Retail Operation
Ajeng Andriani
Hapsari, S.E., M.M.,
GRCE, CDMS, STMI
Retailers
 Retailers are middlemen
 They deal with ultimate customers
 They link producers and customers
 Their transactions are small in volume
 They take title of the goods
 They buy from wholesalers for reselling
 Products can be sold in person, by internet, or at
home
02/02/26 2
Retailers
 Retailers are merchants whose main business is
selling directly to ultimate customers.
 Peter D. Bennett
 Retailer is a merchant middleman who is engaged
primarily in selling to ultimate consumers
 Dictionary of Marketing
02/02/26 3
Retail Definition
 any business that directs its marketing efforts
towards satisfying the final consumer based upon
the organization of selling goods and services as a
means of distribution.
 David Gilbert
02/02/26 4
Retailing
 Retailing encompasses the business activities
involved in selling goods and services to
consumers for their personal, family or household
use.
 Barry Berman & Joel R. Evans
 Retailing is the set of business activities that adds
value to the products and services sold to
consumers for their personal or family use
 Michael Levy, Barton A. Weitz & Ajaya Pandit
02/02/26 5
Retail Management
 The various processes which help the customers to
procure the desired merchandise from the retail
stores for their end use refer to retail management.
 Retail management includes all the steps required
to bring the customers into the store and fulfill
their buying needs.
02/02/26 6
Characteristics of Retailing
 Links wholesaler and customers
 Sells to ultimate customers
 Sells in small quantity
 Deals in large varieties of products
 Requires less amount of capital
 Profit margin is higher in retailing compared to
wholesaling
 Last link
02/02/26 7
Types of Retailers
 On the basis of ownership
 Independent store
 Chain store
 Contract store
 Consumer store
 On the basis of product line
 General store
 Single line store
 Specialty store
02/02/26 8
Types of Retailers
 On the basis of sales volume
 Small scale retailers
 Large scale retailers
 On the basis of method of operation
In-store retailing

Non-store retiling
02/02/26 9
Malls
 Many retail stores operating at one place form a
mall.
 A mall would consist of several retail outlets each
selling their own merchandise but at a common
platform.
02/02/26 10
E-Tailers
 Now a days the customers have the option of
shopping while sitting at their homes
 They can place their order through internet, pay
with the help of debit/ credit cards or Cash on
delivery
 This kind of shopping is convenient for those who
have a hectic schedule and are reluctant to go to
retail outlets.
02/02/26 11
Department Stores
 A department store is a set-up which offers wide
range of products to the end-users under one roof.
 In a department store, the consumers can get
almost all the products they aspire to shop at one
place only.
 Department stores provide a wide range of
options to the consumers and thus fulfill all their
shopping needs.
02/02/26 12
Super market
 A low price, self service retail store which
generally sells food products and household items,
properly placed and arranged in specific
departments is called a supermarket.
02/02/26 13
Discount Stores
 Discount stores also offer a huge range of
products to the end-users but at a discounted rate.
 The discount stores generally offer a limited range
and the quality in certain cases might be a little
inferior as compared to the department stores.
02/02/26 14
Warehouse Stores
 A retail format which sells limited stock in bulk at
a discounted rate is called as warehouse store.
 Warehouse stores do not bother much about the
interiors of the store and the products are not
properly displayed.
02/02/26 15
Superstores and Hypermarkets
 Very large retail establishments
 Started in the early 1960s in the UK
 Applying the basic principles of discount stores
 Superstores: sales area of 25000-50000 sq. ft.
 Hypermarket: over 50000 sq. ft. of selling area
02/02/26 16
Franchising
 It is the granting of sole selling rights within a
given geographical area
 Franchising company supplies equipment for a
licensee who either pays a franchise fee or a
percentage of turnover
 Or contracts to buy supplies from the franchisor
02/02/26 17
Cooperative store
 a retail store owned and managed by consumer-
customers who supply the capital and share in the
profits by patronage dividends.
 Consumers establish cooperative store in order to
get quality goods at minimum price by eliminating
wholesalers and retailers.
02/02/26 18
Mail order business
 Mail-order business is a non-store retailing in
which goods are sold through mail.
 Customers send written order to sellers asking to
send goods as demanded.
 Then the seller sends the goods to the customers
through mail or post offices.
 The customers cannot see the goods until they
reach at their shops or homes.
