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<\/a><\/p>\nPanelists – from Left to Right:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Vasanth Kumar,<\/strong> ED, Max Retail; Rahul Mehta<\/strong> –\u00a0 President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India; Darpan Kapoor,<\/strong> Vice President, Kapsons Fashions; Vineet Gautam,<\/strong> Country Head, Bestseller India; Vinay Nadkarni,<\/strong> MD & CEO, Globus Stores Pvt Ltd What is the one trend that has been driving Indian lifestyle retail in recent years?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2022 Retailers have a choice – 75% margin, with 2 inventory turns a year or 35% margin on 8 turns<\/p>\n \u2022 We operate at a 40-42% margin and turnaround stock 6 times a year.<\/p>\n \u2022 Store profiling is the key to this business<\/p>\n \u2022 We price our products sharply to allow us to turnaround stock within 60 days.<\/p>\n \u2022 We have been following this strategy since 8 years i.e. the beginning of Max Retail.<\/p>\n Our high level of inventory turns makes us immune to market discounting.<\/p>\n Vasanth Kumar,<\/strong> ED, Max Retail<\/p>\n In the world of brands, style is the key.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 There is huge awareness about international brands as India follows the West in terms of fashion.<\/p>\n \u2022 Earlier, we used to turnaround stock almost 6 times a year.<\/p>\n \u2022 However, due to growth in our brand value, now we turnaround 4 times a year.<\/p>\n Darpan Kapoor,<\/strong> Vice President, Kapsons Fashions<\/p>\n Customers are willing to pay (full price) for international brands.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 We are witnessing surging demand from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.<\/p>\n \u2022 60% demand is from women\u2019s fashion. The trend these days is for mothers & daughters to shop together.<\/p>\n Vineet Gautam,<\/strong> Country Head, Bestseller India<\/p>\n \u2022 Trust is an important factor whereby customers are looking towards lifestyle stores to validate the information they already have from Internet and other sources.<\/p>\n \u2022 Lifestyle stores need to appreciate the time spend by customers in the store and make their experience worthwhile.<\/p>\n \u2022 Online retailing is certainly challenging our business but we do need brick & mortar stores as a mode of distribution.<\/p>\n Vinay Nadkarni,<\/strong> MD & CEO, Globus Stores Pvt Ltd<\/p>\n Is e-commerce is threat or an opportunity?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Darpan Kapoor,<\/strong> Vice President, Kapsons Fashions<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nModerated by Rahul Mehta,<\/strong> President CMAI<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u2022 Having established 100 stores across 40 cities, the strategy that has worked is \u201cAffordable Fresh Fashion\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2022 Kapsons aggregates key international brands.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2022 Consumers are looking for value from lifestyle spends.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2022 Demand for women\u2019s wear is at its peak.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2022 E-commerce is very exciting for all retailers. However, brick & mortar retailers like us should enter the online space for product validation and not to make profits.<\/p>\n