RAI news and archive

Consolidation the way ahead for Indian retail in 2017

Raining M&As and entry of big players into the Indian territory set the tone of retail sector in 2016. However, the government's surprise move to demonetise high denomination notes made a huge dent in retailers' earnings, with sales falling by up to 70 per cent in early days. Going forward, retailers expect impact of cash recall to continue for...

Featured

Retail

Retailers present a united front, want new DIPP guidelines on FDI to be implemented

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the government to implement the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) guideline for FDI in the retail sector. Retailers from across the country from different retail categories held a press conference to draw the government’s attention towards violations of FDI norms by e-commerce...

Retail

Union Budget proposes to make it easier for retailers to do business

The Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, has proposed in the Union Budget 2016-17 that the retailers keep their stores open all seven days. The Budget has also proposed to do away with procedural hassles for the retail sector and proposes model shops and establishments bill for states to adopt. This is being suggested to make it easier for...

Featured

Fairs

Retail Leadership Summit hosts a scintillating two-day event

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) recently hosted a two-day conference Retail Leadership Summit (RLS) in Mumbai. The theme of the summit was ‘Connected Retail: The New World Order’. The summit was inaugurated by BS Nagesh, Founder, Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates (TRRAIN) and chairman, RAI. Subhash Desai, Minister for...

Fashion

Delhi HC directs ED to enquire about FDI violations by ecom firms

The Delhi High Court has ordered the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to find out whether ecommerce companies such as Snapdeal, Jabong, Myntra and Amazon-owned Junglee have violated the country's foreign direct investment (FDI) rules by deploying overseas funds. The court passed the order while hearing a case filed against the government by shoe...

Retail

Diwali sales cheer brick and mortar retailers as well

While ecom majors are bullish about their sales numbers, ‘brick and mortar’ retailers too are looking to double-digit growth in this period. As Kumar Rajagopalan, Chief Executive, Retailers Association of India (RAI) points out, eastern India witnessed around 15 percent rise in retail sales around Dusshera and it believes that during Diwali the...

Fairs

RAI organises ‘Retail Regulatory Summit 2015’

Since the retail industry in India operates under challenging and complex legal regimes covering several central, state and local laws, to help retailers smoothly navigate the complex regulatory maze and to collectively work towards solutions for common issues, the Retailers Association of India (RAI) has launched the Retail Regulatory Summit...

Retail

Centre to let offline shops remain open through the night

With ecommerce majors making a big impact on offline retailers’ businesses, the government is now planning a strategy to let shops remain open as long as they want to like their online rivals. The Central government is said to be proposing to states to scrap rules mandating store closures. It wants a model law that would allow restaurants,...

Retail

Survey finds no negative impact of ecommerce on small traders

A survey of 1,500 small traders across six mega metros and 500 manufacturing MSMEs across eight product categories has found almost zero impact of growth of ecommerce in India. In fact it says that online retailing has led to an increase in footfalls, while reducing traders’ costs of procurement, leading to an increase in profit. The survey...

Retail

RAI to once again approach Delhi High Court over ecommerce FDI

Physical retailers facing stiff competition from ecommerce players due to their discounting policies, are now approaching the Delhi High Court to get clarity on FDI norms for ecommerce firms. They want a clear picture on government allowing foreign funding into the so called marketplace models. The Retailers Association of India (RAI) comprising...

Featured

Retail

Study: Indian customers prefer shopping across retail channels

Despite the ecommerce boom and rising interest of customers in online shopping, a recent study reveals, nearly 74 percent of Indian consumers shop across all channels which include local retailers, modern trade outlets and online. The study by marketing firm Hansa Cequity and Retailers Association of India (RAI), shows modern trade is growing...

Member

Business

Govt has no plans to bring FDI in ecommerce retail

The NDA government has informed the Parliament that it has no plans to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce. “No such proposal is under the consideration of the government,” Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. "The term 'e-commerce retail' has not been defined in the...