Any change has its own consequences. While bringing advantages in many ways, present revolution of retail industry entails also 'threat' to small retailers' survival. Probing the ins and outs of this merit-demerit conflict. Ekta explore

India is changing in almost every aspect. Modernised lifestyles, new buying habits, increasing number of hang out-junctions and more importantly, culture of branded shopping have been pivotal in bringing about a change in the perception of shopping in urban India. Touching an all time high is the population of high earning middle class youth of the country, which has made the country a potential goldmine for retailers and brands from all over the world. In such a situation, it is significantly relevant and alerting to know whether small format retailers are stunned and threatened by the entry of global leaders like Wal-Mart and Carrefour with their large wingspans. Or, are they, on the contrary, more informed and ready to take on new challenges?
Mr Gaurav Marya, President, Franchise India Holdings Ltd, observes, "It is time for the small retailers to go in for new technologies and evolve further. With corporate giants entering the retail arena and offering competition to neighbourhood retailers in terms of better environment, lower prices and better values, it is high time for these retailers themselves to fend off the heat. The image of small retailer is set undergo a sea-change in the next two to three years." 
Mom-and-pop stores thrived on the principle of minimum means and maximum satisfaction, offering products and services within their calibre, surviving on lower profit margins without advantages of technological and modern designing applications. Malls have brought winds of change in the country and have, no doubt, created waves of new activities in the realm of retail. Yet, all these imply, on the part of traditional and small retailers, that there is a lot to know and to do so as to remain successful today.
Small retailers have either to evolve to suit the target audience or the game is over for them at least for some time. Ramjilal, a small kiryana shop owner comments, "We have kept in stock every cheap and best material that we believe the customers will like. Once we make substantial profits, we will renovate our shop."
Mr Prashant Mudaliar, GM Retail, Ferns 'N' Petals says, "With the coming of the large format retailers, there will be an impact on low key retailers, stand-alone outlets and local kiryana shops." Prashant says that he is absolutely sure that kiryana shops will give large format retailers a run for money.
Elaborating on this point, Mr Marya says, "There are certain categories of retailing that a neighbourhood locality can not go without as they involve essentials of an individual's daily life. These categories are groceries, pharmacy, saloon, dry-cleaning, stationery, audio, video, hardware (electrical/electronics), sweets, bakery, gifts or flowers and crockery. The neighbourhood retailers in such categories would retain their own selected area of operation."

It's time for minting money: organised/unorganised
Let's leave behind the issue of threats posed by international giant retailers to desi or traditional vendors and see the prospective time instead.  Large corporate houses aiming