Prashant Kumar

Shahroz Mirza, Business Head of ethnic wear brand Meena Bazaar, which has 30 stores across the country, speaks to Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Editor, IMAGES Group on its recent store in Ayodhya, and how the chain is using technology and data analytics to cater to the aspirations of consumers in non-metro cities and collaborates with hyper-local influencers to establish a deeper connect in the regions. SHAHROZ MIRZA | Meena Bazaar Click on the link below to know more...... #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

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Lenskart.com recently received a new round of funding from Temasek and Fidelity Investments. If I were to analyze the reasons behind this success from the lens (pun intended) of retail operations, it's no surprise why this brand is scaling so well.  . Here are the top 5 reasons why Lenskart is an exemplary D2C brand mastering retail 👇👇👇 . . . #retailinnovation #Lenskart #retailstoredesign #storeofthefuture #retailtrends #experientialretail #retailcollaboration #D2Cretail #Lenskart #Funding #RetailSuccess #D2C #CustomerExperience #TechInnovation #ProductFocus #ValueShopping #RetailStorytelling #IntuitiveDemos

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Looking Beyond The Lens of Luxury I have been thinking about this article for the last few days as it has been circulating around in the professional networks quite a bit. As a sustainable handbags and travel accessories brand owner, it makes me wonder why it took so long to discover the truth behind these big brands that undermine so much of what we do. When you enter these beautifully set up stores, the minimalism, the tastefully done decor, you are immediately taken on a journey of pure luxury. A stark contrast to its environment right outside the store. But go 50 steps further and check the supply chain, the materials, the journey the products took to reach those luxurious shelves - it is a whole different BALL GAME. But have you ever heard any of these big brands talk about the hands behind the artistry of these products? RARELY, if ever. Some brands pay a fraction of the retail price for these creations. It's like buying a masterpiece at a garage sale! Leave alone basic wages, they are not even working in hygienic conditions and their health is almost always compromised. Additionally, many high-end brands breed animals solely to use their skin or fur for luxury products. And the worst part is that their customers don't even hesitate at the idea of purchasing these products. As someone who really cares about sticking to what's right, this article comes as a great wake-up call for consumers who do not put much thought into their purchases. When consumers come to me and ask why are Green Hermitage products expensive and they are priced anywhere at INR 1800-INR 18000 - I turn back and ask, do you think these artisans deserve fair wages? Health? Hygiene? Good working conditions? Mental health uncompromised? No hidden markups, just quality craftsmanship with a heart. ✨ This is what we're all about at Green Hermitage, we are absolutely transparent about such practices. Leave alone sharing the hard work the artisans put in with our customers, we celebrate the artisans we work with. We push back clients for unreasonable timelines but never compromise on the work-life balance of these underrepresented heroes. Next time you set foot in a store for a branded product, check what the brand stands for - sustainable supply chains, material sourcing, labour rights and then think about the brand value - is it cause somebody famous wore it, OR, is it cause someone made sure you had a quality product made with ethics and love for humanity and the planet. Imagine a world where luxury isn't just about extravagance, but about compassion and accountability. It's within reach. #SustainableFashion #EthicalFashion #BusinessWithAHeart You can find the article here:

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Sustainable Ecommerce Primary Packaging Hey folks, looking to connect with organisations which can provide some sustainable packaging options in liue to PVC for primary packagaing. Please read below pointers . If your product fits the bill, then drop the product information on [email protected] , cc to [email protected] 1) This primary packaging will be subjected to rough handling , so material should remain intact when it reaches customer. Also the same bag will bebused for customer for returns, so should have mechanism to close the bag after opening once (zipper or other ) 2) Should be printable for branding and fully enclosed from all sides to protect product inside 3) Handle will be preferred as we want this bag to also act as storing bags for customers after purchase. Weight of the product ranges from 500 grams to 2 kg. 4) Should not be catching too much dust as products are stored in warehouses, prone to lot of dust and stains 5) We want to avoid corrugated boxes as they increase space required for storage. So flexibility & compactness of pvc/ paper is required 6) If tranparency is possible in this primary packaging, its added advantage for operations as product inside will be visible 7) A separate pocket for MRP labels is desired on the outer side 8) multiple sizes of bags will be required

