Retail As A Connected Economy

The current pandemic has created strategic opportunities in the true sense, and brands and retailers can make the most of this opportunity by positioning themselves as a connected economy, says Jalpa Patel – Lead Interior Architect and Sr.Visual Merchandiser, ZenGenius Inc, while drawing on interesting examples from the US.

‘TRUST IS BUILT THROUGH THE BRAND COMMUNICATION'

There was one positive fallout of the sudden shift in consumer buying behavior post Covid. And that was the marked rise in demand for immunity building and hygiene products of good quality. As per a Nielsen report, the hand wash segment expanded 60% in March 2020 compared to 7% in the preceding three months. As a result, more innovative products and newer brands are entering the personal hygiene space. FMCG major Emami Limited, after making a successful foray into the hygiene space with BoroPlus Advanced Anti-Germ Hand Sanitizer in April 2020, recently expanded its BoroPlus Hygiene Range. In a special conversation with Point of Purchase, Priti A Sureka, Director, Emami Limited, shares more details about this expansion, the biggest challenge for the FMCG industry today, key tips for retailers to navigate the crisis, and more.

‘THERE IS INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS BENEFITS FROM DIGITAL SIGNAGE'

Brands today are increasingly taking the technological route to communicate with their end users, making the shopping experience more experiential while also fulfilling the basic consumer needs today for safe, contactless shopping and a reassuring retail environment. This makes it inevitable for a tech-enabled ecosystem, with a network of centrally controlled digital display solutions, coming into play. Brand across segments, including the automotive industry,are hopping on to the digital bandwagon and this has led to the entry of more and more digital signage solutions led by established tech players. For example, Panasonic India’s SignEdge Display Network presents itself as an end-to-end solution leading to seamless communication for the automotive industry at their point of sale. Recently, Panasonic India installed a digital signage solution for MG Motor India to drive communications to its customers across dealerships through multiscreen video walls, standalone displays etc. Vijay Wadhawan, Group Chief, System Solutions Division, Panasonic India, shares with Point Of purchase the whole journey.

‘IMPORTANT TO BE OPERATIONALLY NIMBLE'

Digital is the go-to shopping mode today for an increasing number of people, even in categories like fruits and vegetables. And along with the growing dependence on digital is the growing need for farm fresh products. Established in 2016 as a store offering premium quality of farm-fresh vegetables and fruits in the upmarket neighborhood of Powai, Mumbai, ‘Fraazo’ reinvented itself by adopting a digital-first approach and launched the ‘Fraazo App’ in October 2019. Started by the quartet Atul Kumar, Aashish Krishnatre, Vikas Dosala and Sumit Rai, Fraazo is a retail brand under VnF Ideas Private Limited, Mumbai’s leading B2B player in perishables category providing farm-fresh vegetables and fruits. The brand joined VnF family in 2019 and has since then been servicing over 2 lakh households in Mumbai and Pune and 60 plus societies through its innovative value chain module. Atul Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, Fraazo shares with Point Of Purchase more on the Fraazo journey.

HOW KITKAT CRAFTED A ‘CHOCOLATORY' STORY

The FMCG category has always been a dynamic one, whether in terms of product range, consumer behaviour or of supply chain and distribution.

A SEAMLESS OMNICHANNEL PLATFORM FOR STARTUPS

As a consumer moves from a print ad to a social media platform, or from a chatbot to a web page or a brickand-mortar store, brands are moving away from onesize-fits-all approach. They are in fact taking every step possible to deliver a consistent message and seamless experience across all touchpoints. With an aim to help businesses develop a perfect strategy in the ever-changing world of retailing, SOCH Group, which also has the food startup brand Munchilicious, has announced the launch of This or That, which they call the ‘World’s first Omni-channel Retail Platform exclusively for start-up brands’. Rohit Mohan Pugalia, Founder Director, This or That (A SOCH Group Initiative), in an exclusive chat with Point of Purchase, highlights how the platform help brands build stronger business presence on multiple platforms, on some upcoming retail trends and more.

Wooing The Post-Covid Shopper: What's The Game Plan?

