Retailers Association of India (RAI)

We’re elated to announce that we have been certified as a Great Place To Work 2024-2025!  Kudos to the team for achieving this feat through hard work and dedication, maintaining a positive and professional workplace. Great Place to Work® Institute (India) #RAIforIndianRetail #RetailMatters #Retailer #Brand #RetailStores #RetailShop #RetailMarketing #Insights #Learning #RAI #RetailersAssociationofIndia

Congratulations retailers on winning the India Retail Excellence Award 2024! KOBLERR FOOT WEAR & ACCESSORIES PRIVATE LIMITED Woodpecker Furniture Chennai AVR Swarnamahal Jewelry Limited Wondr Diamonds Milkyway Ice Cream Chai kings-(Bon fresh food pvt.ltd) Zimson Watches Autofocus A #ChennaiRetailSummit2024 #IREA2024 #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Insights #Partners #Speakers #Retail #Awards

Congratulations retailers on winning the India Retail Excellence Award 2024! Opus Fashion Pvt. Ltd. (Maybell)  Kings Young Lucky Silks Retail Pvt. Ltd. Sundari silks PAGE3 Salon Pvt. Ltd. VOH Vijaya Optical House INNOKAIZ INDIA LIMITED Priyadarshini Mobiles Sweet Karam Coffee India Pvt. Ltd. Kanchi Super Market Bestmummy Sweet & Cakes Browntree - Your Health Food Store #ChennaiRetailSummit2024 #IREA2024 #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Insights #Partners #Speakers #Retail #Awards

The fifth and final panel discussion, titled "Jaipadhu Yaaru - Thalaivara or Thalaiviyaa," was moderated by Balachandar R, Director of Junior Kuppanna. This session featured prominent industry couples who shared their insights on balancing work and personal life. Aishwarya Guptha, Founder, Wondr Diamonds, and Anirudhan Grandhee, Founder & CEO, Wondr Diamonds: Aishwarya and Anirudhan emphasised their complementary roles in both work and life. Aishwarya noted the importance of not carrying office disputes home, while Anirudhan highlighted the unique advantage of couples working together—the deep understanding of each other's stress. They strive to bring work to the home without letting it interfere with their personal lives. Hemu Ramaiah, Co-founder & CEO, ASIGN.Art, and Jaishankar Subramanian, Co-founder, Asign.Art: Hemu and Jaishankar shared their approach to negotiating with vendors and landlords, often swapping the roles of good cop and bad cop. Jaishankar focused on margins while Hemu, being more approachable, balanced the discussions. Their ability to switch roles helped them manage both business challenges and personal dynamics effectively. Pujarini Dey, Partner, Sreeleathers Ltd, and Sushanto Dey, Partner, Sreeleathers Ltd: Pujarini spoke about adapting to the established ways of Sreeleathers, noting that it made them part of the solution rather than the problem. Moving to Chennai with a 10-month-old baby, they relied on each other as a support system. They emphasised the importance of compartmentalising work and home life, with Pujarini stating, "9-5 is survival; what we do after that is growth." Sushanto added that women are often more evolved in their approach, sharing how Pujarini successfully pushed for online sales, especially during the pandemic. Veena Kumaravel, Founder, Naturals Salon & Spa, and C K Kumaravel, Co-Founder & CMD, Naturals Salon: Veena highlighted trust as a crucial element in their business, particularly in their woman-run franchise. Her empathy has significantly contributed to their success. C K Kumaravel outlined the three essential skills for entrepreneurship: exceptional salesmanship, financial acumen, and strong people skills. Nazia Faizal, JMD, Suxus Chain - Menswear, and Faizal Ahamed, Founder & CEO, Suxus Chain - Menswear:  Nazia shared her journey from a conservative background to realising her dream of becoming a businesswoman. She stressed the importance of pursuing her ambitions, saying, "We sail the same boat." Faizal reflected on their 14 years in business, noting that Nazia joined two years ago, underwent training, and now manages the majority of the operations. The delicate balance of maintaining both professional and personal harmony demonstrates that success in business often requires as much emotional intelligence as strategic acumen.  #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Networking #Insights #Growth #Speakers #Innovation #Retail

