RETAIL TECHNOLOGY LEADERS ENVISION THE FUTURE OF RETAIL

India Shopping Centre 2016 Success story of Max India’s new shopping sensation VR Bengaluru

Cover_June 2016.indd 1 6/2/2016 5:05:17 PM www. indiaretailing. com JUNE 2016 • PAGES 90 • VOL. 15 NO. 6

Editor in Chief ...... Amitabh Taneja Editorial Director ...... R S Roy Publisher ...... S P Taneja Chief Operating Offi cer ...... Bhavesh H Pitroda EDITORIAL In today’s increasingly connected world, brands and retailers are Editor in Charge ...... Parama Sen (Deputy Editor) struggling to get an Omni-channel presence and fi nd ways to appeal Asst. Editor ...... Shubhra Saini the shoppers who are now present on multiple channels. Burgeoning Correspondent ...... Shipra Srivastava role of the technology has made the job of CIOs/CTOs challenging Conference Content ...... Nakul Jain Mohua Roy than ever. In the cover story, which is aptly titled as ‘Retail Contributing Editors ...... Zainab S Kazi Technology Leaders envision the future of Retail’ we have spoken Sheetal Choksi to CIOs/CTOs from top notch retail brands across the country. The Namita Bhagat feature highlights how technology leaders are leveraging technology CREATIVES to smoothly run overall operations and improving margins. In doing Art Director ...... Pawan Kumar Verma so, they are actually helping the brands to get an Omni-channel Layout Designer ...... Divakar Sharma Sr. Photographer ...... Vipin Kardam presence & reach the shoppers, who are everywhere today. Not only the Retailers, but the Shopping Centres also need to PRODUCTION General Manager ...... Manish Kadam reposition themselves as social spaces with leisure and entertainment Sr. Executive ...... Ramesh Gupta being as important as the retail component and there should be a SUPPORT proper collaboration of brick and mortar sales with online presence. General Manager – Administration ...... Rajeev Mehandru The agenda of the 9th edition of India Shopping Centre Forum was SUBSCRIPTION partially based on this. Including this, the forum also had who’s Asst. Manager – Subscriptions ...... Kiran Rawat who of the Shopping Centre industry trying to fi nd out the key to success of the shopping centres of India and analysing the areas ADVERTISING of improvement of this retail space. Our feature on the same will BUSINESS HEAD provide you a sneak peak on this informative knowledge series. Anjali Sondhi, Director Waseem Ahmad, Vice President Images Shopping Centre Awards, which has high regard in the [email protected] [email protected] shopping community, was also a part of the two daylong event. Mob.: +91 9810204297 Mob.: +91 9833628852 On a concluding note, I would like to express my sincere : Vineet Chadha, Vice President gratitude to all the participants of ISCF 2016, whose presence (Retail Support Group & indiaretailing) have made the event a grand success and I am soliciting a similar Vandana Verma, Sr. Manager response for the upcoming India Retail Forum 2016 which is : Bindu Pillai, Sr. General Manager scheduled for 21st-22nd September at Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai. I wish to see you all at IRF 2016. Stay tuned to upcoming issues of AHMEDABAD : Sunil Vadadoriya, Dy. Manager Images Retail to get more insights on the business of retail. KOLKATA : Piyali Oberoi, Vice President & Branch Head Rohan Narayan, Dy. Manager All the Best! BENGALURU : Suvir Jaggi, Vice President & Branch Head Devidutta Roypitam, Sr. Manager Smriti Bhagat, Manager LUDHIANA : Hemant Gupta, Associate Amitabh Taneja

