LG Electronics to roll out 100 mobile stores pan-India
Leading mobile phone manufacturer LG Electronics announces that they will open 100 exclusive mobile handset stores across India. Eyeing a market share of 10 percent by 2010-end in a projected 10 crore mobile handset market this year, the company has set a target to double its retail distribution network from 20,000 dealers to 40,000 across the country. The South Korean firm has earmarked a budget of Rs 290 crore for marketing activities, including investments made for improving visibility. The robust retail expansion of the global electronics giant is a new business opportunity to every in-store signage company in the country.
Breguet of Swatch Group is looking at a 50 per cent sales growth in India this year. The company announces that an aggressive marketing has been carrying out across the subcontinent since 2007 and already India features among our top 10 countries in terms of sales. Breguet is aiming to open an exclusive boutique for its watches in the country soon. Currently, Breguet has appointed six retailers in India, including Kolkata, to sell its products. Such expansion plan of the world’s leading watch company will be an unbeatable delight for new business opportunity for in-store signage companies.
Pantaloon Retail, which is in the process of merging its home solutions business with itself, has big plans to stimulate growth in its home retailing business post merger. The company’s business is currently being run by Home Solutions Retail India Ltd (HSRIL) that has stores like E-zone, Electronic Bazaar and Home Town. As part of its growth plan in home solutions, HSRIL will roll out 22 E-zone stores in the current financial year. With 66 stores already operational with an average size of 10,000 square feet per store, the company plans to target the metros and Tier I cities for this expansion. In-store signage companies can harvest new business in the post-merger expansion move of Aditya Birla Group.
Investment advisory and financial planning firm, Bajaj Capital recently announces its venture into organised coffee retail chain business with the launch of its first ‘Wealth Cafe’ outlet in Noida. The company also aims to open 25 outlets of the chain across the country within next two years as it plans to tap high net worth investors, who frequent shopping malls and lifestyle joints. The mall culture in India has picked up in last couple of years and establishing Wealth Cafes in such places could be able to reach out to a large number of people with high disposable income. In addition, the new cafes are cosy dens where in-store signage companies could harvest a new business.
Shopping has become a ‘360-degree’ experience in Delhi, with many stores now offering eating options where one can grab a quick bite or soak in a fine dining experience when not shopping. Home décor boutique Zaza added a bistro, Zaffiro to its kitty and its store at Zamroodpur also boasts of a rooftop art gallery and a party zone.The trend of 360-degree stores took off with the arrival of book cafes in the capital. Retail chains like Gitanjali Lifestyle and Future Group are also dabbling in destination shopping which draws mainly from the Epicurean credo of ‘shop, eat and celebrate’. Now, it is turn for the in-store signage companies to enjoy 360-degree opportunity to mint a new business.
Mother Dairy, one of the largest milk processors in India, would soon join the league of retail giants as it plans to roll out its exclusive retail outlets ‘Gaurav Stores’ to market the entire range of Mother Dairy products across India. The dairy company plans to launch 350 exclusive stores in New Delhi and 200 retail outlets in Mumbai in the first phase and this would be further expanded to all major cities. The company has a network of Mother Dairy booths in Delhi to market the dairy products. Now, time has come for the signage companies like in-store media majors, PSPs, sign makers to milk new business in the upcoming Mother Dairy stores.
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.
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.
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.
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.