The ColorPlus stores in India bring the brand’s focus on craftsmanship and quality to life. Photo by Prasad Durga; © Gensler.
The retail market in India has been making headlines lately. Walmart is slowing its expansion. Tesco is ramping up. The middle class is growing. The economy is stabilizing. Foreign brands are growing in popularity. And domestic brands are strengthening their offerings in order to compete. It’s an exciting time to be in Bangalore.
There are terrific opportunities for global retailers who are interested in setting up shop here; for example, with over 65% of the population under the age of 35, there is increasing interest in technology, fashion, and upscale food and beverage. Of course, there are challenges too, as with any growth. Government regulations often require significant adaptation from a brand’s typical business practices. And consumer tastes are a little different from what you might encounter in other markets. In fact, India itself is very diverse: we speak 18 different languages and practice eight major religions across our 29 states. So it takes an authentic understanding of who we are and how we operate in order to succeed here.
On Wednesday, January 8, we’ll host the second webinar in our three-part Shopping the Globe series – this one live from Bangalore. Barry Bourbon and my colleagues Diwakar Chintala and Sruthi Girish will join me in a 30-minute conversation about the state of the retail market in India, and in Bangalore specifically. We’ll share our insights into local retail and consumer trends, and will discuss opportunities for global brands. We invite you to register using the link below, and to join the discussion.
Shopping the Globe: Bangalore
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 11am EST / 4pm GMT
Click here to register for the Bangalore webinar.
Check out the recent Shopping the Globe webinar about retail in São Paulo, Brazil, too. And if you’re interested, more members of our global Gensler Retail team will be broadcasting from Shanghai, China, in February.
Shopping the Globe: Shanghai
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 11am EST / 4pm GMT
Click here to register for the Shanghai webinar.
 |
Smita Gupta is director of India operations and a senior associate in Gensler’s Bangalore office. She is a designer with a highly valued combination of experience in strategic planning, workplace design, retail design, and building architecture. With over twenty years of experience leading internal teams and external partners, Smita ensures all projects meet their business, design and delivery goals, and our clients’ expectations. Contact her at smita_gupta@gensler.com. |