02/02/26 19
Independent Store
 Independent stores are businesses that operate
with a single retail outlet, or are structured as a
small chain with no more than three locations.
 Generally, stores of this type are individually
owned, owned by a family, or owned by two
partners.
02/02/26 20
Others
 Mobile shops
 Automatic vending
 Door to door trading
 Party selling
 Club trading etc.
02/02/26 21
Factors illustrating the growing
importance of the retail sector
 large and increasing contribution to GDP
 economic importance more visible
 major employer
 retailers as gatekeepers
 retailers diversifying their activities
 organizations growing on an international scale
 size of operations allowing for supply chain control
 blurring of areas of retail to include wider area of business
activity
02/02/26 23
Retail Dynamism
 Environmental theory
 Cyclical theories
 Wheel of retailing
 Retail accordion
 Retail life cycle
 Conflict theory.
02/02/26 24
Environmental theory
 A whole array of factors shape the nature of retail
environments
 factors of an economic, social, political,
regulatory, cultural and demographic nature all
impinge upon the environment in which retailers
operate.
 It is easy to see direct links between some
environmental conditions and retail change
02/02/26 25
Changes related to the consumer
 demographic changes – increases or decreases in
population numbers, age groups, racial groups, socio-
economic groups, etc.;
 attitudes and preferences to purchasing, brands and
products;
 changes in lifestyle, whereby time is more important and
therefore fast food, telephone banking, credit card
payments and suchlike are becoming important;
 economic influences based upon real incomes, confidence,
numbers of women working, etc.
02/02/26 26
Changes in technology
 microwave cookers, food freezers, motor cars, the
Internet, computer applications to business, just-
in-time delivery systems, and so on.
02/02/26 27
Changes in competition
 The competitive strength or otherwise of actual or
alternative channels of distribution, depending
upon the nature and type of the retail organization.
 The impact of the Internet is a fundamental
example of new types of competition that can
appear.
02/02/26 28
The wheel of retailing
 Proposed by McNair, 1931,
 This concept proposes ‘a more or less definite
cycle’,
 When retailers enter a market they compete by
offering goods at the lowest possible price or ‘the
bold new concept, the innovation’, in order to
attract customers.
02/02/26 29
The wheel of retailing
 As retailers develop their experience and gain
capital, they tend to increase their level of service
and quality – and therefore their price.
 This success allows mature retailers to move
steadily into an up market position.
 However, retailers in this position may become
vulnerable due to high costs, declining efficiency
and, perhaps, stagnating management strategies
which culminate in a downturn in sales.
02/02/26 30
The wheel of retailing
 If this is the case the retailer may plunge into
decline and even be forced to withdraw from the
market.
 The consequence of this move around the wheel of
retailing is that a gap is left at the bottom end of
the market – an opportunity for a new retailer to
enter.
02/02/26 31
The retail accordion theory
 The retail accordion theory suggests that retailers
initially enter a market as a general retailer;
 with experience they focus down on particular
product sectors and/or consumer groups.
 Over time they begin to diversify their offer in
order to grow, but again will revert to
specialization
02/02/26 32
The retail life-cycle theory
 Retail developments pass through stages.
 At birth there are slow rates of growth due to
limited resources and experience.
 This is followed by a time of rapid growth as
efficiency and experience increase.
 Eventually growth will level off into the mature
stage due to increased costs and competition and
reduced efficiencies.
 In a mature market the competition remains intense,
growth slows and profits begin to fall.
02/02/26 33
The retail life-cycle theory
02/02/26 34
Conflict theory
 Competition between retailers causes changes in
the nature of the retail environment.
 However, it is not so much the day-to-day
competition between companies that causes
institutional change, but rather the imbalance
caused by innovations.
 Brown (1987) states that a response to innovation
follows a process of four stages.
02/02/26 35
Conflict theory
 Initially, retailers are in shock at the innovation;
 secondly, they deny the threat by means of
defensive retreat;
 thirdly, they then move into a stage of
acknowledgement and assessment;
 finally, they develop a strategy of adaptation
02/02/26 36
Types of retailer response to
innovation
 shock
 defensive retreat
 acknowledgement and assessment
 adaptation
02/02/26 37
Retailing and Marketing
 Retailing comprises all the activities involved in
the marketing and distribution of goods and
services.
 Therefore, marketing is a core area for any retail
operation as the success or failure of retailers is
based upon how well they understand and serve
the needs of their customers.