For advertising queries, please write to [email protected] All material printed in this publication is the sole property of Images Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. All printed matter contained in the magazine is based on the information provided CONSUMER CONNECT by the writers/authors. The views, ideas, comments and opinions expressed are solely of the writers/authors or those featured in the articles and the Editor and Printer & Publisher Anil Nagar, Vice President do not necessarily subscribe to the same. [email protected], Mob.: +91 9811333099 Printed & published by S P Taneja on behalf of Images Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Modest Print Pack (P) Ltd. C-52, D.D.A. Shed Okhla Industrial Area Phase -1, Membership Team: New Delhi - 110020 and published by S P Taneja from S - 21 Okhla Industrial Area Priti Kapil Priyanka Sagar Phase – 2, New Delhi.110020 Editor: Amitabh Taneja Sarika Gautam R. P. Singh In relation to any advertisements appearing in this publication, readers are recommended Images Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. (CIN: - U22122DL2003PTC120097) to make appropriate enquiries before entering into any commitments. Images Multimedia Registered Offi ce: S 21, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi 110020 Pvt. Ltd. does not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of products and services. Ph: +91-11-40525000, Fax: +91-11-40525001 , Email: [email protected], The Printer, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the publication shall not be held for any Website: www.imagesgroup.in consequences in the event of such claims not being honored by the advertisers. Mumbai: 1st Floor, Panchal Iron Works, Plot No. 111 / 3, Copyright Images Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner is Marol Co-Operative Industrial Estate, Marol, Andheri (East). Mumbai - 400059. prohibited. All disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Ph: +91-22-28508070 / 71, Fax: +91-22-28508072 Delhi/New Delhi only. Images Retail does not accept responsibility for returning unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Bengaluru: 523, 7th Cross, 10th Main, (Jeevanbhima Nagar Main Road), HAL 3rd Stage, Bengaluru 560 075 Ph: +91-80-41255172/41750595/96, Fax: +91-80-41255182 For subscription related queries, email to: [email protected] Kolkata: 30-B, Anil Roy Road, Ground Floor, Kolkata 700 029 For feedback/editorial queries, email to: [email protected] Ph: + 91-33-40080480, Fax: +91-33-40080440

NEW-Editorial-RETAIL.indd 10 6/1/2016 7:52:34 PM JUNE 2016 CONTENTS

COVER 14 NEWSMAKERS INTERNATIONAL STORY GLOBAL RETAILERS PLAN NEW STRATEGIES International retailers and e-tailers like GAP and Amazon {38} are gearing up for further expansion. Article throws light on top notch development in retail world globally.

16 NEWSMAKERS NATIONAL RETAIL TECHNOLOGY NEW BEGINNING AND EXPANSION IS THE FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH LEADERS ENVISION Textile giant is foraying online. From Ice cream maker to entertainment provider, everybody is in the mood for expansion! National retail scenario. THE FUTURE 18 RETAIL REAL ESTATE BLACK BOX ON WHITEFIELD ROAD OF RETAIL VR Bengaluru 24 EVENT Till about a decade ago, INDIA SHOPPING CENTRE FORUM 2016 Technology was considered An exclusive feature including conferences conducted on India unobtrusive, a “back-offi ce Shopping Centre forum(ISCF) 2016. thing” without a name or an 34 AWARDS identity. Consumers were INDIA SHOPPING CENTRE FORUM AWARDS 2016 shopping the old-fashioned A detailed report on gala award night. way, wearing out their shoes 74 instead of their keypads. Cover MY THOUGHT YOU ARE STUDYING TO BE A TAILOR?!! story also includes profi les of An exclusive column from Ms. Sukanya Duttaroy from Top CIOS/CTOs in the county. Swarovski.

76 RETAIL DEBUTANTE CARL’S JR. WANTS TO TAKE OVER INDIA A feature on carl’s Jr..It is America based quick-service restaurant chain operated by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. The brand has recently forayed Indian market

78 SUCCESS STORY MAX INDIA DEMOCRATIZING FASHION THE FASHIONABLE EVERY DAY A detailed feature on Max India.

82 RETAIL JOURNEY UNIQLO JET-SETTING FROM JAPAN An exclusive article on international fashion retailer Uniqlo.

84 RETAIL TECHNOLOGY RESHAPING MODERN RETAIL IN THE “TECHNOLOGY” CALWAY An exclusive column from Sunil Nair from Spar India.

88 INDEX

. . 12 IMAGES RETAIL JUNE 2016

03-Contents.indd 12 6/2/2016 5:53:47 PM EVENT

L-R-Krish Iyer,Sanjay Dutt,Andrew J Taylor,Byron Lewis, Janne Einola,Tara Subramaniam ( inaugural session)

ow to make a shopping centre INDIA SHOPPING successful? How the developers would ensure that the retailers will get maximum benefi t at CENTRE FORUM Hthat particular centre? Will the emergence of online shopping lead to a slow death of shopping centres? How 2016 the mall owners incorporate new technology for their own advancement? Do the shopping THE SECRET TO CREATE A “FUTURE centres need to revamp themselves as shopping READY” SHOPPING CENTRE resort, where consumers can come, shop, have fun, enjoy, have good food, be entertained and How to create a Shopping Centre, which is going to spend quality time with their family members... be successful in terms of ROI, be equally profi table- around these and many more questions the enjoyable for both retailers-consumers, who’s who 2 days of India Shopping Centre Forum 2016 of country’s shopping centre industry have tried to revolved. Mall developers, retailers, service fi nd out that in India Shopping Centre Forum 2016 providers, industry experts have come, discussed, shared their valuable experiences, By Parama Sen given suggestions, raised new queries in the

