I was reading a story on Economic Times today about the Indian retail market growing at over 15 per cent while our counterparts in the US and UK have seen almost 50 per cent drop in sales in the holiday season. It was interesting how the Future group has handled the economic slump and tactfully launched its great shopping festival — bigger than ever! It does not last for three days anymore but a good 13! And the Future Group is estimating sales worth Rs 700-crore in the last two weeks — which would amount to 10 per cent of the company’s annual revenues.

In other news, was looking through the Hottest Start-ups to have been nominated for the Tata Nen Hottest Start-ups Awards.

A few interesting (retail-based) entries (out of 30):

1) Sacred Moments: Simple idea- they package gifts under two brands Bhakti and Blessingz for supply to corporates, personal and even retail outlets and have these packages: Diwali, Ganpati, Holi, Satyanarayan, Durga Pooja, General Pooja, Griha Pravesh, Vahan and Muslim Kit. Smooth application to something so generic and simple and Indian. Though in Mumbai at present, the entrepreneur, an alumnus of Symbiosis (SCMHRD) will sure take it to shores.

Turnover: Rs 50 lakh- Rs 1 crore +
Profit: Rs 20 lakh +

2) The Loot: Big brands. Cheap rates. Sale all round the year. Sounds sweet to me. I can only check when I see the quality on the racks and the stock. I wonder how can they get stuff that cheap.

Turnover: Rs 30 crore +
Profit: Rs 1 crore +

3) Evam Entertainment: Being a little biased, I would love to join them. And in their words: Evam is a ‘theatre entrepreneurship’ with one mission – use theatre to make people’s life happier! And these guys are from MICA!

Turnover: Rs 51 crore +
Profit: Rs 15 lakh +