The general buying trend has changed over the years. Customers nowadays look for more value, dedicated service, better variety, more user-centric convenience and apt price. This is when the super markets and retail chains sprung up. Retailing and supply chains are common man’s terms in developed countries. But the system is slowly making its presence in India now.
Basically the retail chain system is based on the one stop shopping where in you get a range of products from a matchbox to electronic products all under one roof. Reliance Fresh, Bharti – Walmart JV and the likes are the ones in India now.
What s happening here in India?
When we had Food Worlds and Subikshas a decade ago, there were no apprehensions from the general public. People had a better shopping experience at these super markets that had pretty cool ambiance. Local sellers did not feel much of an effect due to this new supply-chain-retail concept. May be they were not taking it seriously. The initial growth was silent. All these were happening without much hype across the nation.
But that is not the scenario now for the past few months. Reason - Globalization in retailing. People have started to raise their voice against the hyper-market culture. Mind you, it is not the common Indian man fearing the change; it is the local merchants who think that they will be ousted from the business. Are the local businessmen so low in self-confidence? I am really taken back by the way the scheme of things are politicized and blown up. There are umpteen numbers of ways for them to find ways to collaborate with the giants, thereby making it a win-win situation.
Where there is quality there will be success and hence profit. How is it that the retail chain outlet is able to give the same chocolate bar for few rupees lesser than the MRP [Max Ret Price] where as the local merchants always bill you as if MRP stands for Minimum Retail Price? Why are the sales people at the local departmental stores always acting as if you were cursed to be shopping at his shop? Why are there no proper marketing systems followed? No billing. No refund of things sold. No variety. No self-service. The traditional retail segment has not changed over the decades and a section of the community feels that the system is fine for the future too. It is NOT future proof. At a period where you order for your socks online, how can you expect a guy to go to the departmental store and buy biscuits in a not so professional set up? Again, I can name few local stores that offer ultimate overall shopping experience and also few hyper markets that make you frown. Generalization matters and local vendors need to stand up and face the world.
A kid cannot still aspire to become a high school grad, as was the case few decades back. We have greater aspirations now. Students from remote villages are getting into IIMs and IITs. What I mean to say is that, one side we make sure that we are at par with the global standards; but fail to compete in all fields. Indian population is our strength. Retail, transport, telecom, housing, you name it and we can reach heights. Population is the strength here. Being populated helps at least in this way J.
Whatever, it is time to shun our fears, have confidence on our service, and provide better quality to the customers – be it the local vendor or the multi nationals, and they are ought to succeed. Healthy competition between two systems should be a gain to the customers. Else no one is going to win.
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