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South India is incredibly diverse \u2013 be it language, culture, food or clothing. The four southern states have 25% of the country\u2019s population, but 30% of its retail turnover<\/strong>. They are more literate and have higher levels of per capita income. Consequently South India is a very attractive market<\/strong> as far as retail is concerned.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/a>Some of the salient points about South India as a retail market are:<\/p>\n

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• \u00a0The South is the home of organized retail<\/strong> \u2013 and has built vibrant brands ranging back to the 1940\u2019s.<\/li>\n
• Entrepreneurs in the South are not risk averse \u2013\u00a0contrary to popular stereotype.<\/li>\n
• Once they have found a robust business model, they are willing to scale \u2013 for example \u2013 textile, \u00a0apparel, jewelry retailers have built large (>50,000 sq. feet) single category showrooms, and have invested in marketing, technology and people.<\/li>\n
• South India has built strong vibrant brands.<\/strong><\/li>\n
• Malls recognize that they need local and regional Southern brands as much as they need their national counterparts.<\/li>\n
• The South has several retail \u201cfirsts\u201d to its credit<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0the first electronics chain (VGP \/ Viveks) , largest jewelry chain, Large international sari brands (Nallis)<\/li>\n
• \n

  Brands built in the South are consistent when they go national \u2013<\/p>\n

  whether its Nallis in Delhi or Kalyan Jewellers in Ahmedabad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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  South India is the home of retail capabilities in India & has created the modern retail movement in this country.<\/strong> It has the wherewithal to accommodate new channels, new customers and the aspirations of the next generation of family entrepreneurs. It is the time for other South based brands to think and plan national.<\/p>\n

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  (Bijou Kurien was the keynote speaker at the Kongu Retail Summit, Coimbatore held on 18^{th <\/sup>March 2014)<\/em><\/p>\n}