A growing economy, rising rupee, swelling foreign exchange, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) boom and comparatively cheaper goods and services have made the consumer more self-confident and aggressive. Consumers are now buying big ticket products and services such as durable domestic utilities, houses, automobiles, travel, insurance, mutual funds, etc., with relative ease. Buyers are taking more risks today, thanks to growth in consumer finance and also income levels.
Intensive competition and wide choice of alternative products have made the consumers more demanding, leading to relentless price competition across a range of products, from airlines to fast moving consumer goods. A large number of malls, cash and carry wholesalers, super markets and hyper markets have come into existence in the last few years. And more investments (including foreign investments, where permissible) are in the pipeline. Traditional petrol pumps are transforming themselves into advanced all-inclusive retail environments with banks, fast food joints and super markets. Even towns are no exception to such changes. |