The fourth panel discussion, "The Rise of New Retail: Creating Brands that Disrupt and Dominate," has commenced. Moderated by Dr. Hitesh Bhatt, Director of Marketing & Communication, Retailers Association of India, and Editorial Director of STOrai Magazine it features:   - Anand Bharadwaj, Co-founder, Sweet Karam Coffee   - Kiru Maikkapillai, Founder & CEO, The Divine Foods   - Madhumitha U., Co-Founder, The Indus Valley   - Sumit Santhalia, Co-Founder & Director, TechnoSport   - Vasanth Tamilselvan, Founder, Ariro Toys    Anand Bharadwaj, Co-founder, of Sweet Karam Coffee highlighted that India’s ₹50,000 crore snacking market is largely Westernised, with South Indian snacks often compromised by low-quality ingredients and poor packaging. Sweet Karam Coffee set out to redefine this, launching online for rapid national reach. Competing with established brands required agility, leading them to transition from D2C to quick commerce. The company ensures six-month shelf life for snacks and three months for sweets, backed by a strong quality team. Their goal is to take South Indian snacks globally. Kiru Maikkapillai, Founder & CEO, of The Divine Foods noted India’s rich traditional food culture, yet these foods are seldom seen globally. On returning to India, he focused on high-curcumin turmeric from Salem, launching a D2C brand that disrupted the supply chain. With 90% of sales via their website, The Divine Foods is now present in select retail chains. Madhumitha Udaykumar, Co-Founder, of The Indus Valley stressed the importance of customer insights in marketing. Her team engages directly with customers to understand their challenges, believing that problem-solving messaging boosts engagement. They collaborate with influencers for fresh content and use targeted ads. Product development is driven by customer needs, market analysis, and global trends, ensuring their offerings meet demand, health benefits, and price criteria. Customer feedback shapes their strategy. Sumit Santhalia, Co-Founder & Director, of TechnoSport identified a need for affordable athleisure. TechnoSport built trust by sticking with the same distributor in each state, eliminating super stockists, and reducing consumer reach challenges. Continuous innovation and meeting international standards are central to their mission. Vasanth Tamilselvan, Founder, of Ariro Toys created neem wood toys, inspired by his daughter’s skin allergies. Ariro Toys entered a market dominated by Chinese products, with 80% of sales from their website. They focus on content, community, and commerce, building a strong Instagram parenting community even before launching their products. Whether it's redefining traditional snacks, disrupting supply chains, or creating niche products, success hinges on agility, quality, and a strong connection with the consumer.  #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Networking #Insights #Growth #Speakers #Innovation #Retail

An insightful fireside chat moderated by Dr. Hitesh Bhatt, featuring Vineet Gautam, CEO and Country Head of Bestseller India #CRS2024

Chockalingam S, Co-Founder & Director of Opn Advertising Pvt. Ltd., delivered a special address discussing the Whistle Podu campaign. Despite having fewer resources, CSK has built the largest IPL following. He reflected on how they have been with CSK since the start, without knowing how big the IPL would become. CSK changed the perspective of the team, making it a team for the people of Tamil Nadu. The team crowdsourced their name, receiving 50,000 suggestions in a week. They chose yellow as their color, inspired by the Aussie jersey and the Brazilian team, both dominant forces in sports. Chockalingam emphasized that while they couldn’t outspend the competition, they could outthink them. They launched the brand during a test match between India and South Africa in Chennai. The Whistle Podu story began in season two of the IPL, where they simply taught fans how to cheer for their team, and the iconic whistle followed. #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Networking #Insights #Growth #Speakers #Innovation #Retail