02/02/26 38
Retailing and Marketing
 Change in consumer behaviour is constantly
occurring
 Any change that occurs has to be underpinned by
an appropriate marketing strategy if it is to be
successful
 As part of the development of retail marketing
there is a need to ensure that both the positioning
of any offer, and the image of that offer, are sound
and logically linked.
02/02/26 39
Retailing and Marketing
 Positioning as a marketing concept is based upon
a market position of image, price and quality
rather than geographical position.
 This position should be perceived clearly by the
consumer so that the retailer gains some
advantage, either through being different from
others in the mind of the consumer or more clearly
identified as offering a particular type of retail
offer by the choice of that position.
02/02/26 40
Retailing and Marketing
 The maturation of the retail marketplace has led to
the development of schemes which allow
improved relationship building with the customer.
 There is a recognition that relationship marketing
schemes will reduce the long-term costs of
attracting customers owing to the retention
benefits they provide.
 Therefore, recent developments in retail
marketing have been associated with building
customer loyalty
02/02/26 41
Possible loyalty states:
 No loyalty: Low relative attitude and low repeat
patronage signal an absence of loyalty
 Spurious loyalty: Describes a low relative attitude
and high repeat patronage and is characterized by
non-attitudinal influences on behaviour
 Latent loyalty: A high relative attitude and a low
repeat patronage is a sign of latent loyalty
 Loyalty: both relative attitude and relative
patronage
02/02/26 42
Target marketing and marketing
mix
 The ability of a retailer to enhance and build
customer loyalty is highly dependent on
identifying and understanding the target market,
and offering the right type of reward or scheme to
ensure the retention of the bulk of their custom
over the long term.
02/02/26 43
Relationship Marketing
02/02/26 44
 Transactional marketing
VS
 Relationship marketing
Six different kinds of loyalty:
Sopanen (1996)
 monopoly loyalty – where no choice is available;
 inertia loyalty – where customers do not seek alternatives;
 convenience loyalty – attributed solely to the location of a
retail outlet;
 price loyalty – where customers believe in seeking out low
prices, but will shift if lower prices are identified
elsewhere;
 incentivized loyalty – based upon loyalty reward schemes
for accumulating benefits;
 emotional loyalty – found in brand loyalty: this is the most
elusive to create.
02/02/26 45
Retail Store Administration
 Store administration deals with various aspects, like the cleanliness of
the store premises, maintenance of the store facade and the display
windows etc. An administration is also responsible for utilizing the store
personnel effectively. Time keeping for the store staff is important. It is
also necessary to keep track of holidays and the shifts that the staff
may be required to work.
 The premises of the store need to be maintained as per the standards
decided upon by the management. This involves the task of cleaning
the store and arranging the merchandise before the first customer can
walk into the store.
 An important task of administration involves ensuring that all the
required permissions and licenses to run a retail establishment are
procured from the right authorities.
02/02/26 47
Managing Inventory and Display:
 At the store the store staff does the management of this inventory. To
enable them to work efficiently the complete procedure for the handling
of merchandise at the store level needs to be documented.
 Responsibilities with respect to merchandise at the store level involve
receiving the goods. Once the merchandise is received at the store, the
quantity and other details like color, style and size have to be checked
with the document accompanying the goods to detect any
discrepancies.
 Proper documentation also needs to be done when returning goods to
the various locations as and when required. The procedure to be
followed for shop soiled goods and customer returns also needs to be
clear.
 The best merchandise may lie unsold if it not displayed in a manner
that is appealing and convenient for the customer.
02/02/26 48
Managing Receipts
 Managing receipts involves defining the manner in which the retailer is
going to receive payment for the sales. The most common method for
receiving payments for goods sold in India, is cash or by credit card.
While most of the large retail stores would accept either of the above
forms of payment, a small local retail store may accept only cash
payments. Other modes of receiving payment are by way of cheque or a
debit card. Some stores also have a co-branded card, which can be
used for payments.
 The use of credit cards in India is largely an urban phenomenon. Most
large department stores have started accepting credit cards as a mode
of payment. The credit card charges paid by the retailer depend on the
volume of business transacted by the retailer and the rate negotiated
on the basis of the future business that can be offered by the retailer.
The procedure for accepting payment by way of credit cards and
collecting payment from the bank needs to be clearly understood by the
staff responsible for this function.
02/02/26 49

Topic : Retail Operation Management Procedure

  • 1.
