Tag: india

  • Airport Retailing Consumer Electronics Market Witnessing a 2x Increase in Consumer Electronics Sales across SEA; India Most Lucrative

    Airport Retailing Consumer Electronics Market Witnessing a 2x Increase in Consumer Electronics Sales across SEA; India Most Lucrative

    The airport retailing consumer electronics market is foreseen to expand at a significant pace with global revenues crossing US$ 1,700 Mn in 2017, according to a new study. Traditionally pervasive as transportation service facilities, airports are now witnessing an influx of retail outlets for consumer electronics products. The shift in customer perspective toward airports as a retail destination continues to influence the growth of the airport retailing consumer electronics market.

    Fact.MR envisages that prospects for consumer electronics in airports are expected to remain promising, with the airport retailing consumer electronics market to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% in terms of value throughout the period of forecast, 2018-2028.

    The market valuation is likely to remain influenced by growing number of airports. Sales of consumer electronics in airports are projected to remain concentrated in the Southeast Asian (SEA) countries, making the region a lucrative market for airport retailing consumer electronics. India is poised to showcase higher market attractiveness in SEA during the forecast period on the back of steady economic development coupled with rising air tourism, according to the study.

    India’s lucrativeness in the airport retailing consumer electronics marketplace is attributed to rising number of air passengers. According to IATA (International Air Transport Association), the air passenger count in India is expected to reach 478 million by 2036. This is expected to present potential opportunities of growth for airport retailing consumer electronics in the coming years. In addition, sales of airport retailing consumer electronics on departure are likely to be on an upswing as compared to sales on arrival in the country. The report forecasts that the sales of airport retailing consumer electronics in India could exceed US$ 250 Mn by 2028.

    Growing sales of accessories are expected to largely contribute to the growth of the airport retailing consumer electronics market, according to the report. Consumer preference for accessories is projected to expand at a higher rate as compared to electronic devices. Against this backdrop, airport retailers are also planning to rent accessories for travellers opting for short trips.

    IATA projects that by 2036, global air passenger traffic is expected to reach 7.8 billion. This indicates that growth of airport retailing consumer electronics market is likely to remain significant in large airports. However, medium size airports are projected to showcase growing demand for airport retailing consumer electronics, says the report.

    Trend of hyper-personalization remains instrumental in driving growth of airport retailing consumer electronics market. With critical airline restrictions apropos to amount of goods to be carried in flight, a new personalised service in the airport retailing consumer electronics space has been witnessed. Airport retailing consumer electronics stores can use customer data from boarding passes, and deliver products to the customer’s destination. This trend is likely to influence growth in revenues of airport retailing consumer electronics in the coming years.

    Advertisements on flyers continue to remain instrumental in driving the growth of airport retailing consumer electronics market. Growing digitalization coupled with product displays on flyers are expected to influence sales of consumer electronics in turn presenting positive growth avenues for airport retailing consumer electronics market. This is likely to translate into increasing product sales across specialty retail stores in airports, consequently making them a key growth platform for airport retailing consumer electronics, says the report.

    As traditional brick and mortar sales are getting impacted due to mega trends such as relentless onslaught of online selling platforms, the physical retailing in airports is thriving. Overall, the airport retailing consumer electronics scenario remains positive and stakeholders can expect an optimistic growth path in the airport retailing consumer electronics market in the forthcoming years.

    The insights presented here are from a research study on Airport Retailing Consumer Electronics Market by Fact.MR

  • Pandora opens fifth concept store at New Delhi Terminal 1D

    Pandora opens fifth concept store at New Delhi Terminal 1D

    Pandora has recently opened its fifth store at New Delhi Terminal 1D. This will be the third store opening in 2018 for Pandora. The brand launched its first store at DLF Mall of India, Noida in April 2017, followed by Select Citywalk in September 2017, DLF Promenade in April 2018 and Galleria Market Gurgaon in June 2018.

