Reliance Digital on major expansion drive; to introduce private labels

Reliance Digital today opened its 36th store in the country and eighth in Hyderabad, and plans to set up 36 more during the year.

Reliance Digital is a part of the multi-format Reliance Retail Ltd.

“While revamping the digital store format, packing them with experience zones, we are also gearing up to launch private labels,” Mr Brian Bade, Chief Executive (Consumer Electronics, Durables, IT & Telecom), Reliance Retail, said.

“Experience zones enable customers to touch and feel products and also try them out before finalising plans. All stores will have such zones,” he said.

During an interaction with Business Line after the launch of the new store in Hyderabad, Mr Bade said: “The store format has been well accepted and the experience zones are adding to sales volumes. We have good growth momentum and added four stores in the past one week.”

“We are on an aggressive growth path and have added 14 stores in the last six months and have tied up to double the number during the year. The growth will come mainly from four metros and Hyderabad, Pune, and other major cities,” he said.

Mr Bade added that the company would look at Tier II cities next year. “By next quarter, we plan to introduce private labels. These products would be sourced from Taiwanese and Korean manufacturers made to our specifications. Initially, we will introduce TVs, DVD players, home theatres and other home appliances and follow them up with other products,” he said.

Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, manages about 15 formats, including Fresh, Digital and iStore. It has 17 iStores and plans to add few more.

“The Digital stores are now being set up in a format of about 9,000-12,000 sq.ft. We are introducing Reliance ResQ, an exclusive service centre that provides service and extended warranty covering most of the leading brands,” he said.

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