Powered By

Supported By

powered by

Online Media International Offi cial Media Partners Partner Media Partner Organised By

www.indiaretailing.com

. . 24 IMAGES RETAIL JUNE 2016

Retail Real Estate(conference).indd 24 6/2/2016 5:46:22 PM platform, which has tried to build a part of an integrated township; designed in such a way, so that it can the blueprint of success of the Indian they should train their staff like the ensure customer convenience to the Shopping Centre Industry on 11- hospitality industry, which in turn fullest. One can note the example of 12th May, at the ballroom of The makes the consumers comfortable. world trade centres across the world, Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai. Though a lot of best practices are yet where retail space are combined with These two days of ISCF were mainly to be adopted by most of the shopping offi ce spaces. divided between panel discussions centres of the country, but some of and solo sessions And of course the them have tried to incorporate these Funding Behind The Shopping Centres very important event in the calendar of and have become successful too. What Makes Shopping Centre An people related to shopping centres, The Attractive Investment? Speakers Images Shopping Centre Awards. Designing Retail that Thrives with like B V Bharadwaja, Country Head We, in this feature, are going to ‘Smart Cities’ India, CapitaLand Malls Asia; Nikhil present the glimpses of the two day long In this second discussion, the panel, Chaturvedi, MD Prozone; Pankaj Jaju, events in a short, yet detailed way. which comprised of Alexandar Koth, Head-Strategic Partnership, Axis Bank; After the inaugural session by MD & Founder, Minodes GmbH; Khair- Rahul Rai, Executive VP and Head- President & CEO of Walmart India Ull-Nissa, Executive Director, World Real Estate Business, ICICI Prudential and the chairperson of Indian Retail Trade Center Services; M V Krishna Asset Management Company; Rohit Forum Mr Krish Iyer (where in addition Rao, Head-Retail and Commercial, George, MD, Xander Advisors India to the context of discussion on retail Hyderabad Next by L&T Metro Rail, & Tara Subramaniam, MD & COO real estate, he had tried to fi nd out Mukesh Kumar, VP, Infi niti Mall; JMFCS and moderator R K Narayan, what should be the agenda of the Nimish Sonawala, MD Skydata; MD Macquarie Infrastructure and forthcoming India Retail Forum) the Rajneesh Mahajan, ED, Inorbit Malls, Real Assets India have tried their best panel discussions begun. Sunil Shroff, CEO-malls, , to fi nd out the answer to the topic. Zubin Cooper, CEO, Bentel; Pankaj Actually, there were mixed views on The Mall Future Thinkpad — Shaping Renjhen, MD Retail, JLL; have tried to this topic. According to the experts, the Thinking on the Future of portray what smart cities actually are. though shopping centres of India Retail Spaces This is a concept about making use of are something, where investors are This was the inaugural discussion. the limited resources available in the ready to put in their money, but as Participating speakers were Andrew maximum possible way. Integrated there is still a little uncertainty in Taylor, Senior Managing Director, development is actually the future the business, they have to be very, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real here. Townships should be anchored very careful before investing. It is Assets, Hong Kong; Byron Lewis, by shopping centres. It should be true that, Indians are going to spend Founder and CEO, Mall Solutions Europe; Janne Einola, CEO and In the present situation of technological Country Head, H&M India; Krish advancement, brick & mortar sales and Iyer, President & CEO Walmart India, Tara Subramaniam, MD & COO, online stores have to work together in a JM Financial Credit solutions. The shopping centre. discussion was moderated by Sanjay Dutt, MD, Cushman & Wakefi eld. According to the panel, for the last two decades, Indian Shopping Malls have faced a hell lot of challenges, some malls were badly affected, and some were not. In the present situation of technological advancement, brick & mortar sales and online stores have to work together in a shopping centre. Retailer-developer collaboration is also necessary in this context. Omni- channel way of business has to be adopted in order to serve the consumer of tomorrow. Both the retailers and consumers are clients to the mall developers, and both of them are equally important. Malls should be