    The contemporary and aesthetically designed concept store is located on the ground floor of the domestic airport in the departure holding area of Terminal 1D, New Delhi. The new store carries the entire Pandora jewellery collection available worldwide, including the moments collection, the essence collection, Pandora Rose collection; the all-new 18k gold plated sterling silver-Pandora shine collection.

    Pandora has always encouraged women to empower themselves by celebrating their achievements. These collections are designed to capture life’s unforgettable moments at affordable prices.

    Speaking on the opening, Kanika Bakshi Talwar and Devika Bakshi, Managing Director, say, “We are proud to enter a different format of a concept store, our first in any airport in the country. This store will cater to a large variety of domestic shoppers outside of Delhi NCR and spread the excitement across various cities. Accessibility to our products would be easier now for travelers and we hope to expand further and provide an opportunity for all Indian consumers to acquire their Pandora products in the near future.”

    The Terminal 1D store is a medium size concept store, with all collections available in-store, and is aesthetically designed to give customers ample browsing space to make their shopping experience very comfortable in-transit.

  • Baby apparel FirstCry in talks with Alibaba, SoftBank for funding

    Baby apparel FirstCry in talks with Alibaba, SoftBank for funding

    Indian online baby product retailer FirstCry is in funding talks with Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba and Japanese multinational conglomerate SoftBank Group. The firm is seeking at least US$100–$150 million in the deal in a move to put it at the forefront of the market, according to unverified reports. Both investing partners may participate in the funding if the deal goes ahead.

    While none of the parties have released statements on the proposal, previous reports have revealed FirstCry as seeking similar investment figures over the past year.

    FirstCry has raised more than $100 million since launching in 2010. The business derives the majority of revenue from a network of more than 300 stores despite the relatively small size of its offline business compared to its online presence.

  • Myntra launches its in-house plus size brand, Sztori

    Myntra launches its in-house plus size brand, Sztori

    Myntra has announced the launch of Sztori, its in-house plus size apparel brand, especially designed to suit a larger range of body shapes and sizes. It is essentially a designer wear in the plus size category, offering consumers, the perfect fit and multiple style options at affordable rates. The apparel is made to suit plus size body types rather than prove to be a mere extension in size on existing profiles, thus breaking the existing age-old norm in the Indian market.

    Post identifying a white space opportunity in the segment, Myntra set out to design and develop merchandise under a new brand to cater to the category and make wearers look fashionable with multiple style options at affordable prices, opening new avenues in the industry.

    Known for democratizing fashion across segments, the launch enables Myntra to go a step further and include size profiles into the ambit of ‘fashion for all’. It champions inclusivity in fashion, evaluating and emphasizing greater attention to styles, trends, designs, fit and fabric for plus sized apparel, in order to bring out the personality of the person wearing it. ‘Sztori’ derives its name and theme from Myntra’s ‘story’ of developing a brand that celebrates a person’s journey and spirit, helping to soar above shape and size.

    The brand offers a range of products for men and women, including, Tees, denims, tops, dresses and more in L to XXXXL (Large to 4 times Large) sizes. Shoppers can choose from over 225 styles and designs at prices ranging from Rs 799-1,999.

    Speaking on the occasion, Manohar Kamath, CXO and Head, Myntra Fashion Brands, said, “We are extremely delighted to announce the addition of Sztori to our portfolio of private brands. Plus size clothing is in great demand and it was time we offered something substantial in the category, opening up more avenues and possibilities for our customers. Research estimates that this segment will account for US$ 5-6 billion in the US$ 40 billion Indian online fashion apparel market, by 2020, which is approximately 10-12 percent of the overall market, making it an important proposition.”

  • Uber Eats India, CCD partner for virtual restaurant network

    Uber Eats India, CCD partner for virtual restaurant network

    Food delivery app Uber Eats in partnership with Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) on Friday launched a network of virtual restaurants that will offer more choices of ‘delivery-only’ restaurant brands. The first restaurant brand under this partnership is scheduled to launch in mid-November on Uber Eats app, the company said in a statement.

