Retail Summit 2014 Or Mai…..

Retail Summit 2014 Or Mai…..

Initiated by NOP (National Outreach Program) Under LCCI (Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industries)

Two days ago dated February 14, 2014; in the evening when I was so busy in my official assignments, suddenly I got a buzz at FB from one of our NOP co-founder Mr. Rashid Truabi asking “Are you coming to attend Retail summit by tomorrow?”; As my Saturday is off so I replied, “Yes! Why not, I will surly attend…..”. The second question made me astounded when he told me that I am one of the speaker of tomorrow’s summit and coming with the topic “Challenges to Retail Business in Pakistan”. He asked, because one of his speaker excused him at the eleventh hour, and at this time he found me online J. First I tried to refuse as I was stucked in work load and the second reason was the Valentine’s Dinner; but then being a part of NOP, I accepted it as a challenge.

Next day, February 15 2014 at 9:30AM I was feeling very honoured to sit along other speakers and panelists like Mr. Ferhan Butt, Mr. Waqar Khan, Mr. Qamar, Mr.  Rana Ahmed Noon (Head of OD & Training at Bata Pakistan), Dr. Shahid Zia (Member Steering Committee Akhuwat Health Services), Mr. Attique Ahmad (Director IT - WAPDA) and last but not the least Mr. Ahmad Qureshi (CEO Friends Diary & Stationary Mart & Printing Press). The audience were also wonderful, they all professionals came there to seek something special.

This morning sharing of information is at peak, speakers and panelists highlights many shades of Retail industries like:

• The significance of retail sector in Pakistan economy can be gauged from the data published by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics according to which retail and wholesale sector worth is Rs.3.6 Trillion representing around 18% of GDP 2011-12.
• 2011 report jointly published by Deloitte and Retail-Planet identified ten emerging economies, which includes Pakistan to register phenomenal growth in the retail sector in coming years.
• Pakistan have around 0.5 Million of Shops (Food); Less than 4% are Modern Trade Shops; Almost 2 million retail outlets in the country, where 80,000 retail outlets represent FMCG only and around 40,000 retail pharmacy stores.
• A new popular trend in Pakistan that is retailing on highways (CNG Pumps / Marts).
• Introduction of International chains gives the healthy challenge to local retail market and unstructured retail market of Pakistan.
• Change in the business model for Non-Food retailers. Birth of Specialized Store E4U, Diamond Life Style Shops.
• The adaptation and implementation of liberal government policy towards FDI (Foreign Direct Investment), Tax exemptions, for retailing coupled with changing buying habits and rising expectations of shoppers will continue to provide enough incentives to global retailers to explore Pakistani market for any expansion plan. And this International Modern Retail is raising standards for Customer Service & Quality.
• The Shortage of HR professional for managing retail business that causes various problems in the functional part of modern retailing process
• Lack of proper development of retail staff due to factors like “No proper discipline for the preparation of retail staff in our Academia; Lake of respect in society towards this profession; long duty hours considering staff as unskilled labour”. If the fraternity came from proper hands of academia and then it moves to the professional trainers in practical life, then how come it is not possible to practice proper supply chain management, proper customer relation management, proper retail store management; best utilizing of retail selling techniques and merchandising etc.
• The some popular retails chains in Pakistan:

o   Bakery

§  GOURMET

§  SHEZAN

§  CAKES N BAKES

§  DOC’E

§  MALMO

o   Grocery Chains

§  AL FATEH

§   POTPURI

§   HKB

§  JALALSONS

§  IMTIAZ

§  AKBARI

o   Footwear Chains

§  BATA

§  SERVIS

§  Borjan

§  STYLO

§  STARLET

§  ECS

§  EBH

§  METRO

o       Apparels

§  CHEN ONE

§  ENEM

§  IDEAS

§  AL KARAM

§  NISHAT

§  CROSS ROADS

§  BONANZA

§  UNIWORTH

§  EXIST

§  KHADI

§  TEXTILLION

§  JUNAID JAMSHED

o   Pharmacy Chains  

§  FAZAL DIN

§   SERVAID

§   ZAKA

§   7-CS’

§   CLINIX

§  MAHMOOD

§  QARSHI

§   HAKEEM  AJMAL

§  HAMDARD

§  UNANI

Overall this was a good brainstorming session; many case studies has been discussed from where attendees got awareness of what practices and modules being used to run better retail business; and I must say that all the professionals who were present there, regardless of industry or domains (HR, IT, Merchandising, Distribution centers, Business Heads & SME entrepreneurs) all of them should get some feed which might be directly or indirectly beneficial to them and society and overall retail industry of Pakistan. 

Regards

~Khawaja Imran