. . JUNE 2016 IMAGES RETAIL 25

Retail Real Estate(conference).indd 25 6/2/2016 5:46:29 PM AWARDS

IMAGES SHOPPING CENTRE AWARDS 2016

Mega retailer voting process culminates in glitteringglit ceremony to recognize India’s outstandingoutst shopping centres

s the busy Day 1 of India Shopping Centre Forum was slowly progressing towards evening, curiosity was reaching its high among the representatives of the shopping centres present there. Later in the evening, when at the terrace of The Renaissance Hotel the AManuel Manual Trio was performing popular tracks of Michael Jackson and Adele, anybody can understand that the crowd can hhardlyardly eenjoy the groovy music, as all were eagerly waiting for the envelopes with tthehe nanamem of the winners to get opened and announcements to get started! TThehe aannouncements of the 9th edition of the annual IMAGES Shopping Centre AwAwardsards (ISCA), which recognized outstanding shopping centres and professionals aacrosscrosss tthe country under 29 different award categories, begun with the intriguing vvoiceoice oof Freishia Boman Behram. TToo sshortlisth and rank best performing malls in India for fi nancial year 2015-16, IIMAGESMAGES undertook a fi rst of its kind exercise in the world -- involving over 200 ttopop bbrandsran and retailers with their respective business development/operation/ mamarketingrketi & retail team members and associates -- to identify the best malls aacrosscross IIndia. Tenants in shopping centres with different retail verticals, formats aandnd coconsumeron segments joined in to rank malls on the basis of their overall pperformanceerform including metrics like marketing promotion initiatives, trading density aanandd ROROI.O Eight of the 29 categories at ISCA 2016 were the RETAILERS’ CHOICE AAWARDS,WARRD decided purely by India’s leading national retail chains who voted for ththeireir ppreferredr shopping centres from across the country on the basis of Return on InInvestmentvests m or ROI, and sales per square feet. ThThee GGrand Jury for ISCA 2016 included Mr. Amitabh Taneja (Chief Convenor, InIndiandia SShShopping Centre Forum), Mr. Anuj Puri (Chairman & Country Head, Jones LLangangg LLasalle),a Mr. Ajay Bijli (Chairman & Managing Director, PVR Limited), MsMMs.. IrIreenaeee Vittal (Expert, India Agriculture & Urban Change), Mr. Krish Iyer (P(Presidentreesidde & CEO, Walmart India), Mr. Neelesh Hundekari (Partner, Consumer anaandnd ReRetail,et Head of Lifestyle Practice, Asia, A T Kearney), Mr. Phil McArthur (F(Founderouundd & MD, McArthur Company), Mr. Pankaj Jaju (Head - Strategic PaPartnerships,artneer Axis Bank), Mr. Sanjay Dutt (Managing Director, India, Cushman & WaWakefikek fi eeld), Mr. Simon Thomson (Founder & Principal, Retail International) and MrMMr.r. ShShishirhi Baijal (Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India Pvt. Ltd.)

. . 34 IMAGESIMAGES RERETAILTAIL JUNEJUNE 20162016

ISCA.indd 34 6/1/2016 7:40:22 PM ISCA 2016 AWARDEES

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Best ROI East: , Kolkata | West: Infi niti Mall, Malad | South: Forum Mall, Koramangala | North: , New Delhi

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Best Sales Per Sq. Ft East: South City Mall, Kolkata | West: , Mumbai | South: , | North: Select Citywalk, New Delhi

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Marketing & Promotions East: South City Mall, Kolkata | West: The Oberoi Mall, Mumbai | South: Phoenix Market City, Bengaluru | North: DLF Promenade, New Delhi

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Best Turnaround Saharaganj Mall, Lucknow

> MAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Socially Responsible West: Viviana Mall, Thane | South: , Bengaluru | North: Select Citywalk, New Delhi | Special Mention: Forum Vijaya Mall, Chennai

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre Launch of The Year East: Acropolis Mall, Kolkata | South: VR Bengaluru, Bengaluru | North: DLF , Noida

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Non Metro East: P&M Mall, Patna | West: Pheonix Market City, Pune | South: Lulu International Mall, | North: , Chandigarh