    “We are thrilled to partner with CCD – the pioneers of cafe culture in India,” said Jason Droege, Vice President of UberEverything, Uber Technologies.

    “Using experience and lessons learnt in the virtual restaurant space from our global operations, we hope to provide our Indian restaurant partners greater growth opportunities,” Droege added.

    Uber Eats is currently present in 37 cities in India while CCD has a network of 1,742 cafes across 246 cities in India.

  • Online jewellery brand Melorra aims Rs 40 cr revenue this fiscal

    Online jewellery brand Melorra aims Rs 40 cr revenue this fiscal

    Online jewellery startup Melorra aims nearly five times jump in its revenue at Rs 40 crore in the current fiscal on bullish demand from non-metro cities, Saroja Yeramilli, Founder and Chief Executive said Tuesday. According to a report: The company, which sells contemporary lightweight jewellery in gold, diamond and coloured stones, had clocked a revenue of Rs 8.5 crore in the first year (2017-18) of its business, she added.

    “Much of the demand is coming from non-metro cities. We are getting orders from smaller cities and adding 100 new cities for delivery every month. We expect our revenue to touch Rs 40 crore this fiscal,” Yeramilli said.

    With rise in Internet and smart phones users, the company expects revenue to touch Rs 100 crore mark in the next fiscal and start making profits from 2021 onwards, she said.

    The company’s unique selling point is affordable rates, modern designs and quality of gold and diamonds from recognised agencies, she added.

    That apart, the Bengaluru-based company does not carry any inventory as it makes gold jewellery on order and delivers to customers with a return policy in 30 days and lifetime exchange of jewellery at prevailing rates of gold.

    On investment plans, Yeramilli, who had once headed sales division at Tata group jewellery brand Tanishq, said the jewellery start-up has already raised US$ 12 million from a venture capitalist, out of which US$ 8 million has been spent on the business.

    “We still have funds. We will invest that and later look for more funds. Funding has not been a problem. Investors are keen to invest in our company,” she further said.

    Asked if the company would go offline, Yeramilli said, “There are no plans to set up retail outlets. Melorra is an internet brand and it will remain like that.”

    With 100 employees recruited at present, the company plans to expand its marketing and technology division to cater to the growing online customers, she added.

  • Jubilant FoodWorks Limited Q2FY19 standalone net profit rises yoy

    Jubilant FoodWorks Limited Q2FY19 standalone net profit rises yoy

    Jubilant FoodWorks Limited (JFL) has reported its financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2018. Operating revenues for Q2 FY19 were Rs 8,814 million, a growth of 21.3 percent over Q2 FY18 and a sequential growth of 3.1 percent over the previous quarter, driven by a strong same store growth (SSG) of 20.5 percent in Domino’s Pizza.

    EBITDA for Q2 FY19 came in at Rs.1,475 million at 16.7 percent of revenue, a growth of 44.4 percent over Q2 FY18. Profit after Tax in Q2 FY19 was at Rs 777 million at 8.8 percent of revenue and a growth of 60.2 percent over Q2 FY18.

    The strong performance in Q2 FY19 was a result of continued momentum driven by strategic initiatives taken during the recent past such as the product upgrade All New Domino’s, Every Day Value (EDV) extension to regular pizza and the continued momentum of online sales driven by the new Domino’s app.

    In particular, the new Domino’s app introduced during Q1 FY19 has been liked and received strong user ratings. Features like Easy Location Selection, Automatic Re-ordering, Train Ordering, Advance Ordering and hassle free payments have been well received. Online sales were up to 68 percent of delivery sales in the quarter, with 1.7 million downloads of the new app, the highest ever.

    The company stepped up the store opening momentum during the quarter, with 24 new Domino’s stores being opened, the highest in the last seven quarters.

    Dunkin’ Donuts too did well with strong growth driven by donuts and beverages; its losses more than halved over last year.

