Shop around the corner
The Hindu : Old-time Bangaloreans will agree that nothing is more dramatic for a city like Bangalore than its changing physical dimensions. The influx of a floating population, growth in the IT sector, introduction of the call centre industry made the city suddenly wake up to a boom and its accompanying nightmarish transitions.These days each area is so self sufficient and well contained that a resident living in Jayanagar need not venture out to the city centre for shopping. Large volumes of traffic has meant that people are reluctant to travel distances for their shopping or entertainment needs. The presence of malls and branded stores in most parts of the city, creating little pockets of consumerism, makes shopping and life for the consumer easier.Retailers are recognising this trend and you have branded stores in multiple locations, be it clothing, groceries and eateries. The local kirana stores are gearing up to the competition and we find them offering innovative packaging, high quality standards and efficient service.Magic mantraThe mantra is that if the customer doesn’t come to your doorstep, you go to his. Every business is adopting the multiple-presence strategy be it branded jewellery stores supermarkets, multiplexes, eateries like pizza outlets or even branded beauty salons and fitness centres.The franchise model has made businesses go into an intimate level of client-customer interaction.The very fact that a trusted brand is in the neighbourhood makes shopping and eating out much more convenient and hassle-free.Says Bhushan Oberoi of Casa Piccola restaurants: “Within Bangalore, all our eight outlets are on a company-owned model whereas in cities like Chennai we are on franchise mode. It is a natural way of expanding one’s business.“If you observe, particularly in cities and metros, people are getting more and more reluctant by the day to travel long distances.“So obviously a trusted store or entertainment outlet in the neighbourhood eases the strain of travel. Also for businesses, it helps in…More
