The consumer electronics and durables specialty store of Reliance Retail, Reliance digital, launched its first outlet in Chennai on Wednesday. This is the retailer’s 16th outlet in the country.
Spread over 15,000 square feet, the store offers over 5,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) of consumer electronics, durables, IT products and accessories from close to 100 brands. Besides, with an in-house service centre, it also offers after-sales service, and financing through Reliance Finance.
Speaking on the store launch, Ajay Baijal, president and CEO, Reliance digital, said all the 16 stores are owned by the company. Asked whether the company would go slow on expansion because of the slowdown, he said the company was bullish about the market.
“Till November 2008, we had only five stores. Today, we have 16. And the plan is to double the number by end of this year and take it to 150 by 2012.”
On the private label products, he said the company plans to introduce in-house brands across categories. “We are currently building up scale, with a hope to achieve critical sales volume in the next six months. Once done, we will bring in private label products,” said Baijal.
Reliance is the third company to set up large format store for consumer electronics after Future Group’s e-Zone, Tatas’ Croma — both have two stores each in Chennai.
Reliance Retail Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, opened its first store in November 2006.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