    Commenting on the performance for Q2 FY19, Shyam S. Bhartia, Chairman and Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited said, “We are pleased with our Q2 FY 19 performance. Strong growth momentum continues to be driven by successful execution of growth strategy outlined at the beginning of FY 2018. ”

    Commenting on the performance for Q2 FY19, Pratik Pota, CEO and Whole time Director, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited said, “Despite significantly increased competitive intensity, Q2FY19 was yet another strong quarter delivered by our continued focus on the basics. Growth was driven by a strong and sustained momentum in delivery orders. In particular, our digital focus showed good results with strong online sales growth, enabled by the new Domino’s app garnering strong user ratings and having a slew of innovative and user friendly features. Dunkin’ Donuts too delivered healthy growth and is moving towards profitability.”

  • Louis Vuitton New Delhi flagship store to go bigger

    Louis Vuitton New Delhi flagship store to go bigger

    The Louis Vuitton New Delhi flagship store is being expanded. The French luxury house, which has been present in India for 15 years, is expanding its DLF Emporio Mall outlet to another floor, and will for the first time house men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections.

    The store’s decor uses both vintage pieces from Paris and furniture items especially created for the store, as well as Jaipur and Nepalese carpets.

    Interior designs were developed by creative teams based in France and Hong Kong. The first floor of the store is entitled “L’Appartement”, mimicking a luxury apartment with accessories and other higher-end products.

  • Fila opens its flagship heritage store in Pune India

    Fila opens its flagship heritage store in Pune India

    After the success of Fila India’s flagship heritage store in Mumbai, Fila has just launched its new heritage store in Pune. Sneaking its way into the affluent neighborhood of Viman Nagar at the bustling Phoenix Market City mall Pune, the store is a 1,068 sq. ft. mecca for sneakerheads and sports fashion enthusiasts alike.

    The bold, oversized, backlit logo is configured to reveal the store’s exteriors from afar. Also reflecting its classic-meets-contemporary vibe with iconic red, white and blue colour palette, the muted store interiors serve as the ideal backdrop to showcase a show-stopping and vibrant Fila Heritage autumn/winter 2018 collection. Global campaign images are displayed around the store as a visual treat to the eyes.

    Talking about the store launch, Rohan Batra, MD of Cravatex Brands Ltd. said, “Quick on the heels of our flagship heritage store launch in Mumbai, we are excited to launch our second store in the young, vibrant city of Pune. With a dominantly cosmopolitan and fashionable student community, Pune seemed like the perfect pit stop on the road to taking on the sports fashion segment in India.”

  • BSNL, Nokia to collaborate on public safety networking

    BSNL, Nokia to collaborate on public safety networking

    Nokia and Indian state-owned operator BSNL are expanding their relationship with an agreement to jointly explore opportunities in the public safety sector.

    Under the agreement, Nokia will become BSNL’s OEM technology partner for public safety projects in support of the government’s efforts to advance public safety standards in the country.

    The two companies will explore developing solutions for first responders based on Nokia‘s ViTrust line of critical communications products.

    This will include the Nokia Ultra Compact Network, a portable solution designed to allow the deployment of a mission critical LTE mobile broadband network within minutes of arrival.

    The companies will explore opportunities in industry segments including smart cities, border enforcement, and mines and quarries in remote areas, and will work with India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to augment public safety communications systems with LTE technology.

    “As a trusted telecom service provider, BSNL is committed to providing the best technology solutions for public safety professionals,” BSNL chairman and managing director Anuam Srivasta said.

    “Our technology partnership with Nokia is a crucial step in this direction. We have a longstanding working relationship with Nokia, and this project starts a new chapter in our journey. Nokia’s innovation and leadership in mission-critical communications will allow us to deliver a best-in-class public safety network.”

    Last week the two companies announced another collaboration aimed at using LTE technology to improve operational efficiency at Nokia’s Chennai manufacturing plant.

  • India allocates license-free 5-GHz spectrum

    India allocates license-free 5-GHz spectrum

    The Indian government has freed up spectrum in the 5-GHz frequency band for use in the provision of license free Wi-Fi and short range 5G services.

