Shop international

The retailing scene in Bangalore is set for a paradigm shift. After a slew of shopping malls bringing in a range of national brands, its now the turn of international brands to stage a mega entry.

After the individual entry of brands like Marks & Spencer and Tommy Hilfiger with Indian partners to tap into the aspirational spending of the Indian middle class, Shoppers' Stop is set to open up the floodgates for foreign brands.

Arguably the first-mover involved in changing the Indian retail scene, Shoppers' Stop is all set to unveil a mall which will focus exclusively on international brands.

Named Shoppers' International, this format of Shoppers' Stop will be launched nationally in Bangalore in early 2005. The chain's decision to kick off its new initiative here is a further endorsement of the city's potential for retailers.

The new store will be housed at the Star Mall which is coming up on Magrath Road and will be opposite Shoppers' Stop's current location which will eventually be vacated. Shoppers' Stop recently opened a new outlet on Bannerghatta Road.

Shoppers' International will be fighting for footfalls at Star Mall with other brands like Pantaloon which will be the anchor store, besides Westside and Marks & Spencers.

The mall which is being built at a cost of almost Rs 75 crore will also have a 5-star hotel component and the total mall space has already been fully booked even as the mall is being built.

This underlines Bangalore's growing prominence as a key retailing centre among the top six Indian cities. The Indian consumer's desire to shop in malls has been highlighted in a recent study by J Walter Thompson.

It finds that the Indian shopper looks as much for the quality of experience and enjoyment while shopping as the need to meet the requirement for a product or service.