Last year when I joined my college, my dreams were many and to be very honest I was a tad nervous. After 7 years of education and job in IT, I needed a break from all the coding and maintaining IT systems. So I asked myself, what am I good at. The first thing that came to my mind is graphic designing and branding. I have always loved Brands. Numerous times I have thought to myself, why this color, why this logo? Why this ad in this way? Why are they targeting only the youth population? Oh God! Again the same idea behind a deodorant ad. When will they realize we are much more than attracting attractive girls through a artificial body odour.
When I think of branding, the biggest rivalry I can think of is Coca Cola vs Pepsi. And when I visit the nearest mall to my home at Kolkata, I am always intrigued by the fact that in the same mall, one wing belongs to Shoppers Stop and the other to Pantaloons. And then there’s Van Huesen right beside Peter England. Well if that’s not cannibalism I don’t know what is. Most people won’t be knowing that these two belong to the same company. How can we forget Louis Philippe. Always known for targeting the premium savy, suave corporate guys out there in their fancy suits and shiny shoes. I being a very loyal customer of Peter England have always like the spirit of Peter England. They have shifted from positioning just office goers to a more trendy population now which is again good for the growing retail business. And then the experience at Pantaloons. As a typical middle-class child, it was all kinds of “luxury” I could experience. There were clothes and toys, both in a single store. I usually got to pick only one outfit of choice but some months, I’d be lucky enough to haul a toy along the way.
With all the shoppers stop, Big Bazaars, Westside, Lifestyles and other, Many more may come as well. But there will be only one Pantaloons. The reason being the consistency in the brand architecture of ABG when it comes to retail. That’s how retail brands are so well handled by Aditya Birla Group. Surely they are taking India to the World.
