Infants and kidswear retailer PB Retail has ventured into cash and carry format by opening a My Mart store in Palam, Dwarka. Spread over 12, 000 sq.ft. and claimed as the largest among all its stores, the new outlet stocks apparel, footwear, fashion accessories, personal care products, bath accessories, baby gear, and stationary. This is the retailer’s third store in Dwarka, Delhi.
According to the company officials, this is also the first non air-conditioned store to cut down per sq.ft. maintenance cost in the area. It uses a traditional cooling process with over 700 fans spread across two floors. The marble flooring has been replaced by vinyl flooring to cut down the operation and maintenance cost of the store.
Speaking on the occasion, Pawan Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, PB Retail, said: “Aiming to give benefit to our potential customers involved in cash and carry business, we have tried to cut down the operational cost in the area, so that they can be directly benefited. Usually, the operational cost varies from Rs 12 -15 thousand per sq.ft. This time we have replaced costlier air conditioner cooling mechanism with a traditional way of cooling system, which is as effective as air conditioners but much economical, thereby reducing the maintenance cost to Rs 800 per sq.ft. This will help us to reduce the relative cost of the products for the wholesale retailers. This is our first budget store in cash and carry format.”
Agarwal added that the products will be 8-10 percent economical than what is available in the market. The retailer plans to enter the northern region starting with Uttar Pradesh. “By the end of this financial year we plan to open 8-10 more stores in Delhi-NCR and UP,” he said.
My Mart now has six stores; four in Delhi and two in NCR.
