Pioneering value-retail

Mr Vasant Kumar, Executive Director, Max Retail Stores (Landmark Group), talks about the company and its retail chain in an interview to the RETAILER

 

Retailer: What is the background of Landmark Group and when did it enter India?

Vasant Kumar (VK):  Started in 1973 with just one shop, the Landmark Group is today one of the leading retail organisations in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). Presence of the group in India, which it entered in 1999, is expanding rapidly. Besides retail sector, the group has diversified its sphere of activity into leisure, food, hotels and electronics segments. At the same time, it has developed a comprehensive infrastructure including logistics and distribution division to support its retail operations and other businesses.

 

Retailer: What is the identity of Max Retail stores?  

VK: Max Retail is an international value-retail chain of stores operated by Dubai-based Landmark Group. Max retail offers endless options in apparel in addition to a wide range of footwears and accessories. Max has also recently introduced home furnishing as a separate category. With imported fixtures and customer-friendly layout, our stores provide customers with global shopping experiences. To Indian customers, Max offers same quality and value as it does in the Middle East. The chain aims at pioneering the concept of value retailing in the country.

 

Retailer: Does the company manufacture the product?

VK: No, we are not into ‘manufacturing’. We, at Max, source or procure the merchandise from India and overseas. In India, we are working with 100 vendors who manufacture products in line with our standard and quality. 

 

Retailer: In which countries is the company operating?

VK: So far, Landmark Group has created its presence in nine countries across the Gulf. Presently the group has 10 Lifestyle stores and 10 Max Retail stores in India whereas it has about 51 Max stores abroad.

 

Retailer: How do you assess the performance of Indian retail?

VK: Compared to other international markets, Indian retail market is very new. Experiencing the current economic boom in the country, we can however say that, within next 10 years, Indian retail industry will play an important role in global retail market.

 

Retailer: What constitutes the USP of Max retail stores?

VK: Offering high-end products at fair price is our USP. To increase footfalls and conversions in our stores, we mainly carry out strategic marketing activities within three to four kilometres. We also offer to our customers all festive and special discounts.

 

Retailer: What is your future plan?

VK:  We are planning to open 60 stores in the next four years and these will include setting up of nine stores in the NCR region within the next three years. We are also planning to open stores in tier-II cities. And we have plans to enter Egyptian and Turkey market by the end of this year.

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