Only satisfied retailers can delight customers

Mr Nayan Bheda, Chairman and Managing Director of Neptune Group shares his opinion on the launch of the group’s mall in India

Retailer: What inspired you to develop this project?
Nayan Bheda: Centrally located suburb, Bhandup lies along an important arterial roads of Mumbai, LBS Marg and has excellent accessibility to people from western suburbs, Navi Mumbai, central suburbs and Thane. Despite its proximity to upper middle-class areas and a huge catchment of upper middle-class residents, Bhandup did not have a place for shopping or entertainment and eating out where discerning customers could go.  And this was an opportunity for the company. The inspiration to build the mall was not just the location, but also its elevation and the huge frontage which were not available anywhere else in the city.
Retailer: What are the special features of the mall?
NB: Magnet Mall has about 10 lakh sq.ft of retail space boasting of a 1,000 foot facade, a 2.35 lakh sq.ft floor plate, a 1,500 car park, four large atriums, superb retail mix, a 50,000 sq.ft indoor family amusement park, 10-screen multiplex, and 650-seater foodcourt. There are no dead ends in the entire mall, and every store faces the atrium.
Retailer: Which prominent brands are likely to lease out the outlets, and who are the anchor tenants?
NB: The brands that are expected to have their outlets in the mall are Metro Cash & Carry, Piramyd, Bajaj Auto, Movie Time Multiplex, Ruff Kids, Freelook, Archies, Mufti, Madura brands, Raymond, Biba, Catwalk, Cottons by Century, Nike, Odyssey, Pepe, Reebok, Titan, Spykar, Timex, Indigo Nation, Scullers and Footmart.
Retailer: Do you feel that the preferences of Indian shoppers have changed with the passage of time?
NB: The Indian shopper who, today, assumes the identity of a global shopper is driven more by impulse than by need. Immediate gratification is the key.
Retailer: What is the USP of your mall?
NB: It is designed with the retailer in mind. Simple conveniences like separate lockers, loading and unloading bay, and staff rest room have been provided. In the designing stage itself, ‘full thought’ has been a retailer’s delight. The company believes that only a happy and satisfied retailer can extend ‘customer delight’ to the consumer.