Big Bazaar is a retail chain in India operated by Future Group. It has over 80 stores across 45 cities. Big Bazaar aims to provide quality products at affordable prices to customers from all socioeconomic backgrounds. It offers over 160,000 products across many categories. Big Bazaar has helped grow organized retail in India and has become a popular shopping destination for millions of Indian families.

1. of Indian bazaars with the from moms along with their demanding kids to
comfort, convenience and senior citizens with their grand children in tow.
quality that modern Built on an inclusive platform that welcomes
retailing brings. Launched in consumers from all socio-economic strata, a visit
August 2001, Big Bazaar has to Big Bazaar is not only about shopping but
now become the iconic also about spending quality time with the family.
destination of modern
retailing for all sections of Achievements
Indian consumers. There are Big Bazaar is helping India make up lost time. It
80 Big Bazaar stores in 45 is currently in the midst of the fastest ever
cities including expansion of a
smaller towns hypermarket
like Sangli, format
Durgapur, anywhere in
Panipat, the world.
Palakkad, From 30 stores
Ambala, Meerut, in June 2006,
Kolhapur and Big Bazaar will
Market Haldia. Attracting over 100 million be emblazoned
The retail industry is one of the biggest money customers every year, it has on 120 new
spinners in the world, notching up US$ 6.60 democratised shopping in India and stores by
trillion (Rs. 2.64 crore crore) in turnover become synonymous with great June 2008.
(Source: Euromonitor Study). In India the sector promotions that offer quality There could
is worth Rs. 720,000 crore (US$ 180 billion) products at affordable prices. be several ways of measuring
growing at between 11% and 12% annually Spread over anywhere success of a retail chain.
(Source: CII-McKinsey Report). between 30,000 However, if figures were to
Despite its massive size, the business is almost square feet and be taken as the most
entirely controlled by the unorganised sector. 150,000 square authentic claim of having
While organised retail makes up 70% to 80% of feet of retail space, arrived, then Big Bazaar is
all retail business in developed countries, in India a typical Big Bazaar already there. For more
it is pegged at a lowly 2% (Source: Crisil Report store offers over than 100 million people
on India’s Retail Industry).This is by far the 160,000 products who walk past its billing
lowest in the world and even far below across categories counters, each year, it is
comparable countries in Asia. In China, like apparel, general now the preferred shopping
organised retailing accounts for 20% of all merchandise, food, destination. From Panipat to Pallakad,
business, while in Indonesia it is 25%, in cosmetics, home needs, Big Bazaar’s tagline, Is se sasta aur accha kahin
Philippines 35%, in Thailand it is pegged at electronics, furniture, nahi is a source of cheer and happiness.
40% and in Malaysia it is reputed to be 50% communications, books, This has been recognised by the numerous
(Source: Euromonitor Study). music, gold and pearl jewellery and even value awards that Big Bazaar has won in the past
Big Bazaar is credited with bringing organised added services like consumer credit, beauty twelve months. The brand has been adjudged
mega retailing to India. The project was salons, gyms and travel services. the Best Value Retail Store and Best Retail
conceived as a uniquely Indian hypermarket in a On a typical weekend evening, a Big Bazaar Destination at the Images Retail Forum for
format that combined the look, touch and feel store plays host to over 10,000 customers – four consecutive years, beginning 2004. CNBC
Awaaz, in association with ACNielsen-ORG
Marg, which conducts a study across 21
major cities and some 10,000 consumers,
on their most preferred brands, has voted
overwhelmingly for Big Bazaar. Both in 2006 and
2007, Big Bazaar won the Consumer Award for
the most preferred large, food and grocery
store. It won the award for Value Retailing and
Retail Destination of the Year by Reid & Taylor
in 2006 and in the same year also won the
Reader’s Digest Platinum Trusted Brand Award.
History
The first Big Bazaar store, with an area of about
24,000 square feet, opened on VIP Road, Kolkata
in August 2001. This was followed by stores in
Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon.
The initial categories on offer were apparel,
general merchandise and food. Later, several
brands from categories like electronics, furniture,
music, communications and books were added
to the bouquet of products.
Big Bazaar implemented SAP in 2005 to run
its stores in the most efficient manner that
technology could provide.
With an increasing number of customers
26 SUPERBRANDS

2. value for money. Exchange was an innovative promotion
Big Bazaar has launched by Big Bazaar in 2005 to provide
also tied up with a customers an opportunity to get rid of their
host of well-know junk and in return shop for a wide range of
brands which offer products at a discount.
exclusive lines In-store communications in Big Bazaar are
created especially unique and rather novel. To ensure that no one
for the store. These misses out on an opportunity to gain from
include Levis, Lee special offers, service boys ferry around a trolley
Cooper, Wrangler with the product inside, announcing the scheme.
and Disney. Not only is this entertaining it also helps
customers pick up the product from the
Recent trolley instead of walking up to the rack where
Developments it is on display.
