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P R E M I U M
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M A G A Z I N E
www.fwdbusiness.com
ISSUE 2 VOL 01 JUN 2015
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business
shopping
malls
of kerala then, now & Beyond
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ride around with lodgy
the
big
a list of biggest malls of the world
test driving renault’s lodgy
building towards tomorrow with
the h lite man fwd team met up with P Sulaiman, Chairman and MD of HiLITE group
FWD business jun 2015
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Chief Mentor
Padma Shri Mammootty
Director sony joy
Director & CEO, Issue Editor Arun Balachandran* Vice President Sameer Hamsa
Legal Advisor Adv. Aginov Mathappan
Assitant Editor
FIRDOUZ HAMEED
Contributors atheena wilson
varun kannan
Creative Head Pankaj Sadasivan
Creative Team
JIthin MOhan
Sojan Sunny
shalin sebastian
Jinson Abraham
Chief Photographer
Circulation Babu.G
Circulation Assistant
Manager Marketing
Assitant Manager Marketing
SReeVALS MURALI Rajesh Nair Karthik r
Account Manager Anu Justin
HR Smruthy Soman
Office Assistant
K R DIgITH
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Printer & publisher: Jose Thomas Pattara, Muhamma, Alappuzha on behalf of Forward Media Private Limited from Anand Buildings, NH Bypass, Padivattom, Kochi. Printed at Anaswara Offset Pvt. Ltd. Cochin All rights reserved. FWD Life is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced fully or in part without permission. All inputs, text, image or illustration, are accepted on the understanding that no liability is incurred. All characters in any fictional story are purely imaginary and no references or allusion are intended to apply to any living person or persons. The views and opinions expressed or implied in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Forward Media Private Limited. All photographs unless otherwise indicated, are used for illustrative purposes only. This magazine is intended for mature audience-reader. Discretion is advised. Director & CEO: Arun Balachandran * Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act.
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editor’s note
my pick Page 30
Page 42
Page 50
Shopping MallsThe Experience Factor !
K
Page 53
erala being a consumer’s state is a very good platform for the growth of shopping malls. The state is seeing many malls coming up in the Small, Medium and Large formats. But Kerala has also seen its share of ghost malls too.For a shopping mall to be viable here, the footfall should be in par with the size of the malls. If a mall is to have one lakh of sq ft. in size then there should be proportional one lakh per month footfall of prospective buyers. Shopping malls are not just about retail. It’s about the ultimate shopping experience that promises a lot of entertainment and other facilities too. Malls should focus and invest a lot on customer service infrastructure, ambience and marketing if it is to make an impact amidst the people. The success of a mall lies in the joint efforts of its mall management and the brands in the mall. The malls in Kerala have a bright future if they can provide the apt experience factor that the customers are looking for nowadays. Arun Balachandran Editor
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7 business jun 2015 RENAULT KOCHI. NH 47 Bypass, Kochi. Helpline: 8129248888 (Kalamassery),FWD 8129118888 (Vyttila)
bulding towards tomorrow with the Hilite man P Sulaiman, Chairman and MD of HiLITE group is the man behind this great vision and fwd team met up with him speaking about this new found love of Calicut and much more.
Photographer: Jinson Abraham Styling: Rashmi Muraleedharan Makeup & Hair: Rabeesh Babu Retouch: Jemini
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shopping malls the complete story
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the Big 10
Malls have blended into the culture and lifestyle of people around the world. Size matters here. The bigger they come, that much more will be its impact on the people.
The last decade saw the rise of mall shopping in Kerala. The state can boast of more than 1.5 crore sq ft of built-up space for malls in this present mall revolution. This is set to rise on the coming years.
FWD trends
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bolt from the blue
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bold and the handsome
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FWD business jun 2015
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ride around with lodgy
People in Kerala love their cars. Especially if it is a long, big one like Renault’s MVP car, Lodgy. The much awaited car was test driven by FWD and this is what we found.
16 time factory
60 gadgetronics
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business tech
Branding and Advertising
How you brand and advertise companies decides their future. many businessmen has only a vague idea regarding the ideal method for both, without which the business could fail.
66 mall management
FWD INTERVIEW
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Vinod Panikar and Cuckoo Vinod, the founders of Ambrosia definitely do justice to that tag by serving the best for Trivandrum.
coffee times from the south
10 jun 2015 FWD business
Hear from Mr. Shibu Philips, Business Head of Lulu all that you need to know about the biggest mall of India.
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In The Thick of Things
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FWD news
Google Launches Free to-Download ‘Google My Business’ App
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oogle India has launched a nationwide initiative to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online so that they no longer have to invest for an online domain. Google India is aiming to bring 20 million SMEs online by 2017 by using an app called ‘Google My Business’, that will help businesses to share and manage their business information across Google products for free. Only 5-6 per cent of the 51 million SMEs in India have online presence. This app is believed to get millions of SMEs to go digital in India.
IPL 8 increases TV ratings by 20%
India outpaces China Alibaba to sell Chinese in steel production products on Paytm
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ndia is now the world’s third largest producer of steel with 29.97 MT during the January-April period of the current year. According to World Steel Association’s recent data, India’s steel production grew 6.7 per cent in the first four months of the current year. This is despite steel production being on a decline globally primarily due to falling Chinese output. India has surpassed China to become the world’s third largest producer of steel.
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nline retail giant Alibaba’s AliExpress will start selling Chinese goods to Indian consumers from June through mobile wallet company Paytm. Alibaba, through Ant Financial Services, had acquired 25 per cent stake in One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm. By this Alibaba will get an entry into the Indian e-retail market. On Paytm, the Chinese products will be priced in Indian rupees.
India emerges as 2nd biggest shareholder in new Asian Infrastructure Bank
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PL 8 just got done with and Mumbai Indians are crowned champions for the second time. This time it was a full on controversy free tournament that saw more spectators in stadiums and TV ratings going up 20% from 15 % previously. IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla said that this means all the teams will get 63 crores from the organization this year instead of 50 crores which they got last year.
Startup backed by Warner Bros, Sony to foray into India
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ndia has emerged as the second biggest stakeholder in the 57-nation Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank after a meeting of its chief negotiators in Singapore. China will have 30.85 per cent share followed by India with 10.85 percent. As the second biggest stakeholder, India will command a major impact in shaping infrastructure funding decisions in Asia. India is expected to allocate nearly $11 billion towards the share capital of the $100 bank, which will fund infrastructure projects across the world.
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video-on-demand venture supported by Warner Bros and Sony Pictures and Singapore’s telecom giant Singtel will begin services in India from June. HOOQ, a start-up with a big focus on India, will offer premium content like movies and acclaimed television series from Hollywood and at the same time tying up with domestic studios such as Yash Raj Films, Balaji, Shemaroo and SUN TV. Peter Bithos, CEO of HOOQ, said that the over-the-top application will go live from June. The company plans to charge a monthly fee of Rs 200.
bringing style to the boardroom
The latest publication from FWD Media, covers business like nobody else does; with a pinch of style and a dash of glamour
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FWD news
China becomes world’s top crude buyer
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hina overtook the United States as the world’s top importer of crude oil for the first time and its purchases are expected to remain strong despite a slowing economy. China’s crude oil imports hit a record of almost 7.4 million barrels a day (bpd), putting it way ahead of the United States’ estimated imports of 7.2 million bpd for April, this year. China will probably relish this status for a long time on the coming future.
Indian Oil to expand natural gas business Airbus Group starts $150 million venture fund
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TVS Logistics to acquire Tata Group’s logistics firm DIESL
EW DELHI: Indian Oil Corp (IOC),is expanding its natural gas business as India. “Gas is certainly seen as the fuel of the future with so much emphasis on environment. We would like to play an active role in terms of providing customers with the choice of the fuel they want,” B Ashok, IOC chairman, told a news conference. IOC is the country’s biggest fuel retailer by providing 46.7 per cent of India’s fuel demand through its 24,400 fuel stations. India is expanding its gas import infrastructure to increase usage of the cleaner fuel and raise its share in the country’s overall energy mix from the current 8 per cent.
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irbus Group announced the formation of a $150 million venture capital and said it had hired a Google executive to run a new center in Silicon Valley as it seeks to wave a digital wand over its heavymanufacturing culture. They also said that Airbus Group Ventures would invest in “disruptive and innovative” technologies worldwide. The European group also said it had recruited Google executive and former U.S. aeronautics researcher Paul Eremenko, to run an innovation centre in Silicon Valley.
Philips India to focus on LED market
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VS Logistics Services is a part of the diversified TVS Group that will get a funding of about Rs 250 crore from Tata Opportunities Fund (TOF) to acquire Tata Group firm Drive India Enterprise Solutions Ltd (DIESL). The investment by TOF, will give the flagship private equity fund backed by Tata Capital a minority stake in TVS Logistics Services. Tata Opportunities Fund will be investing in TVS Logistics Services up to Rs 250 crore. They will have equity stake in TVS Logistics. TVS Logistics will use this funding to acquire Drive India Enterprise Solutions Ltd.
14 jun 2015 FWD business
hilips India is to focus on the fastgrowing LED lighting market in the country in line with its global strategy to up th ante on its business areas. Accordingly, 40,000odd public shareholders in Philips India, who hold about 3% stake, will get shares in the new demerged lighting business on a 1:1 basis. The company has also set up an independent subsidary - Philips Lighting India Ltd. It has appointed Harsh Chitale, former managing director of HCL as its MD.
