Daybreak Reliance Trends, Pantaloons, and the shopping spree that never came
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Jul 1, 2025 Retail giants in India thought a post-pandemic boom was on the horizon, but reality struck hard. Reliance and Aditya Birla faced unexpected challenges, leading to store closures and job losses. As they scramble to survive, the podcast uncovers the setbacks that triggered a rethink of growth strategies. Listeners learn about the evolving retail landscape, where companies are adopting new tactics like optimizing locations and appealing to budget-savvy shoppers. The future of shopping in India is at a critical crossroads.
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Varanasi Store Employee's Struggle
- An employee at a Reliance Trends store in Varanasi faced low sales and harsh management despite the location's tourist potential.
- The employee was laid off mid-festival season, revealing industry-wide overexpansion and layoffs in retail post-COVID.
Retail Giants' Overexpansion Pitfall
- Reliance and other giants expanded aggressively post-pandemic, opening thousands of stores primarily in smaller Indian cities.
- This massive expansion failed as shoppers did not return as expected, leading to layoffs and store closures.
Strategic Store Growth Focus
- New retail growth slowed; stores must prove themselves within 6-12 months instead of 1-2 years.
- Retailers now focus on making each store profitable instead of rapid blanket expansion.