    Retail Operation Ajeng Andriani Hapsari,S.E., M.M., GRCE, CDMS, STMI
  • 2.
    Retailers  Retailers aremiddlemen  They deal with ultimate customers  They link producers and customers  Their transactions are small in volume  They take title of the goods  They buy from wholesalers for reselling  Products can be sold in person, by internet, or at home 02/02/26 2
  • 3.
    Retailers  Retailers aremerchants whose main business is selling directly to ultimate customers.  Peter D. Bennett  Retailer is a merchant middleman who is engaged primarily in selling to ultimate consumers  Dictionary of Marketing 02/02/26 3
  • 4.
    Retail Definition  anybusiness that directs its marketing efforts towards satisfying the final consumer based upon the organization of selling goods and services as a means of distribution.  David Gilbert 02/02/26 4
  • 5.
    Retailing  Retailing encompassesthe business activities involved in selling goods and services to consumers for their personal, family or household use.  Barry Berman & Joel R. Evans  Retailing is the set of business activities that adds value to the products and services sold to consumers for their personal or family use  Michael Levy, Barton A. Weitz & Ajaya Pandit 02/02/26 5
  • 6.
    Retail Management  Thevarious processes which help the customers to procure the desired merchandise from the retail stores for their end use refer to retail management.  Retail management includes all the steps required to bring the customers into the store and fulfill their buying needs. 02/02/26 6
  • 7.
    Characteristics of Retailing Links wholesaler and customers  Sells to ultimate customers  Sells in small quantity  Deals in large varieties of products  Requires less amount of capital  Profit margin is higher in retailing compared to wholesaling  Last link 02/02/26 7
  • 8.
    Types of Retailers On the basis of ownership  Independent store  Chain store  Contract store  Consumer store  On the basis of product line  General store  Single line store  Specialty store 02/02/26 8
  • 9.
    Types of Retailers On the basis of sales volume  Small scale retailers  Large scale retailers  On the basis of method of operation In-store retailing  Non-store retiling 02/02/26 9
  • 10.
    Malls  Many retailstores operating at one place form a mall.  A mall would consist of several retail outlets each selling their own merchandise but at a common platform. 02/02/26 10
  • 11.
    E-Tailers  Now adays the customers have the option of shopping while sitting at their homes  They can place their order through internet, pay with the help of debit/ credit cards or Cash on delivery  This kind of shopping is convenient for those who have a hectic schedule and are reluctant to go to retail outlets. 02/02/26 11
  • 12.
    Department Stores  Adepartment store is a set-up which offers wide range of products to the end-users under one roof.  In a department store, the consumers can get almost all the products they aspire to shop at one place only.  Department stores provide a wide range of options to the consumers and thus fulfill all their shopping needs. 02/02/26 12
  • 13.
    Super market  Alow price, self service retail store which generally sells food products and household items, properly placed and arranged in specific departments is called a supermarket. 02/02/26 13
  • 14.
    Discount Stores  Discountstores also offer a huge range of products to the end-users but at a discounted rate.  The discount stores generally offer a limited range and the quality in certain cases might be a little inferior as compared to the department stores. 02/02/26 14
  • 15.
    Warehouse Stores  Aretail format which sells limited stock in bulk at a discounted rate is called as warehouse store.  Warehouse stores do not bother much about the interiors of the store and the products are not properly displayed. 02/02/26 15
  • 16.
    Superstores and Hypermarkets Very large retail establishments  Started in the early 1960s in the UK  Applying the basic principles of discount stores  Superstores: sales area of 25000-50000 sq. ft.  Hypermarket: over 50000 sq. ft. of selling area 02/02/26 16
  • 17.
    Franchising  It isthe granting of sole selling rights within a given geographical area  Franchising company supplies equipment for a licensee who either pays a franchise fee or a percentage of turnover  Or contracts to buy supplies from the franchisor 02/02/26 17
  • 18.
    Cooperative store  aretail store owned and managed by consumer- customers who supply the capital and share in the profits by patronage dividends.  Consumers establish cooperative store in order to get quality goods at minimum price by eliminating wholesalers and retailers. 02/02/26 18
  • 19.
    Mail order business Mail-order business is a non-store retailing in which goods are sold through mail.  Customers send written order to sellers asking to send goods as demanded.  Then the seller sends the goods to the customers through mail or post offices.  The customers cannot see the goods until they reach at their shops or homes. 02/02/26 19
  • 20.