RCap net up by 53%
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eliance Capital (RCap) reported a 53 per cent increase in net profit for the quarter ended March, at Rs 407 crore. “All our businesses are profitable. Going forward, the profits will be better,” said Ghosh, chief executive of the financial services conglomerate, part of the Anil Ambani group. However, reports suggests that Reliance Life Insurance fell to Rs 87 crore from Rs 100 crore in the same period a year earlier.
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2015 FEBRUARY FWD businessFWD junVIVAH 2015
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FWD watches
Tag Heuer Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Tourbillion Building on its top-secret development of transmission belts no thicker than a single hair, TAG Heuer takes its avant-garde creation to the next level
time factory Wrap around your wrist few of the most sophisticated piece of timepieces by the finest of watch makers.
Patek Philippe Patek Philippe Complicated Perpetual Calendar New version of the most known Patek Philippe complication: the ultra thin self-winding Perpetual Calendar.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore The Royal Oak Offshore design – so perfect it has barely changed in two decades – echoes that of the virile, iconic Royal Oak, whose octagonal, stainless-steel facets so shook up the peaceful scene of classic, round, gold watches. Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking. 16
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FWD watches
RADO Rado Diamaster M Quartz Jubile
Breguet 5447BR Classique Grande It’s a Euro timepiece that is mind blowing. The watch is a perfect blend of fashion meets tradition.
Subtle, minimalistic and chic are the key words when it comes to the design of these simple, pared-down ceramic beauties. The new face of Rado has a new face of its own. Rolex Rolex Deepsea D-Blue Dial The Deepsea D-Blue Dial diver watch is based on the standard Rolex SeaDweller Deepsea 116660 watch, but has a unique dial that starts blue at the top and using a gradient goes to black.
Corum Admirals Cup Black Tintanium bezel with black PVD, black dial, automatic winding CO 753 movement with chronograph function, approximately 48 hours of power reserve, black rubber strap with black PVD titanium tongue buckle. Water resistant to 30 atm. What else do you need?
Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking. FWD business jun 2015
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FWD interview
In The Thick of Things There is more than just what meets the eye when it is regarding your favorite one stop destination mall. Thousands work on it each day to make your visit a memorable one and of course come back for. Hear from Mr. Shibu Philips, Business Head of Lulu all that you need to know about the biggest mall of India. Text: Firdouz Hameed, Atheena Wilson Photos: Jinson Abraham hen FWD media met Shibu Philips, Business Head of Lulu Shopping mall, he was excited that Lulu Shopping Mall just got awarded the best mall in South India in the Images Fashion Awards for the second time in a row. This tall gentleman has been with the Lulu team from the time they were just setting up back in 2010. He was planning to take a much needed vacation with his family to Chicago the following day. But he says that there is never going to be a day away from work in this era of technology. Throughout the interview, Mr. Philips kept glancing at the computer screen on his table which showed the CCTV footage of various parts of the mall. He constantly kept a check that everything was perfect in the mall, even though there where many assigned to do that. The man loves his job and his staff recognizes his dedication and sincerity he brings in.
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Tell us a bit about yourself I am a Hotel Management graduate from IHMCT- Mumbai University… I’m also retail professional. I have been with the shopping center industry for the last 12 years now. I have been working with brands like Inorbit, which was one of the pioneers of shopping center industry back in 2004. I also had the privilege to head the business of mall of Oberoi. That’s one of the premium malls in Mumbai today. After that obviously the mall which India was waiting for. The one Kerala is proud of. I have been here for the last five years and been there from its
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FWD interview
construction. I was part of the team that planned and put life in to the mall - picking and choosing each and everything that you see today. It is such a large work force here. How do you manage it? Lulu has two divisions. We have a retail division that has more than 2000 employees working in various shifts. The mall management has 100. We have a mall management division which is comparitively very small. What is the profile of the staff here like Basically Kerala has a lot of talent. Education is not a problem here. But opportunities are limited. There was an initial period where a huge number of people went to other states or the Gulf on pursuit of a job. But today Lulu provides that opportunity. There are so many employees here from other states. Is that because there is a scarcity in availability of local talent? The world is evolving and people are moving to all parts. People from other states come in for work over here. Malayalis also work all over the world. So what are we complaining about? You have once said that in order for a company to stay on top they have to constantly reinvent. How do you reinvent yourself? Customer feedback is one way. We try to listen to their opinions through all mediums. They write to us or connect through social media. Retailers also help us to understand what customer demand. Major changes will always be done by the chairman, Mr M. A. Yousuf Ali, who has over 115 outlets that sees 5.2 lakh customers on daily basis, and most of the visitors are Indians. I remember a customer telling me that the Keralites who used to buy
products from the local markets can now purchase from the airconditioned Lulu Hypermarket wearing their fine clothes. Today we are able to change the way people shop by understanding the psychographics and demographics of the customer. Today if Lulu hypermarket is still getting a huge footfall then that is because you can’t get this sort of facility anywhere else. If we are having 34% of the market share in the Middle East then it is because of the vision of the Managing Director, M.A. Yousuf Ali. Out of 38,000 employees, 24,000 are from Kerala. What makes the Lulu mall here similar or different from that you find in the Middle East. There is no comparison with two different markets. The Hypermarket we have might be similar, but the fashion is different. The product consumption on a daily basis
Today if lulu hypermarket is still getting huge footfall then that is because you can’t get this sort of facility anywhere else..
everywhere is different. 80 % of the Asians coming in there would be Indians. But a mall is for everyone. Gulf is a place where people from all countries visit. All their taste is supposed to be considered. Space for different products of varies countries are given. Here, even though we have international brands, the fashion here is a bit more predictable and doesn’t have as much variety
FWD business jun 2015
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FWD interview
as you might find in Bangalore or Mumbai. But it is slowly growing. So we can’t compare malls of different places. Everything will be different. The Hypermarket in gulf will have to include the palette of taste of the Arab or Chinese. So are you saying the consumption pattern of Malayalis in the Gulf different from them in Kerala? Not really. They are all the same. One thing we have learned is that no matter where you are customers are they aren’t really sure what they have to buy. So it is we who have to teach them what suits them. If you go to our ethnic wedding shop, there will be someone there to guide you to help you purchase what all need to be bought for the wedding days. Is the spacing for the retail outlets here any different from other malls of Lulu? It is similar. We have built it in a way that the Indian retailers want
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it. We have kept the international standards and have not compromised on the heights and size of the stores. We have designed it to match the international stature of any mall. Today what happens is through the internet people can see anything. So the consumers have become more global. We have done things accordingly and have not compromised on anything. Any plan of expansion? We are planning to start a project in Calicut, Trivandrum and other Southern metros including Bangalore. It will happen very soon. What can we expect from Lulu the coming years? More on fashion—changes will be more on the apparels section. All the other quotient in this mall is the latest and nothing more could be done. You have the best of the best brands available here. Any particular brand that we can
expect to see? We don’t want to expose all that. Today you get most things in online shopping. We are actually very happy that e-commerce has come. It is educating people. It encourages consumption. But e-commerce companies are burning a lot of money trying to compete with the market. They are actually functioning at a loss. They will have to come out on public rather soon and at that time they have to show a profit on the kind of business they do-- which they won’t be able to. By that time the consumers will understand that this is not an everyday possibility and by that time we will be ready. We will have all that they can consume online. Moreover, the kind of fashion you buy online is sold in a mass. The fashion element is lost when more people wear the same clothes. One other thing is that till yesterday Kerala didn’t have any venues to showcase their fashion. Like Mumbai
FWD interview
have a lot of page three parties, the culture of pubs and discotheques are very common. That is not the case in Kerala, but it is slowly changing. Now that Lulu has also Marriott what else can we expect? Hyatt is coming up soon. It is a more premium brand hotel. All the shopping malls we are building will
entire state has narrow roads. On top of it, we have narrowed it even more by constructing. That has led to the traffic problems. The roads inside the malls are wider and if you come here on a Sunday, we have a five lane inside the mall. The outside road has only two lanes. We are actually helping the government. We just now inaugurated a 1000
We understand the future of technology and are planning accordingly. At present we are providing a 45 mbps Wi-Fi that enables the customer to download anything at a high speed... have a hotel next to it. Which category of this mall did you find to be the most challenging? We clearly knew women and men’s fashion apparel was going to be a challenge in Kerala. Today the trends are changing from the ethnic wear they were used to. Now we come to learn that, women who used to have 20 pairs of shoes in their wardrobe now have 200 of them. This makes us very happy. Our shoe section is doing really well. It is showing some great numbers. Earlier men used to have a pair of shoes for each purpose. Now it has become two pairs. Even cars… people have now three cars. Is there any particular customer demand that actually surprised you? Kerala has the highest density of cars. Everyday customers are asking for more parking spaces. We see people coming from neighboring states. So we are seeing to that. Wouldn’t this large inflow of vehicles to Lulu affect the traffic of the city? We have 3000 parking spaces at Lulu. On an average, we rotate it four times, so 12,000 cars can come in. So it is not like they are waiting on the road to come in. Generally the
car MLCP (Multi Level Car Parking) which we spend 45 crores on. We are adding it on to the infrastructure development. The neighborhood will not suffer because of us. Is there more scope of growth for malls in Kerala? It is there. Other than that, food also has a huge scope of growth. You see there are not many varieties of global food here. You will see a lot of global cuisines coming here. That is going to be another revolution. The options available here compared to other metros are very less. The third category that has scope for growth is the entertainment category. Because most of the development in these segments will happen only in malls as the infrastructure elsewhere is not in par with other places. So with the standard we have already set, it can happen only in malls. How does it feel to be the Business Head of Lulu? Very proud. I am very happy to be working under a Managing Director who is a visionary. It is his vision that made this awesome. When we planned to start it nobody believed it is possible. But he stood firm by his vision. Now that he has vindicated it, we all feel very happy about it.