Let’s face it, the days of retail therapy when shoppers simply browsed around the store space, indulging their senses and adding products to their basket, maybe over or at least may have been put on pause till the specter of the virus is eliminated from our horizon. COVID -19 virus has ensured that shoppers today are more cautious, anxious, hurried - wanting to spend less time at the store, essentials driven, and prudent in their spending. So what does all this mean for brands and retailers? How can they win their shoppers back to a more relaxed, reassured, and happy state and get the economy going with greater spending? What role does shopper marketing, in-store communication, and technology play here? Let’s take a look.

‘SILOED LEGACY SYSTEMS NO LONGER WORK'

If the increased role of technology had already become inevitable in retail in the last few years, Covid-19 has only intensified further the need for technology integration into retail operation and experience. This has seen the entry of many technology players into the retail eco-system. Retail technology company Ace Turtle has a platform that can integrate with multiple retail systems, provide single and uniform data and inventory across channels, and manage the entire retail process, from product discovery to purchase and fulfillment. Berry Singh, COO, Ace Turtle, in interaction with Point of Purchase, talks about how such technology solutions can help retailers ensure seamless backend and front-end functioning, and reiterates the importance of integrating digital with all aspects of retail operations.

‘BRANDS HAVE TO SHOW THEIR HUMAN SIDE & RETAIL SOLUTION FIRMS HAVE TO WORK WITH TECH COS'

Renowned retail expert, Dr. Dwarika Prasad Uniyal, who is also Professor & DEAN - FLAME University, and the bestselling author of ‘Managing Retailing’, shares with Point Of Purchase, his insights on consumer behavior trends post Covid-19 and what brands and retail solution providers can do to address the new challenges and win back consumer confidence. Presented below are excerpts from the interview.

NILKAMAL STEPS UP WITH COVID-19 RELATED PRODUCTS

The COVID-19 crisis has seen many manufacturers in the retail fixtures, materials, display, merchandising, and other retail solutions segments rising to the occasion by getting into the manufacture of medical gears, beds, and face shields, all critical needs today. Established industry player Nilkamal for example has rolled out a wide range of exclusive products like Quick COVID Beds, TravelGUARD & VirusGUARD, taking the battle against COVID-19 to a new level. The company has successfully supplied over 15000 hospital beds to emergency centers which were set up in a record time of 2 weeks. Mihir Parekh, Executive Director at Nilkamal Limited – BubbleGUARD, in an exclusive chat with Point of Purchase, shares more details about these innovative solutions.

DESIGN EXCELLENCE IN THE FMCG RETAIL SPACE

Marking a first, the prestigious VM&RD Retail Design Awards ceremony, organized by Messe Dusseldorf India, went virtual this year, with over 500 participants logging in, keeping up the energy and tempo of a live on-ground event.

‘Time To Pause, Reset And Repurpose?'

A few leading POP industry players came together to exchange notes and share thoughts on the collective need to pause, reset and repurpose business at the interactive online session ‘Way forward for the POP Industry’ organized by www.retail4growth.com of VJ Media Works. The discussion was moderated by Rahul Saigal, Founder and CEO, Friday & Theo, along with Vasant Jante, Editor and Publishor, VJ Media Works.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE INDUSTRY GOES INNOVATIVE…

It is now increasingly becoming clear that we simply have to learn to live with Covid-19. As the country gets set for Lockdown phase 4,businesses are already re-looking at strategies to adapt to the new normal. For the retail solutions industry - one of the more vulnerable segments, given the dependency on retail - this phase also means diversifying and innovating to stay relevant to market requirements.Here’s a look at some timely solutions from our industry players, all rising up to the occasion with offerings to help in the Pandemic crisis.

‘REVIVE CONSUMPTION IN SAFE RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS'

In the midst of rising Covid- 19 cases that has derailed all activities , the continued lockdown, and the government’s efforts to kickstart the economy, where does the Retail industry stand? In a special interaction with Point of Purchase, Kumar Rajagopalan – CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), shares some thoughts on how to revive retail in the new normal, the future of retail, and more.

WHAT'S THE WAY AHEAD FOR THE SIGNAGE ECO-SYSTEM?