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year – Metro East: South City Mall, Kolkata | West: High Street Phoenix, Mumbai | South: Orion Mall, Bengaluru | North: Select Citywalk, New Delhi

> IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre Professional of The Year East: Manmohan Bagree, South City Mall, Kolkata North: Pushpa Bector, DLF Mall of India South: Vishal Mirchandani, Brigade Enterprises West: Rajnesh Mahajan, Inorbit Malls

A special honor under the IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of The Year: IMAGES Most Admired Shopping Centre of the Socially Responsible category was given to Forum Vijaya Mall, Chennai, for its highly- Year: Best Turnaround honor went to Saharaganj lauded initiatives during the Chennai fl oods of 2015. A front runner in relief work and Mall, Lucknow, which restructured its complete with the support of its staff and the tenants, the entire mall was open for citizens as a brand mix last year. Major renovation and fresh safe haven; hundreds spent three days within the mall. The cinema halls were used for mall promotion activities were highly visible last accommodating people to rest overnight, the food court and the restaurants prepared year. As a result of these, total lease rent income food for thousands of people during the four-day period. The mall’s hypermarket in 2015-16 grew by 79% over the previous year, operated on all days; mall management bought groceries from the hypermarket in while supplementary income (ads, signage etc.) preparing food for the fl ood victims. grew by 70%.

. . JUNE 2016 IMAGES RETAIL 35

ISCA.indd 35 6/1/2016 7:41:37 PM COVER STORY

WHERE TECH WILL TAKE RETAIL RETAIL TECHNOLOGY LEADERS ENVISION THE FUTURE OF RETAIL

rom a service extension, technology has evolved Till about a decade ago, Technology to a lifeline for businesses. Retail is no stranger was considered unobtrusive, a “back- to the tech-revolution; today, it has technology offi ce thing” without a name or an woven into its DNA. In this landscape, the role identity. Consumers were shopping Fof the Technology Leader in creating seamless the old-fashioned way, wearing out consumer journeys between the online and their shoes instead of their keypads. offl ine realms is invaluable. If technology is the face of retail, Today, buzzwords like ‘consumer- the CIO is its brain. centric’ and ‘Omni-channel’ have While the rapid changing pace of technology has caused raised their expectations and they seismic shifts in shopping habits, its tremors have ripped apart the defi nition of the Retail Technology Leader. Images Retail now seek experiences rather than spoke to 29 Chief Information Offi cers across the country just delightful products and services. to understand how their roles have changed over the last Technology has transcended from few years and the future they foresee. Presented here is a an aspiration to an expectation and consolidation of their responses. has wedged itself securely between We have structured the article in two sections: the fi rst part consumer and experience to create documents the CIOs’ views on their changing role in this tech an everyday interface. A plethora of driven world, the technology challenges retailers will face, experiences have migrated online and as well as an analysis of the Top 5 tech priorities of 2016- with them, consumers. 2018 they anticipate. The second part introduces us to the man behind the designation and spotlights the priorities he By Sheetal Choksi & Sharmila Cirvante envisages will shape the retail world of the future. On a lighter note, we also peek into his personal tech choices.

. . 38 IMAGES RETAIL JUNE 2016

Cover Story.indd 38 6/2/2016 5:11:41 PM IT teams are expected to Now the same CIO has to The challenges will be know the retail business be Chief Innovation Offi cer/ on how to use mobile tech realities as much as marketing Chief Intelligence Offi cer/ without tearing down the or operations and be involved Chief Integration Offi cer/ virtual walls of security in conceptualisation, rather Chief Infrastructure Offi cer than just solutions – Kiran Komatla, – Yakeen Gazi, AVP - IT, Burger King India – Indresh Pradhan, Sr. V.P. IT & Supply Chain, Head - IT, Kaya Hypercity Retail India Limited

