Retailing is the most active and attractive sector of last decade.

While the retailing industry itself has been present since ages in our country, it is only the recent past that it has witnessed so much dynamism. The emergence of retailing in India has more to do with the increased purchasing power of buyers, especially post-liberalization, increase in product variety, and increase in economies of scale, with the aid of modern supply and distributions solution. Emerging markets such as India and China are the final frontier for retail taking the focus away from saturated Western markets. Since 2001, 49 global retailers entered 90 new markets, but at the same time, 17 retailers left markets in 2005. The Indian retail industry in valued at about $300 billion and is expected to grow to $427 billion in 2010 and $637 billion in 2015. Only three percent of Indian retail is organized. Retailers of multiple brands can operate through a franchise or a cash-andcarry wholesale model. Retail is Indias largest industry, accounting for over 10 percent of the countrys GDP and around eight percent of employment. Retail in India is at the crossroads. It has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market. That said, the heavy initial investments required make break even hard to achieve and many players have not tasted success to date. However, the future is promising; the market is growing, government policies are becoming more favorable and emerging technologies are facilitating operations. Retailing in India is gradually inching its way to becoming the next boom industry. The whole concept of shopping has altered in terms of format and consumer buying behavior, ushering in a revolution in shopping. Modern retail has entered India as seen in sprawling shopping centers, multi-storied malls and huge complexes offer shopping, entertainment and food all under one roof. The Indian retailing sector is at an inflexion point where the growth of organized retail and growth in the consumption by Indians is going to adopt a higher growth trajectory. The Indian population is witnessing a significant change in its demographics. A large young working population with median age of 24 years, nuclear families in urban areas, along with increasing working-women population and emerging opportunities in the services sector are going to be the key growth drivers of the organized retail sector. Indian retailing today is at an interesting crossroads. The retail sales are at the highest point in history and new technologies are improving retail productivity. Though there are many opportunities to start a new retail business, retailers are facing numerous challenges. transcendence The Indian retail market is literally on the go. The share of retail trade in the country's gross domestic product was between 810 per cent in 2007. It is currently around 12 per cent, and is likely to reach 22 per cent by 2010. The Indian retail market, which is the fifth largest retail destination globally, was ranked 2nd after Vietnam as the most attractive emerging market destination for investment in the retail sector, by AT Kearney's seventh annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), in 2008. Continuing the robust growth of the organized retail in India, according to the Credit Rating and Information Services of India, the industry raked in US$ 25.44 billion turnover in 200708, as against US$ 16.99 billion in 200607 a whopping growth rate of 49.73 per cent. India has one of the largest numbers of retail outlets in the world. Of the 12 million retail outlets present in the country, nearly five million sell food and related

products. Thought the market has been dominated by unorganized players, the entry of domestic and international organized players is s