How do you spend your free hours? I spend a lot of time reading business books and magazines. I do a lot of cardio workouts too. A consistent challenge that you deal with here? That would be the customers asking for more. We just had a meeting discussing the same. We were even discussing what the customer would be asking after ten years. At that time, customers would be even coming at driver-less cars. So there are things we have already started working on. We understand the future of technology and are planning accordingly. At present, we are providing a 45 mbps Wi-Fi that enables the customer to download anything at a high speed. We have a Facebook page that is the 7th most visited page in India. Technologically we are trying to do everything we can to keep rewarding the customers. Thanks to all our customers who have spent their precious time and money to us. We feel we are able to enhance the life in Kerala. So everything put together we feel we have done a great job 4
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FWD trends
Bolt from the Blue
Hugo Boss Simony Cufflinks
Dash from the mundane and sport something on the cooler side.
Brunello Cucinelli Textured Blazer
Salvatore Ferragamo Tortoise Print Silk Tie
Brunello Cucinelli Textured Blazer Burberry London Leather Card Case
Burberry Brit Medium House Check Shirt
Bric Dynamic 72cm Trolley
TOM FORD Mandarino Di Amalfi Decanter (EDP, 250ml)
Harrods Of London Contemporary Fit Chinos
Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking. 22 jun 2015 FWD business
Gucci Horsebit Python Loafer
FWD business jun 2015
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FWD interview
coffee times from the south “Food or Drink of the Gods” is the terminological definition for Ambrosia in Greek Mythology. Vinod Panikar and Cuckoo Vinod, the founders of ambrosia definitely do justice to that tag by serving the best for Trivandrum. Text: FWD Business Desk Photos: Various Sources
eing the first café in the capital of Kerala is a unique distinction that belongs to Ambrosia. Back in 1996, an eatery like this in a place like Trivandrum could have been a huge risk. But the couple Vinod Panikar and Cuckoo Vinod believed that any place with delicious food, wonderful hospitality and ambiance will be a great success. And indeed it was. FWD Business caught up with the couple who has been pioneers in this business for almost two decades.
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It’s been now almost 20 years since inception. How’s the journey been?
24 jun 2015 FWD business
Food and travel have always been our common passion. Wherever we go we make it a point to visit the best eating joints there. It has always been our vision to start something innovative. So we gathered a lot of ideas and put them together and Ambrosia is the result of all these ideas and dreams put together. It was way back in 1996 that we opened our first joint in the name of AMBROSIA-The Classic Bake house, at Bakery Junction Trivandrum. That was after a detailed market survey for the scope of such a joint that we ventured into it. The name itself means The Food of The Gods has been a great hit. It is from Greek
Wherever we go we make it a point to visit the best eating joints there. It has always been our vision to start something innovative. So we gathered a lot of ideas and put them together and Ambrosia is the result of all these ideas and dreams put together.
FWD interview
mythology and so we gave a Greek touch to the interiors. It was a black and white theme with a bar counter and bar stools, a self-service counter for breads and cakes-- which was a totally new concept at that time. But this concept and the whole idea was welcomed by the Trivandrum crowd. Mr. Vinod, how good an idea is doing business together with your life partner? Doing business with your life partner I feel is an excellent idea due to various reasons. Cuckoo and I share the same passion for food. Being in the same business gives us a lot of time to spend together. We understand each other and that helps to face problems in business better. We complement each other though there may be differences of opinion and verbal conflicts regarding various issues. [Laughs] The final outcome and solutions to problems in business will always be more productive and fruitful. Moreover being in business together has given Ambrosia a good vibe to be in and many of our customers find it a safe place to send their young children too. Are the four stores different from each other in any sense? Our 4 stores scattered in various parts of the city varies in terms of space and décor. Our Kowdiar outlet being in a more premium location is more spacious and has a vibrant ambiance. What is the scope for cafes in the
present market according to Mr Vinod? There is scope for cafes in the present market. “A lot can happen over a cup of coffee.” [Laughs] Many business talks and other such discussions happen in cafes. More over friends’ reunion, birthday parties etc. take place in such cafes.
But now the competition is very high. So you need to really put in a lot of effort and hard work to keep up with the tide. People do feel that cafes and hotels charge quite a lot for food these days. With the soaring price of raw
FWD business jun 2015
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FWD interview
stores aptly for the occasion. We also have special weekend counters. On weekends we have special counters wherein food items which are not in the usual menu are served. Weekend special menu is usually publicized through our Facebook page.
materials and other over heads there is no way such eateries can keep the prices down. Moreover when one does not want to compromise on the quality of food and service, the price one has to pay cannot be compromised too. What are the age groups Ambrosia targets? We cater to all age groups young and old alike. During the day it’s mostly the young crowd flocking in but in the evenings and night time it is mostly the family crowd.
loyal customers wherein they are updated with the latest events, offers etc. We have a Customer Care team who constantly interacts with our customers and look into their needs and problems. How do you keep it up with constantly evolving customer demands? It’s human nature to get fed up with monotony, especially with food. So in order to keep up and go beyond the expectations of our dear customers we always try to keep up with the
We have a Customer Care team who constantly interacts with our customers and look into their needs and problems. Is your marketing strategy different from other cafes? Our marketing strategy is quite different from others. What we do is try to keep our existing customers happy and satisfied and thus spread our name by the word-of-mouth. We do not do much of advertising. We make use of the social media. Ambrosia has a Facebook page which is constantly updated. This is the media of communication with our
26 jun 2015 FWD business
times and demands of people by bringing in new food items from time to time. We have well trained chefs in each of our departments and they are updated with the latest in culinary skills by sending them for periodical training. We also highlight all events like Mother’s Day, Women’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Friendship Day etc. by having special offers and creating the right ambiance through decorating the
What is a must order in Ambrosia’s menu? Our cakes and pastries have always been a great hit. To name a few-- Blueberry, Caramel Cheese cakes, Tiramisu, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Magic, and Dutch Chocolate Fudge etc. Then our Burgers are a lot talked about for their juiciness and exotic flavor. This we owe to the freshly baked buns and the patties made in house with 100 percent pure meat. Our popular burgers are Bacon Cheese Burger, Dream Burger and Burger Classic. Milk Hawa and Devil’s Food Cake are two other very popular items which travels all over the world with NRIs purchasing them. According to you, other than food, what should cafes nowadays give emphasis on to make their business a success? Apart from food, Cafes should give equal importance to service, ambiance, hygiene, customer care etc. In this competitive world we need to really put in our very best in every sense Any plans of expanding beyond the city? As of now we have 4 main outlets in the city. 3 small ones plus we run the bakery counters in all Spencer’s. We also have an Industrial unit in Kinfra Park and bread products in the name of ‘Wholesome,’ are distributed to various parts of Trivandrum and Kollam. For future plans, our son is doing his final year Hospitality Management in Switzerland. We are waiting for him to join the family business. We have made a foundation for him to build on...
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FWD trends
The Bold and Handsome Make a statement entrance with something both ornate and elaborate.
Stefano Ricci Luxury Paisley Silk Tie
Dsquared2 Camouflage Tuxedo Jacket
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 42mm Chronograph Watch
Dolce & Gabbana Key Print Corduroy Slipper Shoe
Versace Studded Nylon And Leather Backpack
Valentino Camubutterfly Suit
Disclaimer: Price and features are subject to change. Buyers are advised to act on data after cross-checking. 28 jun 2015 FWD business
Versace Baroque Print Shirt
A Walkdown Memory Lane..
Retrorespectively speaking.... It was one awesome journey FWD had. Each edition with stories that won many hearts..
PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 34/547, Fwd Media Pvt.Ltd,Open Media Space,2nd Floor, Anand Buidings, FWD business jun 2015 NH-Bypass Road, Nr.Oberon Mall Kochi-682024
29
building towards
tomorrow with the
h lite man HiLITE mall is the new landmark of Calicut that everyone can’t have enough of. P Sulaiman, Chairman and MD of HiLITE group is the man behind this great vision. fwd team met up with him speaking about this new found love of Calicut and much more. Text: Firdouz Hameed Photos: Jinson Abraham Styling: Rashmi Muraleedharan Makeup & Hair: Rabeesh Babu
30 jun 2015 FWD business
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1
Probably the only businessman in India who can convince his entire staff to make a pledge of donating their organs to those who are less fortunate. His humanitarian actions are well noted.
2
Being one of the most successful builder in the state, the man was also the one to make mixed use of development buildings a success in Kerala.