The changing role of the CIO: With lines getting blurred between While customer retention, a seamless from business enabler to business service offerings, it is important for Omni-channel experience and creating stakeholder retailers to be creative and innovative differentiation in products and services Gone are the days when impressive IT to provide a relevant and unique topped the list, there were others. or Engineering degrees staked claim differentiator. Some of it had to do with a fast to a CIO’s fame. With most companies changing pace, while others involved a fusing their IT strategy with Business The three big technology challenges change of mindset. strategy, today’s Head of Technology retailers will face: technology When we asked CIOs on what is getting down to business and is solutions must evolve to business they believed would be the three key expected to use technology to drive solutions challenges that retail would face from a business strategies and fulfi l the Technology is becoming more agile technology point of view, we received corporate vision. The tech credentials and responsive. It is relevant to almost myriad answers. are not even a mandate anymore. every business function and process of The key themes however Given the consumer demand for an organization today, and the impact revolved around: digital transformation, it is important of this change on business is signifi cant for Technology Heads to develop the and challenging. The Technology 1. Managing customers and their mindset of Digital Enabler and Growth Leader is expected to convert this changing expectations Hacker in the next couple of years. challenge into opportunity and while From creating a one view of the “Heads of Technologies now need they are rising up to the task, some customer and one view for the to have a deeper understanding of lacunae between service and delivery customer to customisation and business and its challenges to drive are expected. personalisation for customers. From sales and margin growth, without ignoring the customer intimacy needed to stay aligned with their expectations from retailers as a service provider,” observes Abel A. Correa, Head IT Strategy and Governance, Arvind Ltd. The age of web and mobile technology has created highly tech savvy customers who look for a seamless shopping experience across multiple channels. Consumers use technology in various ways before they shop and during their time in the store – they search for online coupons, use mobile devices to check prices, research products, make shopping lists and read product reviews. From being present across channels, the focus now is to provide a unifi ed experience across channels. Customers will naturally gravitate towards retailers that can combine a competitive shopping experience with high customer satisfaction.

. . JUNE 2016 IMAGES RETAIL 39

Cover Story.indd 39 6/2/2016 5:11:49 PM MARKET PLACE

DIGITAL 2. Engage based on consumers taste and preferences: Advertise relevant information on products, special offers and deals. COMMERCE: 3. Delightful in-store experiences: Assist customers in fi nding specifi c FOUR WAYS BEACONS CAN items with in-store navigation. Beacons save time, energy and resources by helping consumers fi nd TRANSFORM RETAIL relevant information quickly This small, button like device can generate a mobile 4. Drive insights: Get insights into commerce platform customer behaviour and feed them back into CRM. Understand footfall patterns, entry and exit data, amount of time spent, visited locations, heatmaps, trends, repeat visits, and purchase history all in real time.

Beacons open up a world of new possibilities, and it is quite natural that it will be widely used and implemented by all types of businesses, big or small. One thing to remember is that no one likes a pest, either in the retail world or online. Mobmerry is a lifestyle product discovery and mobile commerce platform for consumers and offl ine retailers. Mobmerry also uses Beacon technology to give the user an enhanced experience. For consumers, there is no personalized way for consumers to discover and buy lifestyle products from multiple offl ine retailers in an easy and friction less manner. or the last several the online vs. offl ine divide, it is now Mobmerry aggregates and curates years, with all the bringing the consumer and retailer lifestyle products from offl ine retailers excitement surrounding together like never before. & creates a personalized mobile e-commerce, mobile Welcome to the world of beacons. commerce experience based on an Fhas contributed to the Beacons are small, battery-operated, individual’s taste and preferences. continued decline of low-cost wireless devices that Mobmerry have installed these brick-and-mortar sales, while online continuously transmit a simple low- beacons at all retail destinations who shopping is steadily growing. energy Bluetooth signal saying,”Hello, have partnered with the brand. But, as much as we would like to this is me, here is my ID.” Apps Celio’s store at Indiranagar, was one believe that everything will move digital, on smart phones can pick up these of the fi rst few stores that we on- it is important to understand that even signals, and create rich personalized boarded. It is one of the top brands in the US where most retailers are omni- experiences. with respect to Walk-ins and Sales channel, 95 per cent of retail business 1. Identify and connect: Imagine a enabled by Mobmerry and it continues still happens at the physical store. world where you could identify a to be so. We see an emerging trend, a world potential customer among-st the About the author: where online and offl ine shopping hundreds of people who walk by Krishna Prasad, CEO and Co-founder of Interaction coexists rather than compete. If your store; greet them, say hello and One/Mobmerry,is a Digital Experiences Architect technology were to be blamed for invite them over to your store. https://www.mobmerry.com/

. . 72 IMAGES RETAIL JUNE 2016

Marketplace_Mobmerry.indd 72 6/1/2016 7:49:17 PM