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Reliance Retail is planning to launch a sports format to compete with Decathlon in the athleisure market post-Covid-19 pandemic. The company is looking to lease 8,000-10,000 sq ft spaces in malls and high streets in top cities for the new brand. Decathlon reported significant revenue growth in recent years, prompting other brands to enter the sports category. Leading sports brands like Puma, Decathlon, Adidas, Skechers, and Asics have seen 35-60% year-on-year growth since FY21. Decathlon is in talks with the Indian government to sell products from rival brands in its stores, potentially changing the game in the market. India is a key market for sportswear and footwear companies, with a large population and growing demand for athleisure products. #decathlon #reliance #sportswear

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Eyewear omnichannel retailer Lenskart reported a 5% jump in its profit to Rs 144 crore for the fiscal year ending March 2024 even as the Gurugram-based company’s revenue surged 33% to Rs 3,376 crore, data sourced from business intelligence platform Tofler showed. Lenskart.com | Tofler.in | Peyush Bansal Click on the link below to know more.... #retailnews #retailtrrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

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India’s Consumer Tech is interesting! Zepto Launches Supersaver (basically longer delivery times and higher discounts) BigBasket goes all out on Quick Commerce (they have recently announced merging bb now and bb supersaver) :) Searching for PMF and Profitablity!

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#PitchBrandTalk💬The sportswear market is growing phenomenally in India: Abhishek Ganguly Co-founder & CEO of Agilitas Sports, talks about the aspiration to build a billion-dollar sports and athleisure company, and more.  📽️Interview by Simran Sabherwal #Pitch #BrandBuilding #BusinessSuccess #MarketingSuccess #BusinessGrowth #SportsFootwear #FootwearIndustry #HealthAndWellness #ExclusiveInterview #VideoInterview

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The 10-minute delivery trend, led by Blinkit and Zepto, is redefining urban shopping habits. But while fast delivery is great for consumers, it’s hitting kirana stores hard. Many small retailers are struggling to keep up and, in some cases, closing their doors—over two lakh stores reportedly in just the past year. This shift raises a big question: Can we find a way to support both innovation and traditional businesses? Innovation is essential, but should it mean losing our local retailers? Can we support tech growth and our small businesses?

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How Zepto Become a Successful Quick Commerce Startup....

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Terractive, a Mumbai-based activewear brand, has raised Rs 8 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures and DeVC (Matrix Partners). The funding will be utilized to accelerate fabric development and enhance product innovation, positioning the brand to capitalize on India’s expanding retail and activewear segments. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gBb7nRnY Raena Ambani and Rahee Ambani Choksi, Co-Founders of Terractive Shuchi Pandya, Principal at Fireside Ventures Mohit Sadaani, MD at DeVC #retail #business #market #news #update #funding #expanding #innovation #apparel #fashion #brand Nimisha Bohra| Kanwaljit Singh| Dipanjan Basu| Siddharth Gupta| VS Kannan Sitaram| Adarsh Menon| Aakash Kumar| Rahul Mathur| Alex Peter