    The government has issued a notification stating that no license will be required to establish or operate wireless equipment for the provision of low power wireless systems including radio local area networks, in parts of the 5-GHz band.

    The directive covers spectrum in the range of 5150-MHz to 5250-MHz; 5250-MHz to 5350-MHz; 5470-MHz to 5725-MHz; and 5725-MHz to 5875-MHz, and is designed to support short range communications such as for providing coverage for apartment buildings or shopping centers.

    This frequency range is used for the provision of Wi-Fi services worldwide, and can also be used to augment capacity for 5G services, according to SN Gupta, secretary general of the ITU’s APT foundation of India.

    It will support the government’s goal of improving Wi-Fi coverage nationwide. Under the Bharat Net program, the government plans to roll out 10 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the country in rural areas, and is in discussions with the market’s telecoms operators to augment Wi-Fi coverage in urban areas.

  • MV Agusta F4 Claudio Limited Edition Model Unveiled

    MV Agusta F4 Claudio Limited Edition Model Unveiled

    The MV Agusta F4 Claudio pays homage to Claudio Castiglioni, the man credited with reviving the MV Agusta brand in the 1990s. Claudio played a huge role in the Italian motorcycle industry, and in the successes of brands like Ducati, Cagiva and Husqvarna over the decades. But it’s his time with MV Agusta for which he’s best known and celebrated for. Under his leadership, MV Agusta was revived producing the F4 750 superbike, designed by Massimo Tamburini. And that bike became the basis for a range of new high-end machines, including the Brutale and the F3. The current F4 is set to be replaced by an all-new model to cope with new emission regulations, and as a last hurrah, a final special edition model honouring Claudio Castiglioni has been unveiled.

    The MV Agusta F4 Claudio, as it’s called, is a proper limited edition model with all the high-end components and equipment befitting a homage model. The technical base of the model is taken from the MV Agusta F4 RC, and shares many of the features seen on the MV Agusta model that competes in the World Superbike Championship. The engine has titanium connecting rods and the crankshaft has been specifically designed and balanced, and the combustion chamber has radially-set valves. With the bike set-up for track, maximum power is rated at 212 bhp, kicking in at 13,450 rpm, with a peak torque of 115 Nm at 9,300 rpm. With the standard road-legal set up, maximum power still touches 205 bhp.

    The F4 Claudio sports dual exit titanium SC-Project racing exhaust system with a dedicated control unit. There’s a wide range of electronics with four maps on offer, which can be selected instantaneously via the racing push-buttons. The braking system includes Brembo Stilema 4-piston Monobloc radial calipers gripping twin 320 mm front discs, and top-spec Ohlins shock absorbers are said to provide maximum performance on both road and track.

    A lot of carbon fibre has been used to keep the bike’s weight low, including a full carbon fibre fairing and lightweight carbon wheels. Titanium has also been used in the bolts and screws, with CNC-machined aluminium alloys used extensively on functional components such as the triple clamp, height-adjustable footpegs, brake and clutch levers, and brake fluid reservoir plugs and filler cap. The ‘Claudio’ is limited to just 200 bikes, and price is expected to be exclusive, with a probable announcement at the EICMA show in Milan next month.

  • Louis Philippe unveils new retail identity at Banjara Hills India

    Louis Philippe unveils new retail identity at Banjara Hills India

    Louis Philippe, India’s leading premium menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, has launched the new retail identity at Banjara Hills. The new identity celebrates ‘The Crest’ which is a symbol of craftsmanship and excellence. The sprawling 4,000 sq.ft. store at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad was unveiled by India’s ace cricketer V.V.S Laxman.

    Speaking on the occasion, Farida Kaliyadan, COO, Louis Philippe said, “We are delighted to introduce the new retail identity for the brand. Louis Philippe is focused on delivering value through superior craftsmanship, diverse product portfolio and an unmatched retail experience. At present we have 17 stores across Hyderabad and Telangana.”