3
He was the man who gave Kerala its first complete lifestyle shopping mall- Focus Mall. It was launched in Calicut on 2007.
32 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD cover story
P
Sulaiman, Chairman and Managing Director of HiLITE Group, is Calicut’s pride. The man with two decades of experience as a builder was also the brain behind the first lifestyle shopping mall in Kerala, Focus mall. His courage to go out of the box and bring about the change that we desire to see in the state is commendable. The man has outdone himself with the opening of HiLITE mall. This humongous mall inside HiLITE City is 6 times the size of Focus mall and could give any mall a run for their money. His focus is not just building around his hometown Calicut. Mr Sulaiman wishes to improve the infrastructure and living standards of the entire state. In 2011, The Times Group honored HiLITE Group of Companies adjudged Mr Sulaiman as as the “Game Changer” in business par excellence in the realty sector in the state of Kerala during the ‘Excellence in Business’ awards. The man is yet such a downto-earth person. He never forgets to give back and his philanthropy works are well noted. FWD caught up with a very jovial Mr. Sulaiman, who was enjoying the success of the recently opened Hilite Mall. You have had two decades of experience in project management. What is your take on the construction industry in Kerala today? In the last 10 years the growth of construction industry in Kerala has been significant. But if you are to compare it with international market, there is still a long way to go. Focus mall is Kerala’s first shopping mall. What gave you the impression that it will be a great success? The people in Malabar part of Kerala are comparatively financially more stable. I would say that there were not many opportunities for them to spend on entertainment or purchasing goods/products. The
weekend buses to Bangalore always used to be full, and a large number of people in Calicut used to work in the Gulf. 10-12 flights that came from the Gulf also used to be full and they all came with three to four bags each. This you will not see in any other place. The reason for that is they all had a large demand but nothing here to make use of. Hence I went on with the idea of Focus mall. You have once said that your vision is to contribute to the economic and infrastructural development of the state. How helpful was the government on the same? Not much at all. It’s better if I don’t comment on it. [Laughs] You have more than 50% market share in Calicut. Was concentrating on the place a conscious decision you made? If yes, why so? Every businessman strives to make an establishment of his own. Ours is a concept selling business. To make and sell apartments is a concept of selling. In order to be successful in doing that, there should be a trust created. So we made a conscious decision of concentrating on just one region. Today we have won that trust and have been able to make a name for ourselves. So now we are ready to make an impact other places as well. How well receiving are the people of Kerala to the concept of mixed –usedevelopment? Mixed-use-development is now a worldwide process. We are creating a city within a city with all the facilities. If you take a place like Bangalore or Dubai, even if you are to travel just 3kms it becomes a task. Transit can really be a problem. Mixed-use-development is the new solution the world is adopting to make life easier. Kerala, like everything else initially was suspicious on accepting it, but eventually they understand the ease of it and are welcoming it.
There are a lot of local issues. If you ask me I will say that the people in Kerala are well aware of their rights. They know all that is to be known regarding a construction project here. They know all the rules and regulations. So there is always a threat.
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34 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD cover story
If you ask me I will say that the people in Kerala are well aware of their rights. They know all that is to be known regarding a construction project here. They know all the rules and regulations...
Last year you have made an initiative for organ donation. What prompted you for such a thing? This is a project that no one has ever done in Kerala. In fact, it has never been seen or done in the entire country. This is not something anyone can do. It takes a lot of courage to do what we did. Money can’t buy that. I don’t think any other cooperate in India has ever come with their entire staff making a pledge to donate their organs. This is an initiative we took to show our appreciation to God. It was an area that needed an action like this also. Somebody had to this. We did it. Nasheeda U, your better half is a Civil Engineer who is associated with HiLITE group. What exactly is her part on the group and whose decision was it to bring her onboard?
The stress and tension incorporated with doing business is massive. So her biggest task, as a wife will be to look after me. [Laughs] What is the biggest challenge you face in Kerala as a builder? There are a lot of local issues. If you ask me I will say that the people in Kerala are well aware of their rights. They know all that is to be known regarding a construction project here. They know all the rules and regulations. So there is always a threat. It’s probably the high education they possess in Kerala that makes them so aware. But a builder should be always alert. It is difficult, but it is a nice thing. It has been only a short period since HiLITE mall started. How is the response till now?
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36 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD cover story
The response so far is better than what I have expected. A lot more people are walking in each day. We are trying our best to give them the best service. Parking lots are all over flowing and that is always a good sign. Moreover, people are not just coming here; they are spending a lot of money in the mall too. There are more than 200 Indian and international branded retail outlets in HiLITE mall. Most of them are very new to the people of Kerala. How did you choose on which brand to come up on the mall? The success of mall is actually the mix you find there. The retail mix is the primary ingredient. The rest is all secondary. So all the research we conducted on was on the same. All our effort was in bringing in the correct proportion and mix of the retail stores. We strived to bring the most versatile store mix in the world. HiLITE mall is expecting 30,000 footfall per day. Is that a realistic number? Of course! As a matter of fact the numbers are far greater than that. We are now thinking about how to manage such a huge number. When we started Focus mall we were expecting only 10,000 footfalls per day. But 15,000 people came in to the mall each day. HiLITE mall is 6 times bigger than Focus mall. So the estimation of 30,000 is actually very much less than the actual number. What is the major attraction of the mall and what makes it stand out from the rest? I would once again say it is the mix and variety of the retail stores here. I don’t think any other mall in Kerala has got that right like us. If you look at any nuke and corner of our mall, the retail outlets are all designed to get maximum boom. Be it an international store or a local brand, the mix we have bought here is far better than anywhere you will find in
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38 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD cover story
India. Especially in Kerala. Something about the design and architecture of the Mall? When a person enters the mall, all the corners of the mall will look exactly the same. A person would be amazed to see the perfection in that design. It’s a simple concept but yet a captivating one. But don’t worry, you won’t feel lost as there will always be someone to guide you in every step. [Laughs]
time you have done seeing them all, it will take a very long time.
What is the entertainment facility like in the mall? We do know Cinepolis is there. What else is as exciting? Usually when you start a mall, 50% of the people who come to the mall are for window shopping. So when you come to HiLITE mall, we have here the best window shopping experience set for you. There will be so much for you to see that by the
What is the employee strength like? How do you recruit the right person for the job? There are around 2500 staffs in HiLITE mall. They are a mix of people from this state and outside. We give them about two months training which is given by the best groups.
What is the mall management like in HiLITE? Our marketing starts when a person sitting at home thinks about visiting HiLITE mall. From that time to him coming over to the mall, parking his car, shopping with comfort and then returning home with happiness, that entire journey is under our mall management. Our policy is to take care of the customer in his/her every step.
Customers are always demanding. What more can we expect to see from the mall? Usually people in Kerala are never
satisfied no matter whatever you give them. [Laughs]. We here are giving them a unique experience… a very good fashion experience. Be it lifestyle, fashion etc. The brands we have here like the Lifestyle, Pantaloons, Home Centre and other international brands have never been seen before in Kerala. So for now, I guess that will do. Calicut is 2nd in tier-2 cities in India on the list of best place to reside. Is this the potential place for more business development? We realize the importance of Calicut only when others point out something like this. I have seen many people recently who return from the Gulf to Calicut to start a business here, recognizing its true value. There is a change happening and the future of Calicut looks like a fruitful one 4
FWD business jun 2015
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behind the cover
From the photoshoot of P Sulaiman, Chairman and Managing Director, Hilite Group, with Team FWD. Photographer: Jinson Abraham Styling: Rashmi Muraleedharan Makeup & Hair: Rabeesh Babu Retouch: Jemini
40 jun 2015 FWD business
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FWD business jun 2015
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shopping malls the complete story
Text: Firdouz Hameed Photos: Jinson Abraham Illustration: Jithin Mohan
The last decade saw the rise of mall shopping in Kerala. The state can boast of more than 1.5 crore sq ft of built-up space for malls in this present mall revolution. This is set to rise in the coming years.
42 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD main story
The modern mall concept in India
aybe it is the mall experience that Keralites have enjoyed overseas that makes malls in Kerala a hotspot or it is the curiosity to find out what is these malls are all about. Whatever be the case, Kerala will be home to more than 50 shopping malls in the coming years. She can boast of having one of the finest malls in the world. Clearly the coming years will be fruitful for the organized retail sector as mall shopping is becoming a culture for malayalis.
M
Shopping malls can be anything that has one or more buildings which combines many shops that allows customers to walk right in through interconnecting walkways. The first shopping mall of India, Spencer Plaza was built in 1863–1864, by Charles Durant and J. W. Spencer in Anna Salai, Chennai. At that time the mall was one of the biggest shopping mall in South Asia. In 1983 the building was destroyed by a fire. The present Spencer Plaza was reconstructed at the same site with more than double the size of the original with 1 lakh
The retailing sector of Kerala is gradually growing in the past few years. The whole concept of shopping has changed in terms of format and consumer buying behavior, leading a revolution of shopping...
square feet and was opened in 1991. The mall history of India takes us back to the British Raj period. The first departmental stores opened in the Indian Subcontinent at 1895 by Spencer & Co Ltd. This was however different from the modern mall concept that you see today, which first appeared in the US during the 1950s, invented by the Australian born architect and American immigrant Victor Green.
