RAI and IGNOU team up for another batch of BBARL 

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) have launched a groundbreaking new program, the Bachelors in Business Administration (Retailing) or BBARL. This is the first-ever graduate program in retailing through distance learning, designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The BBARL is a three-year course that aims to equip students with a robust understanding of the retail industry. As part of their coursework, all students will be required to complete a minimum three-month internship, providing them with a first-hand experience of the retail industry's challenges and opportunities. This practical aspect of the program is expected to balance out the theoretical knowledge imparted during the course duration.

A series of meetings for the Course Design and Development Committee took place on June 19, 20, and 21 in Mumbai to finalize the curriculum for the program’s third year. This committee, made up of subject matter experts and industry leaders, has worked diligently to develop a curriculum that incorporates relevant topics, practical experiences, and emerging trends in the retail sector.

The Committee has ensured that the programme remains aligned with the evolving needs of the retail industry. Through their expertise and commitment to excellence, the Committee members have designed a comprehensive program to prepare students for successful careers in the retail sector.

 

Customer Experience Workshops launched in Mumbai and Bengaluru
A unique and innovative customer experience workshop titled 'Learn How to Boost Customer Happiness using NPS' was conducted successfully on the 12th of April in Mumbai and the 18th of April in Bengaluru.

The workshop, primarily focused on the NPS (Net Promoter Score) system, aimed to offer insights into the creation of customer-centric strategies, best practices surrounding NPS, and understanding the platform's impact on business returns, loyalty, and customer experience. It also offered guidance on how customer experience associates can influence their company's design of a customer experience score using the NPS methodology.

Dr. Jacqueline Mundkar, renowned for her expertise in customer experience management, led the workshop. She delved into the complexities of the NPS platform, discussing its impact on the ROI of retail businesses.

The workshop was well received with participation from over 50 individuals representing approximately 15 organizations, including Croma (Infiniti Retail Ltd.), Welspun India Ltd., Raymond Limited, Welspun Global Brands Ltd., Metro Brands Ltd., Spykar Lifestyles Pvt Ltd., Reliance Retail-VF, Kaya Ltd, Multiplier Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd., Landmark Group – Max, Sangeetha Mobiles Pvt Ltd, Titan Company Limited, and Celio Future Fashion Pvt. Ltd.

Workshop attendees expressed their appreciation and highlighted the value they obtained from the workshop. Vaishali Thakkar, Lead Customer Service Delivery – VAS at Croma (Infiniti Retail Ltd.) praised the event stating, “Sessions were insightful, mainly learning how metrics are useful in our daily life in terms of driving the customer experience for the organization. We thank RAI for conducting this workshop.”

Riya Ramu, Assistant Manager at Welspun India Ltd., appreciated the interactive nature of the workshop and its practical takeaways, commenting, “One of the best takeaways is understanding what kind of NPS would be relevant to my brand and its visibility. The session was engaging and interactive. We appreciate RAI for organising this session.”

The success of this workshop underscores the importance of continual learning and innovation in improving customer experience and business success.

 

 

Signature Store Operations Workshop Finds Success in Ahmedabad and Chennai

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has recently conducted its signature workshop, 'Excellence in Store Operations' (ESOps), in Ahmedabad and Chennai with resounding success. The ESOps workshop, known for its focus on enhancing performance through the optimization of retail operations, was conducted for the first time in Ahmedabad on April 26, followed by Chennai on May 25, 2023.

The workshop has been designed around four critical areas - managing profitability, in-store visual merchandising, local store marketing & catchment area analysis, and understanding buying and merchandising & inventory management. This comprehensive approach provides participants with a broad understanding of retail operations and strategies for optimization.

Both instances of the workshop saw participation from 67 employees representing around 15 organizations, including Kanchi Supermarket, Titan Ltd, Vivek Pvt Ltd., Naidu Hall, Reliance Retail Ltd, Woodpecker Furniture, Inc5 Shoes Pvt Ltd, Jade Blue Lifestyle India Ltd, Kkeen Consultancy, and Raymond Ltd. Other attendees included representatives from Timezone Entertainment Pvt Ltd., among others.

The sessions were facilitated by esteemed industry veterans Sathish Bhat, Senior Vice President Operations & Sales at Specsmakers, Pawan Nagarwal, a Visual Merchandising and Experience Design Expert, and V Rajesh, a recognized Retail & Shopper Behaviour Expert. Their collective expertise contributed to an engaging and informative workshop experience.

The testimonials from participants were overwhelmingly positive. Denzil Joseph, Regional Retail Manager at Raymonds Ltd., expressed his gratitude, saying, "Sessions were very helpful and I am truly thankful to RAI for this wonderful workshop. I have learned how to apply theories into real-life situations, which will help both front-end and backend teams to grow."

Echoing Joseph's sentiments, Abhimanyou Dhiver, Manager at Timezone Entertainment Pvt Ltd., noted, "We gained a lot of insights related to operational excellence, how visual merchandising and operation work in collaboration. We also learned about people management and handling inventory effectively. Thank you for the insightful sessions."

The ESOps workshop's success underscores RAI's commitment to elevating the retail sector by providing high-quality educational and professional development opportunities.

FSSAI's Food Safety Supervisor Training Gains Traction

In response to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) mandate requiring all food retailers to undergo Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC), hundreds of food business operators across the country have participated in the required training sessions.

The FSSAI notification stipulates that all Food Business Operators holding either a Central License or State License must have at least one trained and certified Food Safety Supervisor for every 25 food handlers or part thereof, on all their premises.

FoSTaC is a comprehensive training program designed for food businesses across the value chain, ensuring they adhere to all the food safety practices mandated by FSSAI. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants receive a certification issued by FSSAI, thereby validating their compliance with food safety standards.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, FSSAI has resumed offline FoSTaC sessions. From April to June 2023, a total of 12 sessions were conducted under the category of 'Retail and Distribution' in various locations across India. The training saw enthusiastic participation, with approximately 326 participants attending these sessions.

The successful resumption of offline training and the widespread participation underscore the commitment of India's food industry to adhere to the highest safety standards, ensuring consumer safety and trust.