As technology and consumers evolve, the retail sector is racing

against time to keep pace. The industry, today, is all about innovations

– innovating in a way that consumers convert into loyalists. Retail

and technology go hand in hand, retail dependent on technology so

completely that success without it in the fi eld is a tough target to achieve.

And the key to all innovation leading to great consumer experience –

personalisation. Personalisation refers to customising the experience

of buying to the very last detail for the benefi t of the shoppers, keeping

every demand and requirement in mind, serving them exactly what they

want, in the colours, sizes and portions they require. As the boundary

between offl ine and online commerce disappears as retailers focus on

fulfi lling the personalised needs of each customer, a fresh version of retail

is taking place, a retail which is far beyond the scope of Omnichannel

and Phygital. It is ‘New Retail’ and this is the concept the May edition of

IMAGES Retail explores in its lead story. ‘New Retail’ is a concept coined

by retailer extraordinaire, Jack Ma, Alibaba’s Founder. The concept works

on the theory that no two physical consumers are the same and that the

physical world will become a real-time manifestation of users’ implicit

as well as explicit commercial desires – in simpler terms, the supreme

integration of offl ine and online commerce leading to extraordinary

consumer experiences. Ma says, New Retail will transform the industry

beyond imagination.

The issue talks about how New Retail works, with case studies and

how the Indian market can adapt it in its context. The edition also brings

an exclusive feature on the foodservice industry, which is fast changing

and getting more and more competitive by the day. The feature highlights

expert opinions and views from both technical and investment angles.

Finally, the edition continues to brings readers a round-up of India

Fashion Forum 2019, which was held on March 27 and 28 in Mumbai.

Check out some notable insights and analyses from the thinkers and

futurists of the Indian Fashion Retail industry who attended it in large

numbers.

As always, we hope you fi nd this issue informed and benefi cial.