The modern mall concept in India was initially not a great success. Malls in India, which started in the 90s, like the Crossroads Mall, Mumbai, situated in the heart of the city and made parking for the shoppers at that time a nightmare as there was no proper parking facility. People found the concept of mall shopping a bit hard to digest. The spacing and sizing of the outlets were also not too shopper friendly. Today Indian malls have grown in both number and standard. By 2013, the number of malls in India was 570 and this year it is said to hit 750. Today, mall developers are able to make shopping a much enjoyable shopping experience with better mall management. There is a wide variety of products one can purchase from a mall and also enjoy some entertainment facilities that they have. Most malls have a variety of food that you can enjoy in their food courts. It can be said that media and smart advertising has also helped change the perception of shopping malls amongst the consumers. These factors have somewhat helped malls become a success in India. Shopping Mall of Kerala
Like everywhere else, the concept of malls in Kerala is no different, as almost all of them have two or more anchor stores. Malls are where retail shopping is combined with entertainment. They offer a plethora of attractions—be it international brand products, food and beverages, entertainment quarter, everything in a mall is more glitzy and glamorous. People often go to malls for leisure time and entertainment rather than need driven. Since there is a wide variety of products that vary in price and quality, malls are highly populated by both the middle class and the upper class. In Kerala, the middle class is fast growing
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FWD main story
with higher discretionary income. Youngsters are willing to pay money for luxury and entertainment. This has helped in the growth of malls in Kerala
these factors, the meaning of shopping has changed. People now don’t just purchase because there is a necessity for it. Hype has a lot to do with it also.
Impact of malls in Kerala
Before malls made an impact in Kerala there has been very limited research on the shopping habits of consumers in Kerala. A need to understand their consumption pattern wasn’t required. But today retailers are keener in understanding and trying to up the ante. A good percent of Keralites go abroad to work. As mentioned, luxury shopping was something they would do from there. But today malls in Kerala provides them with almost everything that they could purchase from abroad. People no longer take the strain to purchase from outside the country and worry about paying the duty for it or the strenuous act of shipping it in. Retailers are now very focused on understanding the needs of Kerala consumers and plan accordingly.
The retail sector of Kerala showed positive signs two years back. It is now going through a slight dip because of online shopping. But with the help of some innovative marketing, malls are expecting better business in coming years. After all, the whole concept of shopping has changed in terms of format and consumer buying behavior, after the introduction of malls. Today people no longer rely on sources outside the state or country to purchase branded products of their liking. Malls have brought these brands to our state, Kerala. The rise in the number of shopping malls is an evidence of consumer behavior being favorable to the growing organized segment of the business. Modern retail has entered Kerala as seen in sprawling shopping centers, multi-stored malls, entertainment and food courts. Due to
Malls also have increased the job opportunities in Kerala significantly. Kerala has the highest literacy rate
The rise of number of shopping malls is evidence of consumer behavior being favorable to the growing organized segment of the business. Modern retail has entered Kerala as seen in sprawling shopping centers, multi stored malls, entertainment and food courts.
in the country and welcomes these opportunities with open arms as there are opportunities for youngsters who wished to work in their hometown have now increased.
Malls in Kerala Hilite Mall
One of the largest shopping mall of India is situated in the city of Calicut, in the state of Kerala in Southern India. The mall is located in Palazhi Bypass Junction on the National Highway 66(Old numbering NH 17) (NH 66) Bypass where NH Bypass meets Pottammal - Palazhi road. The shopping mall covers a total built-up area of over 1,000,000 square feet and it is being constructed as a part of the Hilite City, an integrated township project from Hilite Builders. The mall has 200 plus branded retail outlets, 32 Escalators, 18 elevators,4 Travelators, 8screen Multiplex from Cinepolis, Food court, Gaming zone etc.
44 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD main story
Lulu mall
The Lulu Shopping Mall is the largest shopping mall in India, located in Edapally, Kochi, Kerala. It is built on an area of 3,900,000 sq ft, with total area for mall alone at 1.7 million square feet and the remaining portion for a premium five-star hotel managed by JW Marriott Hotels. Opened on 10 March 2013, the mall consists of food courts, restaurants, family entertainment zones. They have 215 outlets in their mall. The mall has probably become the landmark of the city. The food court in the mall can seat 2500 people at a time. It has the largest ice skating rink in South India and even has a bank inside it. It is probably the best designed mall in the country too. The anchor stores of the mall being, the Lulu Hypermarket, which is also one of the largest hypermarket in the country and the other anchor stores being Lulu Fashion Store, Lulu Connect, Lulu Celebrate, PVR Cinemas and Sparkys.
Oberon Mall
Oberon Mall is a shopping mall located in Kochi and the current second largest lifestyle mall in Kerala in operation. The mall opened formally on March 2, 2008. It is built on an area of 426,000 sq ft across five floors of shops and office spaces and covering grounds of up to six acres. The mall is one of the busiest shopping avenues for the city. They have 8 anchor stores, a food court, multiplex, gaming center and also has a wax museum that has 40 wax sculptures.
Mall of Joy
Mall of Joy is a 200,000 square feet jewelry shopping mall that started in Thrissur, 21st April, 2014. This mall of international standards is a project by Joyalukas Group. Other than jewelry outlets, there are stores of cosmetics & perfume, baby shop, cutlery and lifestyle products, silver jewelry, gift items and accessories, electronics and home appliances, footwear & Joyalukkas’ money exchange available in the mall. The anchor outlets of the mall are Joyalukkas Jewellery and Jolly Sillks.
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FWD main story
Centre Square Mall
Centre Square Mall, Kochi is situated in the heart of the city, M.G. Road. The mall is spread across 5,00,000 square feet. It has many international brand outlets and has a gaming zone and food court. The parking space can facilitate 500 cars and 500 two wheelers simultaneously.
Bay Pride mall
Kochi’s Bay Pride mall is one of the top most shopping mall in Kerala. About 21000 square feet with two floors constructed on 97,000 sq ft. Bay Pride Mall is a project under Abad builders. The mall is facing the Arabian Sea and has a great view. The showrooms of national and international leading brands have a good mix in this mall and makes shopping a pleasant experience. There is a gaming zone, a music zone and also a food court in the mall.
46 jun 2015 FWD business
FWD main story
Nucleus Mall
Nucleus Mall, Maradu, Kochi is a 140,000 sq ft mall with retail space that spreads over 4 floors and 133,000 sq ft of office space spread over 6 floors. The mall is located in the developing suburban of Kochi, Maradu, near Thripunithura. It is India‘s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED) certified gold rated green mall. Along with many national and multinational brand stores, the mall has symphony halls, a multiplex and food courts.
Gold Souke Grande
Gold Souk Grandé, is a shopping mall, in the city of Kochi, which was formally opened in March 2011. With retail space of 620,000 sq ft, was the largest mall Kerala until Lulu mall came. The mall is part of the Gold Souk chain of malls located all over the country and a brand of Gurgaon based retail and property developer. The mall is the first shopping mall in South India to be themed with the concept of wedding shoppers. It is also the first to introduce the Gold Souk concept to South India. Kochi’s first Big Bazaar and Kerala’s first KFC outlet is in this mall.
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FWD main story
Sobha City Mall
Sobha City Mall is a shopping mall under construction in Thrissur, Kerala, India. The mall will have more than 300,000 sq ft. It will have business hotel, office space, restaurants, food courts and a 600 car parking facility. It will be situated in Shoba City.
Upcoming
malls of Kerala Big-I-Mall
Big-I-Mall is an upcoming shopping mall in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It will have a built up area of 165,000 sq f). It is also the first green concept mall to be built in Kerala as per the guidelines of the Indian Green Building Council. This mall features high speed Schindler elevators from Switzerland for the first time in Kerala. The Big I Mall is located on the NH Bypass opposite Technopark.
mall in Kochi. It is spread over an area of 4,400,00 square feet across 14 floors. The mall is developed and promoted by Nippon Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. The mall is located beside the NH 47 between Palarivattom and Vyttila, two of the busiest spots in Kochi, at an aqual distance from the Vallarpadam container terminal and the IT city.
Forum Thomsun Mall
Forum Thomsun Mall is an upcoming mall under construction in the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. The mall will have more than a million square feet of total built up area. The mall will consist of a hypermarket which will be of 100000 square feet. It will also have a multiplex, entertainment quarter, food court etc. The parking lot will have a capacity of about 1250 vehicles at a time. The Q1 Mall
The Q1 Mall or Infra Q1 is an upcoming shopping and business
M Square Mall
M Square Mall is coming up in Balaramapuram, 13 kilometers south-east of Thiruvananthapuram, the place which is famous for its handloom tradition. It will have a build-up area of 1,70,000 square feet. The mall will have a supermarket, multiplex, food court, gaming zone and other local and international brand outlets. Business groups like Lulu, Joyalukas, Hilite and Malabar can all be expected to come up with several malls in the state very soon.
some key factors Factors that make the Kerala consumers prefer shopping in malls
One major factor that why there are so many visitors to malls is because of its location. Most of the malls in Kerala are in Kochi, which is the business hub of Kerala. But it doesn’t mean that the people residing in Kochi are the only ones spending money in malls. People from different part of the state come in with their families to these malls. The reason for that is malls like Lulu Mall is a one stop destination malls, which is more than just about shopping for goods/products. The ambience, entertainment, facilities,
48 jun 2015 FWD business
food, convenience of finding stores, architecture, comfort, service, variety and fame all add up to such an acceptance from the Kerala consumers. In Kerala, modernization and development are generally welcomed. This is because of the education the people in Kerala have acquired. A majority of the population is middle class and their income level and purchasing power has risen through the years. Yet, there are no uniform trends in their buying behavior. Moreover organized retailing has made a way only in the upper class section. The middle income class prefers shopping for processed food
The nature of people in Kerala is such that modernization and development are generally welcomed. This is because of how educated the people from Kerala are.
