Pantaloon sets to roll out stores for home solutions
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.