Big Bazaar, a part To make sure that non-English speaking
of the Future customers don’t feel alienated the
Group, is currently communication is also conducted in the
driving a number of local language. The communication is always
initiatives. Future unambiguous and direct.
Money, a credit
facility is in an Brand Values
patronising its stores, it was time for Big Bazaar experimental stage in several outlets. Cleartrip Brand Big Bazaar stands for delivering value for
to reach out to them. To pay tribute and to tell for travel and tours and Talwalkar’s for gym and money. Customer service and shopping comfort
them how much they were appreciated, health club services have also been launched in are at the core of Big Bazaar’s philosophy.
Big Bazaar launched a co-branded credit card. In many stores recently. With a view to bringing Innovation and initiative define its brand
association with ICICI bank, the Big Bazaar-ICICI value to more people, Big Bazaar is taking its character. It strives to reach out to its customers
Bank credit card made its first appearance in brand to Tier II and Tier III towns as well. Big by imbibing the local flavour and melting into
May, 2002. Bazaar is also using the huge footfalls to its the local geography.
As an extension of its customer relationship stores to test new concepts
initiatives it also launched Shakti, a credit card and ideas. The customer
for housewives, in February 2006. The card was response this generates
unique, for it required no proof of income. helps in refining a launch
Today the Big Bazaar-ICICI Bank co-branded before a full fledged
card is one of the largest loyalty credit card roll out.
programmes in the country.
Big Bazaar is now an agglomeration of
multiple, carefully chosen categories and
brands. Within the store, Big
Bazaar has created
several sub categories:
Depot is its books and
music section; Staples
offers office stationery
products while Star &
Sitara is a beauty salon.
Future Money provides
consumer credit for Big Bazaar has recently launched a campaign
products purchased within titled Power of One. This initiative encourages
Big Bazaar. customers to add One Rupee to their bill
towards donation to a social cause. Big Bazaar
Product Promotion makes an equal contribution and donates the
With a better understanding Big Bazaar has been credited entire proceeds to an NGO called Save the
of consumer behaviour across with some of the biggest consumer Children India. This is a selfless body which has
various cultures and classes, campaigns in the history of Indian retail. been working for the welfare of children from
Big Bazaar has put together a In celebration of Republic Day, Big Bazaar marginalised sections of society.
stunning range of over 160,000 SKUs. Private created a three-day shopping bonanza called Big Bazaar has recently launched a corporate
labels of Big Bazaar are among the largest Sabse Saste Teen Din. This has now become a campaign which revolves around a family having
apparel and fashion brands in the country. national event that attracts millions of a great time together. The brand anthem
These include, DJ&C – men’s casual wear customers eager to benefit from the once-in-a- Khushiyon se Bhari Jholi connects with the
range and Knighthood – men’s formal wear year smart deals. In January 2008, the three-day customers at an emotional level positioning
range; Pink & Blue are exclusive garments event generated sales worth over Rs. 240 crore Big Bazaar as part of the happy moments.
designed for modern kids; Srishti, a label of (US$ 60 million) in 80 Big Bazaar stores.
ethnic wear for women; Haute N Spicy, 15th August, India’s Independence Day is www.pantaloon.com
fashionable western wear for teenage girls; billed as the Maha Savings Day. So successful has
Dreamline, a label that caters to an entire this become that to cater to the rush Big Bazaar
range of home linen, utensils and crockery and stores in many cities stay open till midnight.
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
D’tachi, a luggage label that offers outstanding Wednesday Bazaar is the Hafte ka Sabse
Sasta Din. It was initially created with
the intent of decongesting weekends Big Bazaar
and driving footfalls on weekdays. As it
transpired, most Big Bazaar stores 2 million customers walk-in each week into
now attract as many customers on Big Bazaar stores
Wednesdays as they do on weekends. Collectively, Big Bazaar stores cover nearly 4
A property that offers special million square feet of space
benefits and privileges to senior
citizens was built around Senior In three days between January 25 and January
Citizens Day. 27 2008, Big Bazaar sold over 100,000 pairs of
Price Challenge was created to Jeans and 200,000 shirts
reinforce Big Bazaar’s value proposition Big Bazaar has a base of over 1 million loyalty
of Is se sasta aur accha kahin nahi. The card members
scheme simply offers twice the price
difference should the cost of an item More than 160,000 products are sold at
at a Big Bazaar store be found to be Big Bazaar stores
more than the market price.
SUPERBRANDS 27