FWD main story
and personal care in supermarkets and fall back on traditional outlets for bulk shopping. Most of the mall visitors are just window shoppers.
87.7
million
square feet of mall space in India
Factors that lead retailers to start outlets in shopping malls
The most common reason was the present trend of people choosing shopping malls for purchasing rather than the conventional market. Being the one stop destination that it is consumers prefer the malls as an option of shopping with fun. Another reason why the customers prefer the malls is due to sticky weather conditions in Kerala. Malls offering climate controlled environment is more comfortable for the consumers. Other responses included bigger retail space which is not available in the congested markets, and also how hygienic the malls are also makes a difference. Most families want to purchase from big showrooms and malls because there is standardization in the pricing and no bargaining needs to be done. The main strength of most of the retail outlets are providing attractive offers to attract customers. Offers like ‘buy two for the price of one’,
India is the
5
th
largest global destination in the world for retail
‘end of season discount,’ are all a huge crowd pullers. Big retail stores also run customer loyalty programs which have increased their profit. It can be concluded that the markets in Kerala have the potential for future development of the retail industry. The infrastructural developments in the state are also favorable for operations of malls in Kerala. Due to these promising factors, more retailers are keen to start outlets in malls. The Future of malls
In 2014, India had only 87.7 million square feet of mall space, less than one tenth of U.S. levels, despite having nearly four times the population of that in America. However, India’s retail sector is likely to touch $1.2 trillion by 2020 from the current $550 billion. The country
today is the fifth largest global destination in the world for retail and is looking to climb higher on that ladder. These are all positive signs for organized retails like shopping malls in India, especially Kerala. Factors that are playing a role in fuelling the bright future of Shopping Malls
As mentioned before the income of an average Indian is increasing and thus there is a proportional increase in the purchasing power. Kerala is no different. Kerala is also a hot tourist destination and attracts people globally. Indian economy and its policies are also becoming more and more liberal making way for a wide range of companies to enter the market. Malls in Kerala today have a wide array of international brands and the number seems to increase each year. Another great factor is the growth of social networking which is allowing malls to understand consumers and influence them before entering the complex. The relationship between a consumer and a retailer improves with online communications. Due to the reach of social networking even in the remotest of places, consumers are now aware of their preferred malls and it helps malls to recognize its potential clients 4
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FWD business
the big 10
list of biggest malls of the world
Malls have blended into the culture and lifestyle of people around the world. Size matters here. The bigger they come, that much more will be its impact on the people. Text: Varun Kannan Photos: Various Sources iant structures have always been a fascination for mankind. 21st century loves its malls so much that more and more malls are being built each day. They are not just looking to build malls anymore. They are building mega malls all over. Below are the list of 10 biggest malls you will find around the globe. The list will keep changing as the race is on to make even bigger ones. But for now, here are the 10 biggest malls.
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10. Sunway Pyramid, Subang Jaya, Malaysia – 396,000 square meters. This Egyptian-themed, giant of a mall with its pyramid design and a giant lion guarding the entrance speaks of the architectural flamboyance of the bygone Egyptian era. Opened in 1997 and with major renovations done in 2007, Sunway Pyramid today houses more than 800 shops and services. Apart from the pyramid, the malls also houses two domes, the sun god Ra- inspired Red atrium and the Nileinspired Blue atrium. Along with the range of brands and products that the mall has to offer, the Egyptian feel that the mall imparts with the pseudo hieroglyphics and pharaoh statues that blows one away.
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48 restaurants, 12 movie houses, a show stage, a bowling hall and even a roller coaster ride, this mall located in the Sisli district of Istanbul is today one of Istanbul’s must-see venues.
9. Cehavir Mall, Istanbul, Turkey – 420,000 square meters. Istanbul Cehavir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, locally known as Sisli Kulturve Ticaret Merkezi opened to the public on October 15, 2005. Cehavir is considered to be the largest shopping mall in the European continent. With 343 shops,
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8. Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 420,000 square meters Mid Valley Megamall opened in the later part of 1999 and features 430 stores and services. Aside from the shopping mall, it also has a convention center and two hotels-a
Apart from the pyramid, the malls also houses two domes, the sun god Ra- inspired Red atrium and the Nile-inspired Blue atrium. Along with the range of brands and products that the mall has to offer,
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In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, Central World was expanded to 550,000 square meters of shopping mall and 1,024,000 square meters of complex.
the cultural capital of Iran. It is the biggest mall in terms of the number of shops housing 2,500 stores covering an area of over 450,000 square meters. The complex includes the Burj Fars International, a 262-room hotel, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, convention centre and a helipad. In addition, there are two
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646-room business hotel called the Cititel Midvalley and the Boulevard Hotel. It also houses an 11-storey exclusive office tower.
7. Central World, Bangkok, Thailand – 429,500 square meters Central World opened up in 1990 and is the seventh largest shopping mall in the world. It features 495 shops and services and also houses a five-star hotel, a convention center, an office tower and a parking structure. It was originally the World Trade Center before it was renamed to Central World Plaza in 2002
and to Central World in 2005. The complex is owned by Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, Central World was expanded to 550,000 square meters of shopping mall and 1,024,000 square meters of complex. Though it briefly closed down in May 2010 after anti-government demonstrators set part of it on fire, it was reopened in September after repair works.
6. Persian Gulf Complex, Shiraz, Iran – 450,000 square meters Persian Gulf Complex is located in Shiraz, which is regarded as
amusement parks at the mall- an outdoor amusement park called Iran Land and an indoor amusement park that is complete with video games, a bowling alley and a 3-story billiard hall.
5. Utama, Selangor, Malaysia – 465,000 square meters Utama was opened in 1995, adjacent to an upscale residential area in Selangor district of Malaysia. A new wing was added to it in 2003 and the two wings collectively feature more than 700 stores. The mall gives a city slicker everything that he needs;
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four departmental stores, couple of supermarkets and two multiplexes for the cine-goers. Utama has been the epicenter of the burgeoning Selangor city in the past decade.
4. Isfahan City Center, Isfahan, Iran – 470,000 square meters Isfahan City Center was envisioned as the hub of recreation, shopping and lifestyle in Isfahan and also showcases the rich heritage of Isfahan. The mall is seen as a tribute to Isfahan’s journey from a far-flung village to a world-class city of prime business, shopping, lifestyle and tourism destinations. An ambitious project, Isfahan was built in four phases. It opened in November 2012 and features more than 750 stores. It also has a seven-star hotel, seven cinema halls, a financial center, a trade center and an entertainment center.
3. SM City North EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines – 482,878 square meters SM City North EDSA mall has been open since 1985, the major redevelopment began with the opening of the new Block in July 2006. SM went into high gear with the launch of a newly modernized Annex in December 2008, and the opening of the Sky garden in May
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2009. The SM City North EDSA stands testimony to the will of its promoters as the building was constructed during some of the most challenging period in the Philippines’ political history.SM City North EDSA also happens to be one of the largest solar-powered shopping malls in the world.
2. Dubai mall- 502,000 square meters Located in the 20-billion-dollar Downtown Dubai complex in UAE, Dubai Mall houses a total of 1,200 stores. The opening of Dubai
Isfahan City Center was envisioned as the hub of recreation, shopping and lifestyle in Isfahan and also showcases the rich heritage of Isfahan.
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2 New South China mall is located in the city of Dongguan in China. The mall is divided into seven zones and has a space for 2350 stores.
Mall was twice delayed and finally happened on 8 May 2009. With about 635 retailers, it marked the world’s largest-ever mall opening in retail history. The Dubai Mall hosted over 37 million visitors that year that it opened and continues to attract more than 750,000 visitors every week. The mall houses a 250-room luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens in addition to 120 restaurants and cafes. The underground aquarium and zoo is also extremely popular with people of all age groups. This gem of a mall has been showered with awards of all kinds - two awards at the Retail Future Project Awards at Mapic, Cannes, Best Retail Development Scheme (Large) and Best Use of Lighting in a Retail Environment and so many more.
1. New South China Mall, Dongguan, China – 659,612 square meters New South China mall is located in the city of Dongguan in China. The mall is divided into seven zones and has a space for 2350 stores. Each of the seven zones is modeled after a particular city or country, namely Amsterdam, California, Caribbean, Egypt, Paris, Rome and Venice. The mall even has replicas of the famous tourist spots of these places, like the Arc de Triomphe of Paris and St. Mark’s Bell Tower of Venice. The
well-planned oflayout however was not complemented by good overall business planning initially. However rectifying these errors coupled with massive PR and media efforts of its promoters, the fortunes of the mall has changed. The mall has filled up with luxury brands from around the world. The promoters who are very optimstic about the swinging of the prospects and have also planned a relaunch of the mall once the leasing out of the commercial spaces is completed and this would be happening very soon 4
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FWD tech
Business
tech
Square Register
If you are running a small business and you wish to take credit card payment in your store, then this is the app for you. Once you have registered in the app you will receive a credit card reader dongle free via mail. The dongle can be connected on your iphone by connecting to the headphone port. You can enter the credit card information manually. The app takes a small percentage from your credit payment.
