Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Indian e-commerce battle has heated up with Seattle-based Amazon and Reliance Industries fighting over a $3.3 billion deal signed by the Mukesh Ambani-owned firm with the Future Group. The deal, which gives Reliance access to Future’s grocery stores and retail shops in India, is being challenged by Amazon in the Singapore International Arbitration Center.

Deal failure to force Future into liquidation

One reason for the feud is the 4.8 per cent stake that Amazon already owns in Future Retail since September 2020. The Future-Reliance deal doesn’t mention what happens to the Amazon stake if the deal materializes. Amazon argues that the deal debars Future Group from doing business with 30 companies including Reliance. The deal has been temporarily halted by SIAC.

Responding to Amazon’s allegations, Future Group says, its failure to go through with this deal may force their retail unit into liquidation besides causing a loss of 29,000 jobs. On its part, Reliance Retail Ventures believes the Future Retail deal is ‘fully enforceable’ under Indian law. The company aims to complete the transaction in terms of the scheme and agreement with Future group without any delay. Though it already has 11,000 stores across India, its aims to consolidate industry position through this acquisition.

Future growth calls for more collaboration

To realize its e-commerce ambitions, Reliance has already being expanding presence through JioMart, The company has expanded JioMart services to over 100 cities across India and plans to branch into electronics, fashion, pharmaceutical and healthcare soon. The company also plans to tap into Reliance Retail's network of physical stores across the country to fulfill online orders, say analysts.

As both Amazon and Reliance need each other’s expertise, the industry expects both companies to forge some kind of a deal in future. While Amazon needs to expand retail space by setting up more stores and delivery hubs, Reliance needs to upgrade its e-commerce experience. However, any kind of deal between them would be possible only if they let go of their individual egos and collaborate for the industry’s future growth.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Multi-brand retail Chain Tablez India aims to achieve a turnover of around Rs 500 crore and expand its network to around 250 stores in India over the next five years, says an Economic Times report.

A subsidiary of the UAE-based conglomerate Lulu Group, Tablez India currently operates 67 stores. The retailer plans to invest around Rs 75 crore every year to expand its retail footprint in the country.

The company aims to boost its presence in digital and e-commerce space as well as physical stores by FY 2026. It will invest around Rs 70 to Rs 75 crore a year for this. Its investments in brands will be re-calibrated post-2021 as per strategy.

The company would fund its expansion through equities as it's a family-owned enterprise. It is also open to expand in other parts of the country. This year, it expects to achieve a turnover of Rs 100 crore.

Tablez India, which launched its operations five years ago in India, operates in retail and food and beverages segments.

Its portfolio consists of brands such as -- Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, Build-A-Bear, GO Sport, and YOYOSO. In the F&B vertical, Tablez holds India franchise rights for Cold Stone Creamery and Galito's, in addition to its home-grown brand, Bloomsbury's.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Indian fashion e-commerce space is going through an evolution as top e-tailers Flipkart, Myntra, Amazon and Reliance Retail are entering new partnerships with offline retailers. As per reports, online retailers are doubling their investments in athliesure and comfort wear by adding new value-focused brands and private labels on their websites.

Festive season accelerates focus on online fashion

Online fashion is becoming the fastest growing category for the festive season. Walmart-owned Flipkart sold over 16 million products during the recent ‘Big Billion Day’ sale, across 40,000 brands and saw a 51 per cent increase in shoppers from Tier II cities over last year. The e-tailer also purchased a minority stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) for Rs 1,500 crore. Aimed to boost ABFRL’s fashion business and co-create new-brands, the deal makes a wide range of products available to Flipkart across different retail formats. It adds strategic value to Flipkart-owned fashion marketplace Myntra as well. In July, Flipkart had also bought stake in Arvind Youth Brands, which owns the Flying Machine brand, for Rs 260 crore.

Growth in shoppers from smaller cities

Myntra’s ‘Big Fashion Festival’ sale in October saw close to one million new shoppers on its platform, with a 180 per cent growth of shoppers from Tier III cities. Nearly four million shoppers bought 13 million products across various categories during the sale. Around 80 per cent of customers are now spending on online fashion with 34 per cent of these planning to increase their investments in future.

The three big players in the Indian fashion e-commerce space, Amazon, Reliance Retail and Flipkart, plan to embark on their e-commerce journey with great enthusiasm, says Ankur Bisen, Senior Vice President Technopak, Flipkart is planning to boost its fashion business through Myntra while Amazon Fashion launched 6,200 new fashion brands on its portal this year. The e-tailer received orders from nearly two million customers during its ‘Great Indian Festival’ sale. It entered into a special collaboration with Easybuy for offer new styles at affordable rates. This initiative will help the e-tailer provide a wide product range and a reliable shopping experience, says Arun Sirdeshmukh, Head, Amazon Fashion India.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Politics is a set of activities associated with the governance of a country or an area. It involves making decisions that apply to group of members. I would have realized that technology is an accessible field at a younger age. I really got interested in technology when I took a role on President Obama’s Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform transition team in 2008 to make recommendations.

Every year countless small, independent designers and brands across the country eagerly wait for two of India’s biggest shopping weeks the India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week. However, this year, things are different as designers face the stark reality of a changed business scenario post pandemic. The two shows took a digital form this year rather than the usual high-energy physical event.

Realizing the importance of craftsmanship

The pandemic highlighted the pressing need to support artisans who are an important part of the valueDesigners face new reality as they ramp up business chain. Designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee have accepted the importance of supporting artisans. He ensured the well-being of 1,700 strong workforce in the past few months. Along with designer Rahul Mishra, he participated in the India Couture Week, organized digitally by the Fashion Design Council of India from September 18-23, 2020. Mishra launched ‘Lotus Pond’ a collection that focused on exceptional embroidery done by artisans.

The importance of craftsmanship in these turbulent times was also highlighted by brands like Nappa Dori, whose stores in Delhi, Mumbai and London sell finely crafted leather bags, satchels and accessories made by New Delhi artisans. The brand plans to launch a new homeware range called ‘Dori Living.’.

Designers launch new business models

Meanwhile designers in New Delhi and Mumbai have been opening new direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels. Gautam Sinha, Founder, Nappa Dori, believes, to drive traffic for an e-commerce site, brands need to advertise it. Smaller brands are unable to bear these advertisement costs. Hence, they look forward to well-timed and well-executed fashion shows. However, there is a fear among designers fear that digital formats are unable to generate the same buzz as physical shows. Then there is the challenge of attracting wholesale buyers, with reports of a sharp drop in sales due to COVID-19.

Ne business models are being adopted to tide over the crisis. Lakme has launched a new virtual showroom to facilitate B2B transactions and the hub where all the content will reside. The hub will provide a new digital experience for audiences to ‘shop off the runway’ and even choose camera angles to augment the viewing experience.

An opportunity to focus on the detailing of bridal wear

Strict government rules have squeezed the shine out of Indian bridal war market. However, some bridal designers view this as an opportunity to shift focus to the craft and detail of bridal garments. .Though they expect occasion-based bridal wear to continue dominating the market, day wear from international luxury brands and Indian designer wear may have to struggle.

Aashti Bhartia, Managing Director, Ogaan points out, people are either buying things that are well-priced and easy to wear or special things for specific occasions. Darshan Mehta, President and CEO, Reliance Brands, notes a distinct shift towards comfort wear whether it be sneakers and slip-on footwear, polos and casual linen-wear or tracks and loungewear. Some feel the pandemic has created an opportunity to push forward the vision of their brand. And many have moved their retail online or operate through WhatsApp.