    Independent Store  Independentstores are businesses that operate with a single retail outlet, or are structured as a small chain with no more than three locations.  Generally, stores of this type are individually owned, owned by a family, or owned by two partners. 02/02/26 20
  • 21.
    Others  Mobile shops Automatic vending  Door to door trading  Party selling  Club trading etc. 02/02/26 21
  • 23.
    Factors illustrating thegrowing importance of the retail sector  large and increasing contribution to GDP  economic importance more visible  major employer  retailers as gatekeepers  retailers diversifying their activities  organizations growing on an international scale  size of operations allowing for supply chain control  blurring of areas of retail to include wider area of business activity 02/02/26 23
  • 24.
    Retail Dynamism  Environmentaltheory  Cyclical theories  Wheel of retailing  Retail accordion  Retail life cycle  Conflict theory. 02/02/26 24
  • 25.
    Environmental theory  Awhole array of factors shape the nature of retail environments  factors of an economic, social, political, regulatory, cultural and demographic nature all impinge upon the environment in which retailers operate.  It is easy to see direct links between some environmental conditions and retail change 02/02/26 25
  • 26.
    Changes related tothe consumer  demographic changes – increases or decreases in population numbers, age groups, racial groups, socio- economic groups, etc.;  attitudes and preferences to purchasing, brands and products;  changes in lifestyle, whereby time is more important and therefore fast food, telephone banking, credit card payments and suchlike are becoming important;  economic influences based upon real incomes, confidence, numbers of women working, etc. 02/02/26 26
  • 27.
    Changes in technology microwave cookers, food freezers, motor cars, the Internet, computer applications to business, just- in-time delivery systems, and so on. 02/02/26 27
  • 28.
    Changes in competition The competitive strength or otherwise of actual or alternative channels of distribution, depending upon the nature and type of the retail organization.  The impact of the Internet is a fundamental example of new types of competition that can appear. 02/02/26 28
  • 29.
    The wheel ofretailing  Proposed by McNair, 1931,  This concept proposes ‘a more or less definite cycle’,  When retailers enter a market they compete by offering goods at the lowest possible price or ‘the bold new concept, the innovation’, in order to attract customers. 02/02/26 29
  • 30.
    The wheel ofretailing  As retailers develop their experience and gain capital, they tend to increase their level of service and quality – and therefore their price.  This success allows mature retailers to move steadily into an up market position.  However, retailers in this position may become vulnerable due to high costs, declining efficiency and, perhaps, stagnating management strategies which culminate in a downturn in sales. 02/02/26 30
  • 31.
    The wheel ofretailing  If this is the case the retailer may plunge into decline and even be forced to withdraw from the market.  The consequence of this move around the wheel of retailing is that a gap is left at the bottom end of the market – an opportunity for a new retailer to enter. 02/02/26 31
  • 32.
    The retail accordiontheory  The retail accordion theory suggests that retailers initially enter a market as a general retailer;  with experience they focus down on particular product sectors and/or consumer groups.  Over time they begin to diversify their offer in order to grow, but again will revert to specialization 02/02/26 32
  • 33.
    The retail life-cycletheory  Retail developments pass through stages.  At birth there are slow rates of growth due to limited resources and experience.  This is followed by a time of rapid growth as efficiency and experience increase.  Eventually growth will level off into the mature stage due to increased costs and competition and reduced efficiencies.  In a mature market the competition remains intense, growth slows and profits begin to fall. 02/02/26 33
  • 34.
    The retail life-cycletheory 02/02/26 34
  • 35.
    Conflict theory  Competitionbetween retailers causes changes in the nature of the retail environment.  However, it is not so much the day-to-day competition between companies that causes institutional change, but rather the imbalance caused by innovations.  Brown (1987) states that a response to innovation follows a process of four stages. 02/02/26 35
  • 36.
    Conflict theory  Initially,retailers are in shock at the innovation;  secondly, they deny the threat by means of defensive retreat;  thirdly, they then move into a stage of acknowledgement and assessment;  finally, they develop a strategy of adaptation 02/02/26 36
  • 37.
    Types of retailerresponse to innovation  shock  defensive retreat  acknowledgement and assessment  adaptation 02/02/26 37
  • 38.