You know what Bill Gates meant when he said that he will always hire the lazy guy? I think he meant that he would hire the guy who uses all those smart Business apps. peed is always a good thing-- especially if you are a businessman. There are thousands of business apps that help you function better. We have handpicked eight of those which we really like. Today smartphones have widened the office space beyond the four walls of your work place. You can literally carry work at your pocket. The only question is with such a lot of benefits from these apps, will you allow your employees to do your work with their personal devices? If so, this is a list you should definitely take a look at.
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QuickBooks
QuickBooks is an accounting tool app that helps you track and manage your finances. The Android app isn’t a fully-featured, mobile version of the QuickBooks desktop application. However this mobile app with useful tools to help you track sales, send out invoices and review recent payments when you’re away from the office. It requires a subscription, but a free 30-day trial is available.
InFocus Pro One Note
OneNote is one of the most user friendly note-taking app. It automatically syncs all your notes to OneDrive which is to be backed up and accessible via the cloud. The app works best with a stylus-equipped mobile device, that allows you to draw diagrams and write notes by hand. One thing which feels really cool is it can transcribe handwritten notes so that they can be searched later.
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It is a productivity app that has features like Calendar, Checklist, Notes, Projects and To Do. You can also handwrite custom notes in any color you prefer and the app also has a Calendar that syncs with iCal, Google, Outlook Calendar and other popular calendar programs.
FWD tech
Logmein
Imagine you are on holidays. But a businessman is never far from work. You have to get something from your work competitor but how? You can access your office computer from anywhere using your Logmein mobile app. This allows you to even print files from your computer from a nearby printer. This one is a true life saver.
Evernote
To make management of your team and other office tasks easier, you need to get yourself the Evernote. It helps you send notes and instructions when you are away from work. You can also make lists, presentations, store photos and also record audio.
Expensify
Accounting can be a horrendous task at most times. What if you can import scanned receipts which can be tagged to expenses? The app allows you to do just that and you don’t even have to manually type in the data anymore. It also allows you to import your cash, credit cards and other billable expenses.
Asana The Economist
A businessman should be aware of all the international news and publications, expert opinions, finance, science, technology etc. the economist help you read it without an internet connection once you have downloaded the app. It also has audio facility that reads out the article when you want.
Allocating work for employees and keeping constant check on how they are progressing can be a task. Not to mention the countless meetings that it takes regularly to keep an update. Asana helps you assign tasks to different staff without having to send an email. You can constantly check their progress with the same, making the work place even more efficient also.
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FWD auto
ride around with lodgy People in Kerala love their cars. Especially if it is a long, big one like Renault’s MVP car, Lodgy. The much awaited car was test driven by FWD and this is what we found. Text: FWD Business Desk Photos: Arun Menon
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est driving the all new Renault’s Lodgy RxZ 110 PS MVP car was something me and our expert Ajinov Mathappan was very much looking forward to. Ours was a 108 BHP, white colored car with an eye-catching chrome grille and standard sized headlamps that looked powerful. It had a distinctive dual-colored chin with angled edges which gives the front a distinctive look. The high waistline gave it that majestic MPV profile. The rear is angular and the tail lamps are somewhat small. We commenced our journey driving this car that has consumption of 1.5-litre diesel engine that also powers the Duster. We took her out by 7 :30 am in the morning on a fine Tuesday from the Kalamassery showroom through the roads of Vallarpadam Container Terminal. Being the expert Mr. Ajinov had the onus of taking over the wheels. The car we took out was an 8 seater. The first thing what I look for in a car when I get in are the safety features.. There are airbags for both the driver and the co-passenger in the Lodgy. That is a good start. The second is how spacious it is. It has the longest wheelbase in its class with 2810 mm. That shows. The dashboard looks a lot like Duster but, whatever works, one feels. There is a vanity storage space on the console which can
be used to fill magazines or other valid stuff. It is a nice addition to the vehicle. Glove box in the console is considerably lower than usual. I find that to be a bit perplexing as I assume nobody will prefer to bend lower to open it. It does look spacious though. There is also a power window switch on the center of the console. One feels that to be quite a good selection as it gives convenience to both driver and the passenger. The cooling comfort of this car is as good as any car you will be in. It was a hot morning and yet within a very short time, the entire car was comfortably cold. Whether you are sitting in the first row or the second or the kiddie space, as I would like to call the third, the cooling comfort remains honest. Talking about the seating, Lodgy is similar to that of Duster, which is not a bad thing as Duster’s seats were pretty comfortable and stylish. It goes well with Lodgy too. The second row seats are split in a 60:40 ratio, while the third row can be split in a 50:50 ratio or removed completely to make more boot space available. The 6 gear car showed a small lag when it was shifted from the 2nd gear to the 3rd. But it makes up for the lag big time as it gains momentum. The car hardly makes any noise and the cabin
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FWD auto
remains silent even above 100 kph. It hits from 0-100 kph in about 12 seconds. It can hit a top speed of 170 kph. The braking system come with ABS, EBD and Brake assist. The Lodgy with its adaptive suspension hits the jackpot as far as good balance between ride and handling is concerned. The steering of the car gives a really good firm grip and is very easy to handle. It fits into your palm very well indeed. Not to mention that you can adjust its position. It’s a 10/10 for the steering. The hornpad is XL-sized and honks without much pressure required for applying. A full feature Multi-Information Display (MID) displaying the average speed, fuel efficiency, distance to empty and uniquely, liters used on the trip can be seen. The audio controls are behind the steering on the right, which is really convenient.
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The car seems to have a really good mileage. It is somewhat surprising the fuel efficiency you get from the car. Fuel economy figures for this car are 19.98 km/l (ARAI certified) but Renault claims that they are certain that the car will give more once you start driving it. The side mirrors of the cars were well placed and they give a really good view for the driver. The same can’t be said with the rear mirror as it failed to give a good view and is a major concern for the driver. Back corners are not visible with the front mirror and can be quite dangerous. The size of the mirror was really small and not at all useful. The LCD panel has a navigation and phone Bluetooth answering facility. The car on reverse also gives a good rear view when reversing. It has a good resolution. One can also adjust the display’s brightness and contrast. Audible
warnings are provided by the parking sensors. The Lodgy also offers satellite navigation with three years of free map updates You get to enjoy a real good head space in this car. The roofs are high and if you are quite tall you will appreciate this. But it is an entirely different story when you are in the middle and last row, as there is not much leg space and under-thigh space, as the seats are low. Tyre size of the car is small and can be a disadvantage. The 185/65 R15 tyres are actually too small for all that body bulk. The Duster’s 215/65 R16 size would have been more suitable one feels. Doors are all hard built like those German cars like BMW or Audi. They give you a really solid feel and don’t close with a big thud either. It also has a door bin
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for storage and you can store a one liter bottle horizontally. There are 3 Mobile phone 12 V charging units-one on front, middle and then on the back. That is something very thoughtful indeed. The car has a turning radius of about 70%, which is not bad. One really cool thing I like about the Lodgy is where they have kept the spare wheel. It is in the most unexpected place—under the body. Another thing you notice when
you look under the car is how well everything is protected from the fuel
lines to the brakes, it’s all metal cased. No car reviews are perfect and nowhere complete without a sneak peek under the hood. The Lodgy has a RenaultNissan badged Exide battery. The firewalls are heavily insulated. Sound levels have been insulated to achieve low NVH levels. The ECU is behind the car battery. Under the hood, one can notice a lot of damping. The ‘K9K’ engine in this is used across a wide variety of Renault-Nissan products. The power output it brings makes the car the fastest MPV in its class. As we test drove for 35 kms through those roads and back to the showroom, we found the car to be a powerful and fuel efficient one that has the most space and has plenty of features like cruise control, dual ac vents, leather upholstery, Medianav system with bluetooth, USB and navigation, dual front airbags along with ABS and EBD. It is definitely a car worth a try 4
SPECIFICATIONS Engine Capacity: 1461cc, 4 cylinders, SOHC, Turbo VGT Power: 108.5bhp@4000rpm Torque: 245Nm@1750rpm Transmission: 6-speed Manual Capacity: 8 people Wheelbase: 2810mm
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FWD gadgets powered by
gadgetronics iFusion This is an integrated communications docking station for the Apple iPhone. A full duplex speaker phone and a patented design to deliver superior voice quality that also plays music over the internal speakerphone. Alpine Over-Ear Headphones Alpine with a pair of buit-in amplifiers is probably one of the best headphones around. Not to mention its unique design. The highperformance 40mm drivers are engineered to deliver powerful immersive audio quality that you can feel echoing throughout your ears Just Mobile AluPen Digital Stylus This thick pencil-shaped allaluminum stylus is a beautiful designed pen with a tip that makes you feel like you are using a bold pen. Since it does not have Bluetooth pairing or proprietary technology involved to limit its functionality you can use it with any app that’s available for iOS and Android phones and tabs.
