Prestige Group set to develop six malls
Bangalore-based Prestige Group is planning to develop six malls, scheduled to be operational by 2013. The real estate giant will construct four of these six malls in a JV with Singapore-based CapitaMalls Asia. The new malls would be set up in Hyderabad, Kochi, Mangalore, Bangalore, Mysore and Shantiniketan, a township developed by the group near Bangalore. Prestige Group has two malls in Bangalore— Forum at Koramangala and True Value Mall in Whitefield. The one in Whitefield is a discount mall with anchors such as Pantaloons, Tommy Hilfiger, Megamart, Esprit and Louis Vuitton having their factory outlets there. Prestige Group’s unveiling of new malls in strategic locations would boost the parametre of the Indian retail segment, which in turn bring in new business opportunity for the signage industry as well.
Reliance Retail, which has a tie-up with UK-based toy retailer Hamleys, announces the of launch 20 toy stores across the country in the next seven years with an investment of Rs 150 crore. The organised toy market in the country, estimated at Rs 1,500 crore, is poised for a healthy growth. In a matter of some months, the second Hamleys store would come up in Chennai. Breaking news is that the signage industry is that these new toy stores will be poised as new business opportunity to in-store signage companies.
Tata Group’s Infiniti Retail plans to open more than 100 Croma stores across India during the next two years. Currently the company has 47 Croma stores and the latest in the expansion is the three new stores of—20,000 sq ft at South Extension, 6,000 sq ft at Saket (New Delhi) and 12,000 sq ft at Gurgaon (Haryana). Infiniti Retail, a subsidiary of Tata Sons had launched Croma chain of mega stores of consumer electronics and durables in 2006. Croma’s magnification in the capital city and its NCR is a green signal to the region’s in-store signage majors for a new business opportunity.
Adidas AG, the world’s second-largest sporting-goods maker, announces its improved sales and profitability resulting from the upcoming FIFA World Cup, SA. It is confirmed that it will help the company meet its increased forecast for full-year profit. Revenue in 2010 will rise at a ‘mid-single-digit’ pace, faster than the previous forecast of ‘low-to-mid single-digit’ growth. Now, what the company is expecting is that India will become its big growth market and retail sales to rise at pace faster than the previously expected as it steps up store opening across the country. The company’s plan to magnify its retail preseence in India is a new business prospect for signage players like in-store media majors, sign makers/suppliers, print providers, etc.
Latest Landmark store in Mumbai at Lower Parel has recently been unveiled in a grand way to welcome youngsters looking for reading books, listening to music and video gaming. Spread across a massive 42,000 square feet area, it is the largest Landmark outlet anywhere in the country. It stands at nearly thrice the size of the book and music retail chain’s first store in Mumbai. Prominent aspects at the store are the gaming zone, a lounge-like area where the latest videogames and consoles can be tested; a photo unit in association with HP to print pictures taken on digital cameras or mobile phones. Now, signage companies like in-store media majors, sign suppliers/makers, print providers can get ready to hit the largest Landmark store.
After years of negotiations with more than a dozen potential Indian partners, Europe’s biggest retailer Carrefour SA has forged an alliance with Future Group, which runs India’s largest store chain. Future Group will open Carrefour-branded franchise stores in the country under a deal signed three months ago. The group plans to open between 150 and 300 Carrefour-branded hypermarkets in the next five years. Future Group, which runs Pantaloon and Big Bazaar chains, is set to hit the retail segment with the new Carrefour brand. Now, the group’s new retail venture will unfold new business opportunity to the signage segment.
HyperCity to 51 percent from 19 percent earlier, making the latter its subsidiary. HyperCity operates three stores in Mumbai and one each in Amritsar, Bangalore, Jaipur and Hyderabad. The stake purchase will cost Shoppers Stop approximately Rs 125 crore. Shoppers Stop on its expansion plans following its stake in HyperCity. The company will open 18 flagship stores over 30 months at an investment of Rs 170-200 crore and it would bring a new opportunity wherein in-store signage companies could unfold a new business chapter.
Rajesh Exports Ltd, one of India’s top jewellery makers and exporters, plans to roll out 300 retail stores across the country over the next three years. The firm currently has 25 retail outlets in the country, which runs under the mass-level brand ‘Shubh’. Of the 300 retail stores in the pipeline, the company is planing to open 80-100 stores. All that glitter will be a new business opportunity for the signage players, such as in-store media companies, sign suppliers and print providers.
Premium menswear brand, Louis Philippe, from Aditya Birla Group has diversified into men’s footwear. The brand, first one under the Madura Garments’ stable to diversify from apparel, expects the new category to contribute at least 15 revenues in a year. The company’s new avatar in the retail zone will result in a new outlook to its store formats wherein a new business opportunity will be immerged for in-store signage companies.
Retailer store operator Trent Ltd has announced that it has decided to raise Rs 500 crore by issuing shares to the existing shareholders on rights basis. The company would utilise the funds raised for its proposed retail expansion plans. The unit of TATA operates in two business segments of retailing and distribution business & consultancy services of the company. Trent operates retail stores of the most popular garment brand Westside across India. Surging of new Trent retail stores will be a new opportunity for the signage sector where in-store media companies, sign suppliers and print providers could carve business.