    The revamped outlet houses a wide range of formals, casuals, denims, suits and blazers, and accessories.

    As part of launch promotions, Louis Philippe will be giving the two highest billers a chance to win an Apple iPad. That’s not all, the other customers who participate and stand an opportunity to win PVR gift vouchers, ties, pocket squares, LP gift vouchers.

  • Fila opens its second heritage store in Mumbai

    Fila opens its second heritage store in Mumbai

    Fila launched its flagship heritage store in Mumbai at Fort last month. As part of the brand’s retail expansion plan for the current financial year, they have now opened doors to their second heritage store in Mumbai at Inorbit Mall in Malad.

    With Kala Ghoda being the upcoming shopping district for South Mumbai, the second store is strategically located in a popular mall in North Mumbai that sees high footfalls of consumers from other parts of the city.

    The Inorbit Malad store aims to attract the millennial customer with its classic-meets-contemporary vibe and is standardized to sync with the brand’s retail design layout across all existing and upcoming stores in India. Characterized with its signature, bold, oversized, backlit logo on the exterior and iconic red, white and blue color palette in the interiors; the design serve as the ideal backdrop to showcase a show-stopping and vibrant Fila Heritage autumn/winter 2018 collection.

    Fila has been there for iconic moments, accompanying extraordinary individuals in pursuit of true sport – those who courageously challenge limits and defy expectations through a seamless combination of power and grace.

    From its humble textile beginnings in Biella, Italy in 1911 to its historic introduction of colour on the tennis court in 1973, the brand has always taken pride in creating designs as bold and breath-taking as those wearing it. With a philosophy of innovation and a commitment to performance and sophistication, Fila continues to make a statement with styles that are novel in aesthetic and effective in function.

  • 50,000 Units Of The Honda Amaze Sold In 5 Months

    50,000 Units Of The Honda Amaze Sold In 5 Months

    Honda Cars India Ltd today announced that the all new Amaze has crossed the 50,000 sales mark in just 5 months since its launch in mid May 2018. The Honda Amaze currently contributes to 50 per cent of the total HCIL sales during April -Sept 2018. This is fastest 50,000 sales number recorded by any new model launched by Honda in India. The company says that the Amaze attracted more than 20 per cent first time buyers, while the car has been well received across markets with 40 per cent sales coming from Tier 1 cities and 30 per cent each from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

    Makoto Hyoda, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “The overall concept of All New Amaze was to develop a one-class-above sedan for Indian family use that exceeds the expectations of customers in the compact sedan segment. The response to the car with 50,000 sales in 5 months is overwhelming. The advanced CVT technology has found very strong acceptance among customers with 30% of Amaze customers opting for automatic variants in petrol and diesel.”
    The new Amaze takes on the very popular Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and has impressed us by winning the comparison test. The Honda Amaze is completely different as compared to the first generation. While the design is a little conservative, buyers might appreciate the balanced look the new car has. While you do get features like daytime running lights or 15-inch alloy wheels on the top of the line variant, the Amaze loses out on the likes of LED headlamps or even projector headlamps. Diamond cut alloy wheels like the one on the City could have made it a nicer package too.

    On the interior though, the new Honda Amaze is much nicer as compared to its predecessor. It now gets a larger 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, called Digipad-2 with both Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It also gets a start-stop button, automatic climate control and as we mentioned earlier, the CVT variants get paddle shifters too. There is also more space in the cabin as compared to earlier and that is mainly due to a longer wheelbase. The new Honda Amaze also gets a fold-down central armrest for the rear passengers and rear AC vents.

    Under the hood, the petrol-powered Honda Amaze gets a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine that makes 89 bhp of peak power and 110 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 7-step CVT automatic. The CVT also gets paddle shifters – a first-in-class feature in this segment. Fuel economy ratings for the petrol manual are at 19.5 kmpl while the CVT petrol is rated at 19 kmpl according to ARAI test figures.