Hit by the slump in consumer spending, retailers and mall managers in Kolkata are thinking of innovative ways, shopping festival events and freebies to woo customers especially during the December-January festival season.
For instance, Spencer’s Retail, the retailing arm of RPG Group, has devised special discount schemes and bundled offers in order to ensure 15-20 per cent higher sales during December-January.
According to a spokesperson of Spencer’s, on an average the company records sales of Rs 100 crore per month, which is expected to grow by almost 20 per cent during the festive season. Footfall is also expected to be 20 per cent more, over an average monthly estimation of 55-60 lakh.
“We are starting the festive season with American Food Festival. We will also have on offer bundled offers and discounts on purchases so that we meet our targets,” the Spencer’s spokesperson said.
Likewise, Future Group, India’s biggest retailer, will start 'The Great Indian Shopping Festival', a shopping event to woo consumers beginning December 13.
According to Sandeep Marwaha, head of operations - east, Pantaloons Retail, Future Group expects over 2 crore shoppers to visit its stores across the country during the shopping festival, from the December 13 to January 4, 2009 and generate revenue of Rs 700 crore during the period.
'The Great Indian Shopping Festival' is a jumbo combination of offers on a 1000 brands, lakhs of gifts and prizes worth over Rs 15 crore. Prizes include cars, televisions, ACs and home appliances. All Future Group retail formats will participate in the shopping festival including the flagship formats – Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Pantaloons, Central, HomeTown and eZone; as well as other formats such as – Depot, LootMart, Brand Factory, Indigo Nation, Mobile One, Staples, Etam, Lee Cooper. Food and fun places such as Bowling Company, Sports Bar, Copper Chimney, F123 are also part of this festival.
Shopping malls like Mani Square, Forum and South City are also gearing up with festivals and events to woo consumers.
At South City Mall, the largest retail space in the city, promotion plans have been lined up for the Christmas-New Year period, informed vice- president Sanjeev Mehra. “Consumers have just stopped spending and funds for below-the-line activities are down by almost 15 per cent," Mehra said.
Mani Square has reportedly scrapped the parking free till December 31, although it will mean losing nearly Rs 8 lakh a month, an official informed.
Forum, Kolkata’s first mall, will also run month-long festival even at its food courts to woo consumers starting December 13.