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💥 Is an Apocalypse Looming for Offline Retail? 💥 This burning question hit me after reading the recent article in The Economic Times (Oct 2, 2024), titled "Traffic Jam in Kirana Route as Q-Comm Industry Goes Jamming." I’ve witnessed these concerns firsthand during informal discussions with retail leaders—especially while leading the transformation of Subham K Mart, Chhattisgarh, back in 2022. The rapid rise of Q-Commerce is forcing us to rethink the very future of physical retail. Is it time for a new playbook, or are we witnessing the slow fade of offline retail? Some of my thoughts on the article: Red Flags for Traditional Retail 🚨 The future of retail stores in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is facing serious challenges as the Q-Commerce (quick commerce) industry goes full throttle, reshaping consumer behavior at breakneck speed. ⚠️ Non-Predictive and Dangerous Days Ahead: In an era where speed is king, brick-and-mortar stores may struggle to keep pace. The Q-commerce wave promises 10-15 minute deliveries, creating an "instant gratification" culture that retailers need to reckon with. 🔍 What does this mean? Vanishing foot traffic: Customers now prefer a few taps on their phone over visiting stores. Margins under pressure: Local stores must compete with the convenience and low prices of digital platforms. Digital dominance: Q-commerce is not just a trend; it’s a revolution that’s transforming the very foundation of retail. 🚩 Red flag for retailers: If physical stores don't rethink their strategies now, they could face an uphill battle that many might not survive. The question is: Can traditional retail innovate fast enough? Now is the time for retail players to embrace technology, go all out into waste management, invest in customer experience, focus on noncore revenue models at stores and rethink the traditional model before it’s too late. Are we truly prepared for what’s coming? Coz, this is going to hit both the general trade and the modern trade as well. The article link: https://lnkd.in/dt5R69Fh #RetailApocalypse #FutureOfRetail #RetailTransformation #QCommerce #RetailTrends #DigitalDisruption #FutureOfRetail #EcommerceRevolution #RetailIndustry #RAI #CAIT #ICC #CMAI #FCG #FMCG #RetailIndustry #RetailNews #RetailInnovation #RetailTechnology #RetailMarketing #Ecommerce #RetailTrends #CustomerExperience   #DigitalTransformation #RetailTech #SustainabilityInRetail #ApparelIndustry #GroceryRetail #LuxuryRetail #RetailFashion #SupplyChain   #Logistics #Merchandising #MarketingStrategy #RetailLeaders #RetailExperts   #RetailInsights #madeinindia #corporateleadership #venturecapitalist #privateequityfirms #reit #transformation #changemanagement #leanmanagement #entrepreneurship #seedcapital #startups #startegy #wastemanagement #ceo #cfo #retail #Economictimes

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Who said #d2c or direct to consumer was a COVID born fad child ? As of FY23 market share for #d2c segment is estimated at a shadow less than 17Bn U$ . It means a big chunk of macroeconomics biting into this mega business segment. Driven by Indian growth story of bigger per capita income growth 📈. These are some mind numbing numbers to crunch based on the market Intelligence surveys and reports. -Just imagine it to grow 3.6X just in next 3yrs by FY27 to a forecasted 61Bn U$. That's a staggering, baffling 5.09Lakh Crores INR market estimate - 203 Crore Transactions of Quick Commerce,or related Supply chain logistics business turnover by FY2027 -Since 2016 ,600+ #d2c startups have become a part of the growth story and more such start-ups added at the rate of 25% YoY. - 1Crore/ 10Mn jobs being created on #d2c on-demand openings around niche segments and professionals. - Fashion reportedly growing at 34 % CAGR next to only Grocery at 41% The opportunity for Fashion #d2c #brands - New Tier 2-3 cities outside of metro exploration with innovative logistic solutions -How does A new D2c brand strategise and create the niche, USP , differentiation factor ? - How to acquire customers at lowest CAC, value over the longest LTV lifetime value ? -How to set up Sales channel mix , penetration, offline,online , ecommerce marketplace and own website sales ? -How to crack into the undisposed income markets ? -What kind of Hyper Personalised products and services consumers look for ? Ping me for a Strategy call : www.vastra-sastra.in #linkedin #linkedinfollowers #thursdaythoughts #ideation #concept #shelf #phygital #digitalstrategy #modernretail #retailmanagement #brands #brandbuilding #assortmentplan #buying #fashion #merchandising #category #pnl #growth #scaling Market Intelligence Source : 1Lattice Infographic Source : ETtech

