URBAN INDIA CONSUMERS UPGRADE CONSUMER DURABLES

Consumers in Urban India are busy upgrading their TVs, Airconditioners and Washing Machines. . The last 7 months till July have shown a robust growth in these segments . This growth has been led by LCD TVs, Split Airconditioners and Fully Automatic Washing Machines. In a year of major sports action, high end TVs growth is expected to grow even more spilling over to rural India too.
The last seven months have also seen robust growth of entry level products in rural India. Industry leaders expect the growth in rural India in these entry products to be as high as 40% during the coming festive season. (Category Managers/Buyers in retail pl note and stock accordingly)
GROWTH THIS YEAR (7 months till July'10) :
Televisions
LCD TVS    :    70%        Overall   :  4.8%
Air Conditioners
Split ACs    :    58%         Window ACs   :   18.6%        Overall   :  41%
Refrigerators
Direct Cool :    14.7%      Frost Free     :    13.7%        Overall   :  14.5%
Washing Machines
Fully Automatic   :   16.5%     Overall  :  9.7%
(Source GfK-Nielson)
The overall outlook in consumer durables for the year 2010 is positive. Industry leaders expect TV sales to double in units this year besides a very healthy growth in refrigerators.

Exciting times ahead in this industry.

ECT250910

EXPANSION PLANS OF RETAILERS IN INDIA

Retailers are back on an expansion spree. With the economy opening up again and consumer spend on the rise, retailers in India are once again looking to expand operations. Some headlines :
M & S PLANS 32 MORE STORES
Mark and Spencer  is planning to set up 32 more stores in India by 2013. The company is a joint venture between Mark and Spencer Plc of the UK and the Reliance Group. MSRI has 18 large format stores in major cities in India.
BI 04092010
MAX OF LANDMARK GROUP TO ADD STORES 
Max, the retail chain from the Landmark Group of Dubai, plans to have a chain of 60 stores in India by 2010-2011. It has inaugurated its first store at Bhopal and the third in Madhya Pradesh taking the total count in India to 33 outlets. The company intends to expand to metros, tier II and III cities across India. Max operates more than 115 stores across West Asia, Egypt, India, Turkey, Yemen and Palestine.
BL05092010
CARREFOUR TO OPEN ITS FIRS STORE BY YEAR-END Retailer Carrefour of France plans to open its first Cash & Carry ( wholesale) store in India by the end of 2010. This store will be opened in New Delhi .
ET04092010