Retail Marketing in India

The word retailing means to sell in small quantities. The origin if from the French word retaillier which means to cut, shred, clip or dealin small pieces. In the process of reaching the product to the ultimate consumers, the distribution chain involves many players including manufacturers, raw materials and parts suppliers, aggregators, wholesalers, sub wholesalers, agents and retailers.Retailing includes selling of services. Getting a haircut is purchasing the services of the hairdresser. There is no tangible product that is being purchased; buying a service also involves more or less the same process as that of buying a product. The public distribution system is perhaps the biggest retailer in India. In Tamilnadu, the TASMAC (wholesale and retail liquor business run by the government) earned high revenues. An equally big retailer is the Canteen Stores Department run by the ministry of defence and earlier called Military Canteen. These stores sell consumers items throughout the country. Retailing is a segment and there are frequent mergers, Collaborations, tie-ups. And changes in the industry. A number of foreign retailers may set shop in India. If the legal and political hurdles are cleared.