Kiran J, Director, Jemco Signs, shares his take on what signage suppliers, manufacturers, the government and clients can do to take the signage industry ahead in the midst of unprecedented challenges.

INDUSTRY VOICE ON BUSINESS CONTINUITY

Pandemic or not and whether lockdown continues or not, life must go on, which means the economy must go on and business will have to adapt and survive. But how exactly are businesses in the point of purchase and retail solutions industry ensuring business continuity? Here’s a look as some industry players share their take with Point Of Purchase on what business continuity means to them.

‘SHOPPERS WILL CONTINUE SUPPORTING KIRANAS WHILE USING E-COMM'

As the retail industry grapples with the Pandemic induced lockdown blues, technology is fast emerging as the bridge that connects consumption and selling. Indeed, many tech led enablers have helped small retailers get their business back into action, while catering to shopper needs.

MAKE THE ‘WALK-IN, REACH OUT' MODULE WORK AT RETAIL

If customers don’t come to you, make them come to you or you go to them during these challenging times, says brand guru Jagdeep Kapoor.

Change Ahead - Covid-19 @retail: Beating The Future Challenges

With the Pandemic Covid -19 clouding every other thought, plan or strategy that would make sense in normal times, people have no option but to ask, “Now what ?” But there are no clear answers as yet.

‘NEED OF THE HOUR ARE DIGITAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS'

Founded in 2012, ePaisa is a cloud-based multilingual Point of Sale application used to ring up sales, manage inventory and build customer loyalty, with its cloud-based back-office tools providing sales reports and analytics that enable smarter business decisions. The company aims at empowering SMEs through technology.

‘WE ARE OPERATING IN AN EXPERIENCE ECONOMY TODAY'

NuttyFox, a healthy snack brand by Vaaya Foods, started its journey in 2019. Subhashish Bharuka, Founder & CEO, NuttyFox shares with Point Of purchase, his plans to change the snacking habits of Indians. Presented below are excerpts from the chat.

RESEARCH THROWS LIGHT ON GREAT PLACES TO WORK IN RETAIL

The research study conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute and the Retailers Association of India (RAI) reportedly represented over 1,04,921 employees across 32 organizations that were assessed to identify the best workplaces.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

HOW PACKAGING MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO THIS LOCAL WAFER BRAND

Budhani Bros Waferwala is one of the most recalled household names in Pune and its surrounding regions. The company started as a small outlet on MG Road in the city and has today emerged as one of the most popular snack brands, manufacturing potato wafers and mixture varieties. The 65-year-old brand, which has its own store in Pune’s camp area and also supplies packaged products in key areas of Maharastra, recently changed its packaging for better brand impact. Here’s a look.

‘WE ARE OPERATING IN AN EXPERIENCE ECONOMY TODAY'

NuttyFox, a healthy snack brand by Vaaya Foods, started its journey in 2019. Subhashish Bharuka, Founder & CEO, NuttyFox shares with Point Of purchase, his plans to change the snacking habits of Indians. Presented below are excerpts from the chat.

RESEARCH THROWS LIGHT ON GREAT PLACES TO WORK IN RETAIL

The research study conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute and the Retailers Association of India (RAI) reportedly represented over 1,04,921 employees across 32 organizations that were assessed to identify the best workplaces.

‘NEED OF THE HOUR ARE DIGITAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS'

Founded in 2012, ePaisa is a cloud-based multilingual Point of Sale application used to ring up sales, manage inventory and build customer loyalty, with its cloud-based back-office tools providing sales reports and analytics that enable smarter business decisions. The company aims at empowering SMEs through technology.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

HOW PACKAGING MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO THIS LOCAL WAFER BRAND

Budhani Bros Waferwala is one of the most recalled household names in Pune and its surrounding regions. The company started as a small outlet on MG Road in the city and has today emerged as one of the most popular snack brands, manufacturing potato wafers and mixture varieties.

‘MT YIELDS HIGHER SALES PER STORE'

In a chat with Point Of Purchase, Siddharth Jain, Founder, and Managing Director, BrewHouse, shares the brand’s journey so far and plans forward.