The third panel discussion at the Chennai Retail Summit, moderated by Suhail Sattar, Managing Director of Hasbro Clothing Pvt. Ltd. & Chairman of the Chennai Chapter, the Retailers Association of India highlighted how traditional businesses navigate the fine line between maintaining their heritage and embracing modern changes. Here are some powerful insights from our esteemed speakers: - Kavin Venkatesh, Executive Director, Maybell: "The balance happens by force. My dad got me into the business because I understood e-commerce better. The resilience is something I got from dad, but he got the fresh ideas from me." Kavin’s perspective shows the generational shift driving innovation while upholding legacy. - Mohit Issrani, Executive Director, KOBLERR FOOT WEAR & ACCESSORIES PRIVATE LIMITED: "To understand the balancing act, we have to understand the journey. How can I understand the pain of a manager without understanding the process?" A reminder that empathy and hands-on experience are crucial for effective leadership. - Siddhanth A.V.R, Director, AVR Swarnamahal Jewelry Limited: "I come from a 96-year-old company, and my childhood was spent with hours in the store. Our grandparents and parents would ask us our opinions. When AI was getting embraced by all, I wanted to see how it would help the industry. We were one of the first jewelry stores to introduce an in-house experience" Siddhant's experience highlights how involving the next generation can ensure that businesses stay relevant. - Pratik Sanklecha, Digital Operations Head, Nuts 'n' Spices - India: "When it comes to changing modern, we launched our own app. People wanted their products to reach them immediately. We wanted our customers to stay with us." Pratik’s journey reflects how businesses are meeting evolving consumer needs through digital transformation. - Sharon Kiron, Executive Director, Hi-style India Private Limited: "My biggest challenge was understanding it and putting that together. This also meant making people change, which was a larger challenge." Sharon’s insights underline the complexities of change management in traditional setups. These leaders have shown us that embracing change doesn’t mean losing tradition—it’s about finding the right balance that respects the past while boldly stepping into the future. #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Networking #Insights #Growth #Speakers #Innovation #Retail

In a special address S. Srudheep, Managing Director of Sri Narasu's Coffee Company Private Limited, shares that coffee consumption has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by the rise in cafés. He notes that coffee consumption across India has increased from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. srudheep sivanantham #CRS2024 #Event #Leadership #RetailEvent #Retailers #Brand #RetailMarketing #Networking #Insights #Growth #Speakers #Innovation #Retail

The second panel discussion, titled "Small Cities, Big Opportunities: The Shift in India's Retail Landscape," explores the evolving dynamics of retail in smaller cities across India. Moderated by Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, of Retailers Association India, industry leaders shared invaluable insights: Gautam Saraogi, CEO, Go Colors - Go Fashion India Ltd.: Franchise models work better in smaller cities, offering sustainable growth with committed local partners. In our business, the experience of long-term employees significantly improves business outcomes. Suhail Sattar, MD, Hasbro Clothing Pvt. Ltd. & Chairman - Chennai Chapter, Retailers Association of India: India is waking up to brands, fulfilling the aspirations of middle-class consumers. Brands must adapt by understanding consumer nuances and adopting quasi-franchise models to save capital while maintaining commitment. Sushanto Dey, Partner, Sreeleathers - India: Starting in Jamshedpur and expanding to metros, Sreeleathers has thrived in smaller markets by leveraging local insights. Locals understand their markets better, a key factor for success. Sunil Sanklecha, Founder, Nuts 'n' Spices - India: Smaller markets offer better ROI with a higher sense of aspiration. While businesses often overlook these areas, customers here are eager and engaged. Balachandar R, Director, Junior Kuppanna: There’s greater loyalty among employees and customers in smaller cities, but scaling up means localising products without losing brand essence. “The Next big thing in quick commerce is food. You can’t delay hunger.” The retail revolution isn’t just about metros—it’s about unlocking the potential of India’s smaller cities. Are you ready to tap into these big opportunities?  #RetailInsights #SmallCitiesBigOpportunities #IndiaRetail #FranchiseSuccess