New Business Opportunity

High street retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) is planning to double its retail presence in India, targeting 50 stores in the next three years. The company is currently operating 17…

Shoppers Stop has increased its stake in Hypercity from 19 percent to 51 percent recently to squeeze maximum from consumers, whose spending on food items is around 65 percent. Now that the company has acquired a majority stake in Hypercity, its main aim will be its expansion and making it profitable. The retail chain conglomerate expects a break-even for Hypercity at the company level in FY 2012. Now, the Rs 1,500 crore lifestyle retailer now plans to focus on its food and grocery segment by opening eight more Hypercity outlets by next fiscal. The expansion plan of Shopper’s Stop in turn will bring in a new business opportunity for signage companies, particularly those engaged in in-store signage and displays.

Kolkata has done it, Delhi has embraced it and now Mumbai is all set to rock as the long anticipated wait ended. Sabyasachi Mukherjee finally launched his flagship store Sabyasachi…

Spanish high-end fashion retailer Zara opens a new store at DLF Promenade mall in Delhi. Spreading over an area of 33,000 sq.ft, this is the retailer's second outlet in Delhi, the first store was opened almost a month ago in Select Citywalk mall. DLF Promenade mall will have revenue sharing and minimum guarantee rental models – whichever goes higher – with the retailer. Those planning to open their outlets in the mall include Harley Davidson, Marks & Spencer, Mark Ecko and Espirit, which would be a new delight for signage companies operating in retail/in-store sector.

Leading retail chain Shopper's Stop has put its airport retailing plans to hit big spot like Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Since airport retailing has still not taken off in the country and may be in the next six months there might be a change. The new international Delhi airport may be Shopper’s Stop next big destination which could spur retailers to look at this model going forward. Shopper's Stop has forged an equal joint venture with the Nuance Group for airport retailing almost two years ago. When Shopper’s Stop marks successful retail presence at Delhi airport, signage players engaging in in-store/retail segment will find a new business to embrace.

SRS Group, one of India’s leading player in real estate, multiplexes, retail, jewellery and food and beverages, announces the launch of  ‘SRS Value Bazaar’ in Amritsar. This is the first…

Globus Stores Private Ltd is adding five stores to the existing 25 across India at an estimated investment of Rs 25-30 crore. The company is now out of the recession…

Essar Oil is planning to fast track the launch of its fuel retail outlets, so that the company can touch the 1,750 figure by March 2011. Following the Centre's decision to deregulate the price of petrol, it will also be able to sell fuel at the same price as government-owned marketing companies. At present, Essar Oil has 1,342 outlets. Unveiling of the company’s new retail outlets will fuel signage companies that include PSPs, fabricators, etc to start new business in the oil sector.

New Delhi-based J S Hospitality announces its expansion of restaurant chain 'Pind Balluchi' by opening up to seven new outlets this fiscal, as it looks at making its presence felt…

Chinese leading apparel retailer Yishion has formed a joint venture with a local distribution firm to launch its line of clothing in India, targeting a presence in more than 100 outlets in two years. The new venture will launch its range of menswear and womenwear initially and expand portfolio to include kidswear, footwear and accessories by next year. Yishion plans to import the products from its manufacturing plant in China and will target the mid to premium price segment. The US$12-billion company owns the majority stake in the joint venture firm Hongluan Trade with Delhi-based marketing and distribution firm Upmarket Group. Foray of the Chinese company into the Indian retail segment is a new business opportunity for in-store signage companies.

Murjani Group, the Indian franchisee for Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, has planned to set up 500 Hilfiger accessories stores in the next five years, as rising incomes allow people…

Croma, Tata Group's electronic and durables chain, seems to be making up for lost time. The retail chain, which opened just 50 stores in the last four years, is launching three stores every month in the current financial year. There is a reason for Croma's newfound enthusiasm as the margin in durables retail is wafer-thin and hence scale is the single-most important thing. Scaling up of the high-end Croma stores is a strategic development that would bring in a new business opportunity for in-store signage companies as well as others in the sector, such as PSPs, sign fabricators, etc.