Indian Retail

Mukesh Ambani (Chairman of Reliance Industries-India) is planning to plunge into the booming Indian retail market. As always, Reliance thinks big and this time is no different. From the news sources it seems Reliance is planning a retail chain, similar to Wal-Mart; Single destination for all daily and house-hold needs.

Indian retail market is typically made-up of small individual shops selling generic products. An average Indian consumer has to visit different shops to satisfy all their needs. With Reliance entering retail market, this might change!!

I am personally not against growth of any sort of business. But I do believe there’s a distinct fun in visiting small shops for one or two products and then move on to another store. Also the surprise element of what’s in that store shall always remain. Sometimes it’s not only a decision of what you want to buy, but also a decision of, from where to buy? Then arises the question of bargaining. Indian consumers (especially mid-age women) do not feel satisfied with there shopping until they pay less then the quoted price!! I think bargaining (which shall never happen in retail-chains) gives a personal satisfaction over the prescribed discounts offered in retail chains.

I am not against Wal-Mart style shopping; which definitely saves time and energy. But to me that is too monotones. Each time you visit Wal-Mart you know exactly which aisle you need to look, and sometimes the rack for a product is also know to you. They do have different varieties for each product, yet the scope of choice is not the same as you will get in a small store. Lastly the personal touch of individual store is always missing in retail chains.

I feel shopping in India is a cheerful and delightful activity; it’s an outing for a family. Where as shopping in Wal-Mart seems more like a necessity.