IIPTF - India International Pet Trade Fair

Where:	India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF)
When:	12 February 11 am to 1 pm; 13 February 2 pm to 4 pm
Audience:	Pet Product Retailers, Manufacturers and Importers
Cost:	Rs 900/- per attendee
Presenter:	Indian Retail School (New Delhi)

OVERVIEW

Pet store retailing is a sector in boom and the potential of this industry is tremendous. Many retailers, big and small have therefore been experimenting with ways to bring about an increase in profits and service levels through category management, handling customer response, etc. However, the fundamentals of retailing – price, product, delivery and service – are still keystones towards affordable pricing, quality products, timely delivery and consistent service.

The Pet Shop Retailing Seminar presented by IIPTF Knowledge Partner – India Retail School - will focus on ‘Retail Best Practices’.

Retail best practices involves developing merchandise and services that satisfy specific needs of customers, and supplying them at prices that will yield profits. The needs of the customers should be paramount while making retail decisions. While merchandise mix is about the breadth (variety) and product depth (number of each item or particular style of a product) carried by retailers, deciding on the mix should be such that can ensure financial optimization by improving sales and margins, and reducing inventory and the need for markdowns. The product mix should be based on the popularity of products, where timing is of prime importance. Keeping a tab on new trends and products and being able to introduce them at the beginning of the product lifecycle will prove immensely successful.

Deciding the retail marketing mix is about developing merchandise and services that satisfy specific needs of customers at prices that will yield profits. It is about identifying what the customers regard as value and to be able to create that value. Of equal importance are the store location, merchandise assortments, store ambience, customer service, price, and communication with customers. The endeavour should be aimed at creating a unique identity through a combination of merchandise, presentation, ambience, and service all working in tandem.

Visual merchandising comes into play the moment a person approaches a retail outlet. It has components like signs, marquees and window displays in the store front; floor & wall covers, lighting, colours and fixtures on the inside of the outlet; the store layout, referring to the manner in which the floor space is used to facilitate and promote sales and to best serve the customer; and the right interior display, which is about the use of fixtures and props to display merchandise attractively.

The one point that cannot be stressed enough is the importance of improving customer service levels and efficiency which is of equal importance since at the end of the day, it is about people and all efforts go to waste if this is not handled in an efficient manner.

The topics for the seminar are as follows;

Day 1: Best Practices in Retailing