival of more Booker stores in major cities across the country will open a new business opportunity to the in-store signage segment.

Babycare retailer Mothercare, which now has 1,115 stores in 52 countries, saw its fourth successive year of like-for-like sales growth in the UK but is “planning cautiously” for more sluggish conditions as shoppers feel the squeeze. The company is driving its overseas operations through franchising, which allows it to profit from royalties on international sales for the use of its brands without heavy capital investment. The group is targeting India as key growth markets after forming joint ventures with local partners. Mothercare expects to have 70 stores in India open by the end of the current year, with a medium-term target of 200. Now, a care for a new business with the opening of Mothercare stores is for the signage companies, such as in-store media majors, signage suppliers, etc.

Adidas India plans to open 100 exclusive style essential stores from the present 30 by the end of this year.

Titan Industries, a leading producer of watches, has planned to expand its reach by adding 300 outlets in big and small cities across India. The company is expanding its reach to 1,500 outlets in Tier- I, II and III cities from the present 1,200 outlets. The company’s 1,200 outlets are spread across 140 cities in the country. To strengthen its focus on the kids segment, the company just launched its Zoop brand. Now, it’s time for signage companies, particularly those engaged in in-store activities will find the new Titan stores a new zone for new business.

Apparel maker and retailer Cantabil announces opening of around 150 outlets this fiscal as a part of its expansion plan be funded by the firm’s upcoming initial public offering. The company is also going ahead with its plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Bahadurgarh (Haryana) as it looks to increase capacity to cater to the rise in demand.  Cantabil currently operates 381 outlets across the country -including 206 stores of its family-wear brand ‘Cantabil’ and 175 stores of the menswear brand ‘La Fanso’. An advantage in this big news is for signage companies dealing in in-store signage, print supply, sign making, fabrication, etc.