IKON
Kishore Biyani is the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer India’s leading Retail Company, Future Group. Future Group mainly deals in retail chains spread over the space of 20 million square feet in more than 240 cities in India and attracts over 370 million customer visits annually. As the Group CEO of Future Group, Kishore leads a strong leadership team that delivers on Future Group’s vision of making India a ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ once again. His elder daughter Ashni is a director of Future Ideas, Group’s innovation and incubation cell and younger daughter Avni Biyani is Concept Head of a premium food destination, Foodhall.
The concept of Wednesday Bazaar was promoted as ‘HafteKaSabseSasta Din’ (Cheapest Day of the Week). Initiated in January 2007, the idea behind this scheme was to draw customers to stores on Wednesdays, the day when consumer presence is usually less. According to the chain, the aim of the concept was ‘to give home makers the power to save the most’.
Over the years, the concept has grown to become a six-day bi-annual campaign. During the campaign, offers are given in all the value formats including Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Electronic Bazaar, and Furniture Bazaar.
What is the job all about?
In the Big cities, shopping Malls have come to stay, viz. Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Ebony, Globus, etc. Now the Malls are coming to smaller cities too. Besides Malls, there are shops springing up every day, like Jewellers, Readymades, Electronics, Car showrooms, etc.Therefore, there is a need of Retail Sales experts, Window Designers, etc.
Can I go for it?
You must have the native ability to gauge, whether a Customer is a browser or a genuine buyer and concentrate on the Buyer. Then, you must use your PR (Public Relation Skills), think fast and close a Sales deal. The other abilities would be useful; calculate mentally, so price quotations and possible discounts can be indicated without blinking an eyelid.
Each sphere of Retail Sales require certain skills, e.g. If you are in Textiles, you need to have a taste for colour combinations i.e. mix and match, and besides for clothing, also for accessories, etc.
If you have a flair for Shop Displays, then you could consider Visual Merchandising. Many shoppers enter shops due to their attractive displays.
So if you can read social / consumer behaviour, have strong Communication skills, Retail Marketing, Retail Processes, Merchandising / Stock Planning / Packaging, you are the right person.
Besides, there is Online Shopping, e.g. Amazon, Flip Cart, Times Shopping, etc.
Is there a future in this job?
The middle class is growing rapidly in India – as a result, retail shopping is growing. There is need for sales staff who can deliver. While e-shopping has not quite caught on yet, retail shopping still holds sway.
Where do I start?
For shop floor jobs, you could be just out of Class XII. For identifying trends and new styles, sourcing the right products and brands or merchandising or shop display skills you could do a course in Merchandising at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or IIFT
To join the Management level, you need MBA in Marketing and Sales
Other Institutes:
Indian Institute of Retail, New Delhi.
Courses offered are for both Professionals as well as Graduates.
Certificate in Retail Management (CRM), which can be pursued after 10 + 2 or Graduation, takes three months.
A six-months Diploma in Retail Management (DRM) programme – after 10+2 or three months after the CRM.
IIR also offers Short Term courses on Shop Floor Management, Customer Service, Visual Merchandising, Retail, Warehousing, etc. amongst otheRs.
The school has tied up with Indian retail majors, viz. Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, Ebony, Globus, RPG Retail, Liberty, Pyramid, Vivek’s and Gili to provide practical training and jobs to students.
Ebony Retail Academy, New Delhi. (www.India Education.Net)
Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF), New Delhi, http://www.pearlacademy.com/industry_retail.htm) has tied-up with LDT Nagold, Germany, to offer Full Time courses in retail. PAF offers two full-time programs in Fashion Retail Merchandise Management for 10 + 2’s and a one and a half year Diploma in Fashion Retail Management for Post Graduates.
Metropolitan Institute of Management, Pune.
Employment Avenues:
Malls, Export Houses, Retail / Wholesale dealers are constantly on the look out for good staff at all levels.
Monies :
Basic Retail staff get around Rs10,000/- plus commissions but higher level staff are paid Base salary plus high Commissions based on sale
At the floor level, Executives get about Rs. 10,000/- a month. Category Managers, (the next level, with five to eight years’ experience in service industries) take home Rs. 5 – 6 lakhs a year, while Store Managers typically draw Rs. 8 – 10 lakhs p.a.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/