    Retailing and Marketing Retailing comprises all the activities involved in the marketing and distribution of goods and services.  Therefore, marketing is a core area for any retail operation as the success or failure of retailers is based upon how well they understand and serve the needs of their customers. 02/02/26 38
  • 39.
    Retailing and Marketing Change in consumer behaviour is constantly occurring  Any change that occurs has to be underpinned by an appropriate marketing strategy if it is to be successful  As part of the development of retail marketing there is a need to ensure that both the positioning of any offer, and the image of that offer, are sound and logically linked. 02/02/26 39
  • 40.
    Retailing and Marketing Positioning as a marketing concept is based upon a market position of image, price and quality rather than geographical position.  This position should be perceived clearly by the consumer so that the retailer gains some advantage, either through being different from others in the mind of the consumer or more clearly identified as offering a particular type of retail offer by the choice of that position. 02/02/26 40
  • 41.
    Retailing and Marketing The maturation of the retail marketplace has led to the development of schemes which allow improved relationship building with the customer.  There is a recognition that relationship marketing schemes will reduce the long-term costs of attracting customers owing to the retention benefits they provide.  Therefore, recent developments in retail marketing have been associated with building customer loyalty 02/02/26 41
  • 42.
    Possible loyalty states: No loyalty: Low relative attitude and low repeat patronage signal an absence of loyalty  Spurious loyalty: Describes a low relative attitude and high repeat patronage and is characterized by non-attitudinal influences on behaviour  Latent loyalty: A high relative attitude and a low repeat patronage is a sign of latent loyalty  Loyalty: both relative attitude and relative patronage 02/02/26 42
  • 43.
    Target marketing andmarketing mix  The ability of a retailer to enhance and build customer loyalty is highly dependent on identifying and understanding the target market, and offering the right type of reward or scheme to ensure the retention of the bulk of their custom over the long term. 02/02/26 43
  • 44.
    Relationship Marketing 02/02/26 44 Transactional marketing VS  Relationship marketing
  • 45.
    Six different kindsof loyalty: Sopanen (1996)  monopoly loyalty – where no choice is available;  inertia loyalty – where customers do not seek alternatives;  convenience loyalty – attributed solely to the location of a retail outlet;  price loyalty – where customers believe in seeking out low prices, but will shift if lower prices are identified elsewhere;  incentivized loyalty – based upon loyalty reward schemes for accumulating benefits;  emotional loyalty – found in brand loyalty: this is the most elusive to create. 02/02/26 45
  • 47.
    Retail Store Administration Store administration deals with various aspects, like the cleanliness of the store premises, maintenance of the store facade and the display windows etc. An administration is also responsible for utilizing the store personnel effectively. Time keeping for the store staff is important. It is also necessary to keep track of holidays and the shifts that the staff may be required to work.  The premises of the store need to be maintained as per the standards decided upon by the management. This involves the task of cleaning the store and arranging the merchandise before the first customer can walk into the store.  An important task of administration involves ensuring that all the required permissions and licenses to run a retail establishment are procured from the right authorities. 02/02/26 47
  • 48.
    Managing Inventory andDisplay:  At the store the store staff does the management of this inventory. To enable them to work efficiently the complete procedure for the handling of merchandise at the store level needs to be documented.  Responsibilities with respect to merchandise at the store level involve receiving the goods. Once the merchandise is received at the store, the quantity and other details like color, style and size have to be checked with the document accompanying the goods to detect any discrepancies.  Proper documentation also needs to be done when returning goods to the various locations as and when required. The procedure to be followed for shop soiled goods and customer returns also needs to be clear.  The best merchandise may lie unsold if it not displayed in a manner that is appealing and convenient for the customer. 02/02/26 48
  • 49.
    Managing Receipts  Managingreceipts involves defining the manner in which the retailer is going to receive payment for the sales. The most common method for receiving payments for goods sold in India, is cash or by credit card. While most of the large retail stores would accept either of the above forms of payment, a small local retail store may accept only cash payments. Other modes of receiving payment are by way of cheque or a debit card. Some stores also have a co-branded card, which can be used for payments.  The use of credit cards in India is largely an urban phenomenon. Most large department stores have started accepting credit cards as a mode of payment. The credit card charges paid by the retailer depend on the volume of business transacted by the retailer and the rate negotiated on the basis of the future business that can be offered by the retailer. The procedure for accepting payment by way of credit cards and collecting payment from the bank needs to be clearly understood by the staff responsible for this function. 02/02/26 49