Beats Solo 2 Headphones The new model comes with improved audio performance with a much better design and a built-in rechargeable battery. It differentiates from its previous model by becoming a smaller and lighter portable on-ear style form factor
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SyrenPro It is a wireless weather-resistant outdoor Bluetooth speaker with TrueWireless Stereo pairing that enhances your music hearing experience. The speakers provide 360-degree sound and also work with most Bluetooth devices.
FWD gadgets powered by Jibo The device can send and receive messages from anyone in your phone contacts. Jibo is a multipurpose device that can be used as an answering machine, telephone, camera, diary and storyteller all in one
Mota Smart Ring Smart Ring is a wearable device that alerts you when you get a mail or a notification from Facebook and Twitter by vibrating or displaying through a tiny screen. It works with iOS and Android devices.
Fitbit Zip Fitbit Zip is an activity tracker that is powered with battery. It counts steps once you clip it on to your dress. It is an almost indestructible device that also shares your data with friends simply by uploading its app into your smartphone or PC.
Bragi Dash wireless earbuds Bragi Dash is a wireless earphone with noise cancelation. It fits into the ears perfectly and is also very light in weight. It comes with a charging case than can charge them to up to five extra times
Vitaliti Vitaliti system is a continuous vital sign monitor, which drapes around the back of the neck and measure the electrical activity of the heart. It also has an ear piece sensor that gathers information such as body temperature and oxygen saturation. All the results can be found on its smartphone app.
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FWD branding
Branding and
Advertising how you brand and advertise companies decides their future. many businessmen has only a vague idea regarding the ideal method for both, without which the business could fail. Text: Firdouz Hameed Photos: Various Sources
eople usually don’t understand the meaning of branding and advertising and hence don’t know the difference. Both are strategies to increase your business opportunities but, the method of operation is entirely different. To utilize both these phenomena one needs to understand these thoroughly.
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That is what separates you from your competitors. You are the brand. It is your personality that communicates with your brand. The customer has to feel good about you. He has to understand your vibe. There are so many soft drinks. But everyone has a different theme. When 7up asks you to chill, Thumps up tells you to be macho. All these have an impact on your customer.
Branding Who are you and what kind of business are you doing? Why should I be your customer? How can I trust you? What are your reliability, integrity and experience on this field? All these questions shouldn’t be answered with your product/service. Rather they should answer with your brand name.
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Brand Recognition Every company should have a name and logo that separates them from the rest. They are the first thing a potential customer notices and as you know visual representation is the first and most important impression. But that is not all. What impression people get
Advertisement is your unofficial meeting with your ideal customers. Ideal customers are the ones you can bet the future of your company with.
FWD branding
when seeing your logo and name should be the same with all. There has to be clarification on what you need to convey.
Ambience All stores have a different ambience to it. The ambience of your store is what makes your client decide to come back to you again or not. The ambience you create on your store should be different from any other competitor. The ones you get to experience in a burger place are different from what you get in a pizza place. A lot of emphasis should be given to ambience. Make your store as pleasant as you can. Design it with a theme that connects with the people.
Downtime activity Rather than laying low on a downtime of business, it is much better to make an impact for your brand name. That will be the best preparation for your on-season. Make yourself standout with a cause. Try to do some charity or public service or stand for a cause. Let people see what your brand and the employees stand for.
Employee-friendly You might be wondering what this has to do on the list. It actually has a lot to do with branding. When a company is known for taking care of its employees it automatically gains the attention of the public. Companies like Netflix and Costco are renowned for its employeefriendly attitude and it definitely sends a positive message to your customers.
Advertising Sales are indeed what keep your business profitable. Your most ideal customers are those that come to purchase from you to support your brand and not just because they want a particular product. A company needs to identify who
their ideal customers are keeping on mind that they are the ones to bank on. A company has to get the message out clear of what they have to offer through sales by advertising via radio, TV ads, social media and even posters. Your ideal customers are they who believe in what you represent. Advertisement is your unofficial meeting with your ideal customers. Ideal customers are the ones you can bet the future of your company with.
Gaining Trust When you advertise the message should not only be about the product and that the customer needs to purchase it just for the sake of it. The message should be you have a product that is suited for your customer; that which is designed by understanding the need of the customer. They should understand that you are beyond some logo
Moreover brand from Kerala have also flourished globally. However the biggest advertising strategy in Kerala still is making ads and campaigns with celebrities, he feels. Mr Vinay Kumar is also of the opinion that opportunities for ad makers have also increased and there are so many young creative minds in Kerala who are getting recognition nationally. He says that the Corporate social
Advertising industry is going to grow each year with more and more companies ready to invest loads of money.
or name or more than just some business enterprise. Their trust should be won by pinpointing that you are selling a product specifically for that customer. In order to do that you need to find who are your targeted customers.
Branding and Advertising in Kerala Branding and Advertising in Kerala has changed significantly in the last decade says the expert, T. Vinay Kumar, Zone President, Kerala Advertising Agencies Association . Mr. Kumar is also Secretary of Pepper Creative Awards Trust and Secretary of Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), Kerala Chapter. According to him Kerala has so many national and international bands that have taken the advertising to the biggest level.
responsibility (CSR) has influenced brands to advertise through social campaigns. Advertising with a social cause is always a welcoming sight. Advertising industry is going to grow each year with more and more companies ready to invest loads of money. Social media has also made a huge impact on advertising. Social media has taken away all the limitations that other media possess. The length of your advertising doesn’t matter when you are making an online ad. Money spend for advertising is also far lesser when it is through social media. There are more and more advertising strategies coming up each year globally and Kerala is quickly adopting these strategies with the presence of multinational brands in the state, says Vinay Kumar 4
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FWD events
A Grandiose
Beginning
FWD Business Magazine’s Launch in Crowne Plaza, Kochi, was an event that would stay in the memories of the ladies and gentleman who attended the party as an everlasting impression. The guest list included famed names like Nikki Galrani, Rajisha Vijayan, Vijay Yesudas, Sanju Sivaram, Nikhil Menon and FWD’s well-wishers and close friends. The cover which had K. Mahesh Kumar, Business Head & CEO, TVS-Renault, South India was unveiled by Nikki Galrani.
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FWD events
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FWD tips
mall management Mall management has been recognized as the essential ingredient of success for the retail sector around the world. it is time the malls in kerala gave a look into it. Text: FWD Business Desk all management has been identified as a critical factor for the success of malls and the retail industry across the world. It is one of the most vital things that all malls should undertake to have a bright future. Currently, not all the malls in Kerala have designated mall management firms. Large real estate developers like Globally, mall management broadly includes: positioning a mall, zoning – formulating the right tenant mix and its placement in a mall, promotions and marketing, facility management and finance management.
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particular mall. The outlets should produce optimum sales, rents, service to the community and should match finance ability of the shopping mall venture. Zoning refers to the division of mall space into zones for the placement of various retailers. This is not as easy as it sounds. The behavior pattern of different age group and how they consume are all different. Zoning has to be done appropriately to suit them all. How the mall is zoned with the placement of retailers of various goods/services will depend on the success of the mall. A mall is dependent on the success of its tenants, which translates to the financial feasibility of the tenant in the mall.
Positioning a Mall
Positioning a mall refers to defining the category of services offered based on demographics of the region, psychographics of the area, income level of the natives, competition in neighboring areas and extensive market research of the catchment. For example, if the market research indicates that the average number of people living in a particular area belongs to the upper middleclass, then a high-end retail mall would suit that particular location. Zoning – Formulating the Right Tenant Mix and Its Placement in a Mall
Tenant mix refers to the combination of retail shops occupying space in a mall. A right tenant mix would be having the right outlets that sell the right products based on the needs of the consumers that come to the
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Promotions and Marketing
Promotional activities and events are an important part of mall management. Activities like food festivals, summer contests, exhibitions, special day celebrations and celebrity visits increase foot falls. Organizing cultural events has always proved vital in attracting consumers to a mall. Such activities may also act as a differentiator for a mall. Developers can work on drafting marketing strategies for individual malls to meet the needs of the local consumer base and the challenges of local, and in some cases, regional competitors. Facility Management
Facility management refers to the
integration of people, place, safety, maintenance, process and technology in a building. It also means optimal utilization of resources to meet organizational needs. It broadly includes infrastructure, ambience and traffic management. All the back stage props should not interfere with the overall appearance of the malls. Even a fire extinguisher can look odd if you don’t place it in a way that it doesn’t become an obstruction to the aesthetics of a mall. Most of the malls in Kerala have succeeded to accommodate huge parking facilities. Finance Management
Professional financial management of a mall is a must. Financial management of a mall involves monitoring and controlling of various issues such as cash receipts and collection of income including rentals, service charges, car park receipts, electricity and other utility income developing accounting systems to track the ageing of debts, payment delay patterns, bad debts and payment of all invoices and expenses developing standard financial templates so that a detailed annual property budget is prepared at time. Kerala has some of the best malls not only in the country, but in the world. Malayalis have showed tremendous interest whenever a new mall has come up. But they have been choosy and have encouraged only the best of the lot. The upcoming years will see many more malls in God’s own country. Kerala is indeed moving forward. One wishes to see more and more of these pleasant changes 4
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RNI Reg. No. KERENG /2012 /42759
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