KRS 2014: Keynote address Bijou Kurien

1. Key Note Address
Bijou Kurien

2. Key Note Address – Kongu Retail Summit 2014
• South India is incredibly diverse – be it language,
culture, food or clothing.
• Southern states are more literate and have higher
levels of per capita income.
• The four southern states have 25% of the
country’s population, but 30% of its retail
turnover.
• The South is the home of organized retail – and
has built vibrant brands ranging back to the
1940’s.
Bijou Kurien
The South is where modern Retail was born

3. Key Note Address – Kongu Retail Summit 2014
• Entrepreneurs in the South are not risk averse –
contrary to popular stereotype.
• Once they have found a robust business model,
they are willing to scale – for example – textile,
apparel, jewelry retailers have built large
(>50,000 sq. feet) single category showrooms,
and have invested in marketing, technology and
people.
• South India has built strong vibrant brands.
• Malls recognize that they need local and regional
Southern brands as much as they need their
national counterparts.
Bijou Kurien
Brands built in the South are consistent when they go national –
whether its Nallis in Ahmedabad or Kalyan Jewellers in Delhi.

4. Key Note Address – Kongu Retail Summit 2014
• The South has several retail “firsts” to its credit –
the first electronics chain (VGP / Viveks) , largest
jewelry chain, Large international sari brands
(Nallis)
• Time for other South based brands to think and
plan national.
• The South is the home of retail capabilities in
India.
• Has created the modern retail movement in this
country.
• Has the wherewithal to accommodate new
channels, new customers and the aspirations of
the next generation of family entrepreneurs.
Bijou Kurien
The South is where modern Retail was born

5. Key Note Address
Bijou Kurien