The Retail Leadership Summit completes twenty years in 2026. RLS 2026 will be held on February 16 and 17 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
Indian retail enters this phase with mixed but clear signals. Demand remains stable. Growth is uneven across categories. Execution has become the primary differentiator.
Jewellery illustrates this shift well. Despite elevated gold prices, demand has held. Consumers are trading weight for design, value, and versatility. Purchases are more deliberate. Trust, transparency, and resale clarity now influence buying decisions as much as tradition.
The D2C sector reflects similar maturity. The phase of easy digital scale is over. Brands are moving decisively towards omnichannel models. Physical retail has become a trust anchor, not an alternative. Profitability, supply chain discipline, and retention now matter more than reach.
RLS 2026 is positioned around these realities. It is a forum to examine what is working, what is changing, and what needs recalibration.
The next phase of retail growth will be led by clarity, discipline, and informed choice.