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I often say Titan is the only conglomerate in India who has consistently built 0-1 scale brands in multiple categories - Titan watches, Tanishq, Fastrack, Skinn, Titan Eyewear, and now Taneira. It's not surprising that it has had only 3 CEOs since inception, with the first two CEOs having stints of 16 and 19 years respectively. They are the true heroes of India's consumer story, building brick by brick the most iconic household brands that have reshaped categories, outlasting trends and cycles. Founders and investors alike need to learn this long term outlook, the ability to think in decades and execute with discipline and patience. The game is long, and the rewards for winning the long game are beyond imagination! https://lnkd.in/gNmkMfdk

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The ecommerce sector in the country is getting increasingly competitive as firms strive to reduce delivery time to same-day or even two-four hours and expand their urban reach, driven by the influence of quick commerce players. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g4nKSEsP #ecommerce #deliverytime #myntra #nykaa #mexpress #etretail #latestnews

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We’re Live on Blinkit – But Facing a Licensing Dilemma! 🚨 We are thrilled to share that we have recently onboarded our products on Blinkit! As part of our compliance journey, we hold a Central FSSAI e-commerce license, which we have been using successfully for our operations on Amazon. However, the Blinkit team has informed us that to open our products in multiple states on their platform, we need separate state FSSAI licenses for each along with APOBs (Additional Places of Business). While having APOBs is understandable and aligns with our experience on Amazon, we were under the impression (based on guidance from our food consultant) that the Central FSSAI e-commerce license suffices for pan-India operations. This understanding aligns with the purpose of the Central license being designed to simplify compliance for businesses selling across states. However, Blinkit has declined this approach, insisting on separate FSSAI state licenses for each state where we want to onboard our products. This raises several questions for us: • Is the Central FSSAI e-commerce license enough for pan-India operations, as our consultant advised? • Is it truly mandatory to hold separate state licenses for platforms like Blinkit? We are reaching out to the wider FSSAI, food compliance, and Blinkit teams here on LinkedIn to clarify this matter. If we are mistaken in our understanding, we are open to learning and aligning with the correct process. However, if there’s room for more streamlined compliance, we’d love to know how we can better navigate this for e-commerce platforms. Any guidance from the Blinkit team or experts in food compliance would be greatly appreciated! Let’s work together to ensure smoother processes for businesses while staying fully compliant. #FSSAI #Compliance #Blinkit #ECommerce #FoodBusiness #Amazon #Licensing Blinkit

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In a recent article with ADGULLY, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about “How ONDC is Democratising Digital Commerce for Emerging Brands” The Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) is set to transform India’s e-commerce landscape, giving small businesses and emerging brands a chance to compete in a space long dominated by major platforms. By creating a decentralized network that directly connects buyers and sellers, ONDC is leveling the playing field and democratizing digital commerce. Here's how it’s revolutionizing the game: Inclusivity and Empowerment ONDC makes it easier for small businesses and local stores to join the digital marketplace by lowering barriers like high technical and financial requirements. This inclusivity has fueled rapid growth, with transactions rising from 6 lakhs in September 2023 to 8.9 million by May 2024. Cost-Effective for Sellers Emerging brands often struggle with high costs on traditional e-commerce platforms. ONDC offers a cost-effective alternative with lower fees and no high commissions, allowing sellers to keep more profits for reinvestment. Currently, over 5.35 lakh sellers, 85% of them small businesses, are using ONDC. Direct Buyer-Seller Interactions By cutting out middlemen, ONDC allows sellers to interact directly with customers. This strengthens relationships, builds trust, and can lead to lower prices for buyers while maintaining healthy margins for sellers. New B2B Opportunities Beyond direct-to-consumer sales, ONDC is opening up new business-to-business (B2B) opportunities. Brands can connect with retailers, suppliers, and other partners, helping them diversify revenue streams and improve supply chains. Despite challenges in logistics and user experience, ONDC is projected to add $60-80 billion to India's economy by 2030, positioning itself as a major force in the democratization of e-commerce. Read the full article https://lnkd.in/dHCjwJ66 #supplychaintitans #letsbuildtogether #ondc #warehousing #warehouse #ecommerce #digitalcommerce #brands

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