In this issue

These are testing times for everyone. Forced into our homes, under lockdown, the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, which has threatened lives and the world economy like never before. And the Global Retail Industry has not been spared either, every brand and retailer from the top to the bottom of the pyramid critically aff ected by the contagion. From top notch retailers, to the small stores in Tier IV towns, from the best of shopping centres to smaller malls in Tier II & III cities, everyone is struggling to stay afl oat, wondering what the future will bring. Despite it being closing time for the fi nancial year, there is no business happening anywhere in the world. Instead of welcoming harvest festivals and going on shopping sprees, consumers are sitting in the safety of their homes, only coming out to buy essentials and then too, wearing masks and gloves and carefully adhering to social distancing. The government has announced a nationwide lockdown forcing non-essential retailers, including malls and cinema halls, into indefi nite closure. The absolutely terrifying part – despite all the precautions being taken to sanitise every inch of the nation, there is no one, absolutely no one in the retail sector, who is in a situation to predict a timeline, pace or nature of recovery. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Retail, across 200+ nations, has been one of the most brutally impacted business segments of the world economy. There is a cash crunch, pay cuts and millions of jobs are at risk.

E-COMMERCE, SPECIAL INITIATIVES KEEP GLOBAL RETAIL TICKING AMID COVID19 CRISIS

Global retail reports factory closure and job losses as retailers, manufacturers and warehouses in European and American market continue to suffer from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic…

4 mins

Impact of COVID19 on Indian Retail

A survey conducted by Retailers Association of India highlights how retail industry is coping up with COVID 19 crisis…

3 mins

Amid Lockdown, E-Commerce Becomes India's Shopping Lifeline

In pandemic times, shopping habits of consumers are changing – from bulk-buying to online shopping, people are changing what they’re buying, when they’re buying it and where they are buying it. With the entire brick-and-mortar retail community taking a hit, e-commerce / online shopping have become lifelines for the people of India.

6 mins

Coronavirus Impact On Global Supply Chains

Production disruptions would largely affect household goods, hi-tech goods and textile industries where China plays a core role in the global supply chain, says a report from Euromonitor International…

2 mins

Contactless Delivery: The New Normal for Restaurants & Food Tech Cos

Popular food aggregator apps such as Zomato and Swiggy are promising ‘contactless delivery’ to their customers and big fast food brands such as Dominos India and McDonald’s are revamping their processes to focus on hygiene.

4 mins

COVID and Beyond: Evaluating Digital Engagement Options for Frontline Employees

Post Covid, with a more discerning customer and tightened purse strings, only trained personnel who can engage meaningfully will make the customer part with their money. The rest will be just pure wasted opportunity...

4 mins

Countering the Pandemic Effect: Best Laid Plans by Retail Giants

While the retail sector worldwide has been hit hard, large industry players are stepping up to the challenge, coming forward and helping the retail community, setting examples for smaller business to follow…

7 mins

COVID-19: Retail Sales Recovery Period For India Might Kick-Start From May

Until March 16, the consumer retail sales and walk-ins did not see much dip compared to last year and this could be due to festive shopping

2 mins

Apparel industry the most adversely impacted sector: – SANJAY BAHL, GROUP CFO, RAYMOND

Brands like Raymond are taking steps for effective cost rationalisation by cutting down all noncritical expenses and marketing spends, managing the cash flows along with keeping the cost of working capital low

3 mins

Decoding Suraksha Stores: The Government's Retail Initiative to Fight Coronavirus

The government will rope in private firms to implement this plan, which seeks to ensure that proper protocol is followed in the entire supply chain, right from manufacturing units to retail outlets, to combat COVID-19…

2 mins

Read all stories from Images Retail

Images Retail Magazine Description:

Launched in 2003, IMAGES Retail magazine took on the task of analysing the emerging organised retail industry at a time when the industry itself had little data to work on. The magazine covers the gamut of Indian and International movements in retail technology, logistics and supply chain, store formats, store design, retail real estate, franchising and human resource, besides reporting on significant directions within India’s sunrise industry.

The magazine is widely acknowledged India’s leading retail intelligence publication for decades now, providing news, insights, research & analysis, intelligence and data covering retail operations across all Indian markets.

The mission of the monthly B2B magazine – published exclusively for the retail industry – is to bring industry leaders and brand owners up to date with the latest in retail technology & innovations, provide them with in-depth research, studies and analytical, insightful features which help them grow their businesses in India. The magazine aims to spark ideas and shape agendas for decision makers in India’s competitive retail industry.