History

The first Big Bazaar store, with an area of about 24,000 square feet, opened on VIP Road, Kolkata in August 2001. This was followed by stores in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon. The initial categories on offer were apparel, general merchandise and food. Later, several brands from categories like electronics, furniture, music, communications and books were added to the bouquet of products. Big Bazaar implemented SAP in 2005 to run its stores in the most efficient manner that technology could provide. With an increasing number of customers 26 SUPERBRANDS patronising its stores, it was time for Big Bazaar to reach out to them.To pay tribute and to tell them how much they were appreciated, Big Bazaar launched a co-branded credit card. In association with ICICI bank, the Big Bazaar-ICICI Bank credit card made its first appearance in May, 2002. As an extension of its customer relationship initiatives it also launched Shakti, a credit card for housewives, in February 2006. The card was unique, for it required no proof of income. Today the Big Bazaar-ICICI Bank co-branded card is one of the largest loyalty credit card programmes in the country. Big Bazaar is now an agglomeration of multiple, carefully chosen categories and brands. Within the store, Big Bazaar has created several sub categories: Depot is its books and music section; Staples offers office stationery products while Star & Sitara is a beauty salon. Future Money provides consumer credit for products purchased within Big Bazaar.

Market
The retail industry is one of the biggest money spinners in the world, notching up US$ 6.60 trillion (Rs. 2.64 crore crore) in turnover (Source: Euromonitor Study). In India the sector is worth Rs. 720,000 crore (US$ 180 billion) growing at between 11% and 12% annually (Source: CII-McKinsey Report). Despite its massive size, the business is almost entirely controlled by the unorganised sector. While organised retail makes up 70% to 80% of all retail business in developed countries, in India it is pegged at a lowly 2% (Source: Crisil Report on Indias Retail Industry).This is by far the lowest in the world and even far below comparable countries in Asia. In China, organised retailing accounts for 20% of all business, while in Indonesia it is 25%, in Philippines 35%, in Thailand it is pegged at 40% and in Malaysia it is reputed to be 50% (Source: Euromonitor Study). Big Bazaar is credited with bringing organised mega retailing to India. The project was conceived as a uniquely Indian hypermarket in a format that combined the look, touch and feel of Indian bazaars with the comfort, convenience and quality that modern retailing brings. Launched in August 2001, Big Bazaar has now become the iconic destination of modern retailing for all sections of Indian consumers. There are 80 Big Bazaar stores in 45 cities including smaller towns like Sangli, Durgapur, Panipat, Palakkad, Ambala, Meerut, Kolhapur and Haldia. Attracting over 100 million customers every year, it has democratised shopping in India and

become synonymous with great promotions that offer quality products at affordable prices. Spread over anywhere between 30,000 square feet and 150,000 square feet of retail space, a typical Big Bazaar store offers over 160,000 products across categories like apparel, general merchandise, food, cosmetics, home needs, electronics, furniture, communications, books, music, gold and pearl jewellery and even value added services like consumer credit, beauty salons, gyms and travel services. On a typical weekend evening, a Big Bazaar store plays host to over 10,000 customers from moms along with their demanding kids to senior citizens with their grand children in tow. Built on an inclusive platform that welcomes consumers from all socio-economic strata, a visit to Big Bazaar is not only about shopping but also about spending quality time with the family.

Achievements
Big Bazaar is helping India make up lost time. It is currently in the midst of the fastest ever expansion of a hypermarket format anywhere in the world. From 30 stores in June 2006, Big Bazaar will be emblazoned on 120 new stores by June 2008. There could be several ways of measuring success of a retail chain. However, if figures were to be taken as the most authentic claim of having arrived, then Big Bazaar is already there. For more than 100 million people who walk past its billing counters, each year, it is now the preferred shopping destination. From Panipat to Pallakad, Big Bazaars tagline, Is se sasta aur accha kahin nahi is a source of cheer and happiness. This has been recognised by the numerous awards that Big Bazaar has won in the past twelve months. The brand has been adjudged

the Best Value Retail Store and Best Retail Destination at the Images Retail Forum for four consecutive years, beginning 2004. CNBC Awaaz, in association with ACNielsen-ORG Marg, which conducts a study across 21 major cities and some 10,000 consumers, on their most preferred brands, has voted overwhelmingly for Big Bazaar. Both in 2006 and 2007, Big Bazaar won the Consumer Award for the most preferred large, food and grocery store. It won the award for Value Retailing and Retail Destination of the Year by Reid & Taylor in 2006 and in the same year also won the Readers Digest Platinum Trusted Brand Award.

Recent Developments
Big Bazaar, a part of the Future Group, is currently driving a number of initiatives. Future Money, a credit facility is in an experimental stage in several outlets. Cleartrip for travel and tours and Talwalkars for gym and health club services have also been launched in many stores recently. With a view to bringing value to more people, Big Bazaar is taking its brand to Tier II and Tier III towns as well. Big Bazaar is also using the huge footfalls to its stores to test new concepts and ideas.The customer response this generates helps in refining a launch before a full fledged roll out.

Brand Values
Brand Big Bazaar stands for delivering value for money. Customer service and shopping comfort are at the core of Big Bazaars philosophy. Innovation and initiative define its brand character. It strives to reach out to its customers by imbibing the local flavour and melting into the local geography. Big Bazaar has recently launched a campaign titled Power of One. This initiative encourages customers to add One Rupee to their bill towards donation to a social cause. Big Bazaar makes an equal contribution and donates the entire proceeds to an NGO called Save the Children India. This is a selfless body which has been working for the welfare of children from marginalised sections of society. Big Bazaar has recently launched a corporate campaign which revolves around a family having a great time together. The brand anthem Khushiyon se Bhari Jholi connects with the customers at an emotional level positioning Big Bazaar as part of the happy moments.

Product
With a better understanding of consumer behaviour across various cultures and classes, Big Bazaar has put together a stunning range of over 160,000 SKUs. Private labels of Big Bazaar are among the largest apparel and fashion brands in the country. These include, DJ&C mens casual wear range and Knighthood mens formal wear range; Pink & Blue are exclusive garments designed for modern kids; Srishti, a label of ethnic wear for women; Haute N Spicy, fashionable western wear for teenage girls; Dreamline, a label that caters to an entire range of home linen, utensils and crockery and Dtachi, a luggage label that offers outstanding value for money. Big Bazaar has also tied up with a host of well-know brands which offer exclusive lines created especially for the store.These include Levis, Lee Cooper,Wrangler and Disney.

Promotion
Big Bazaar has been credited with some of the biggest consumer campaigns in the history of Indian retail. In celebration of Republic Day, Big Bazaar created a three-day shopping bonanza called Sabse Saste Teen Din. This has now become a national event that attracts millions of customers eager to benefit from the once-in-ayear smart deals. In January 2008, the three-day event generated sales worth over Rs. 240 crore (US$ 60 million) in 80 Big Bazaar stores. 15th August, Indias Independence Day is billed as the Maha Savings Day. So successful has this become that to cater to the rush Big Bazaar stores in many cities stay open till midnight. Wednesday Bazaar is the Hafte ka Sabse Sasta Din. It was initially created with the intent of decongesting weekends and driving footfalls on weekdays. As it transpired, most Big Bazaar stores now attract as many customers on Wednesdays as they do on weekends. A property that offers special benefits and privileges to senior citizens was built around Senior Citizens Day. Price Challenge was created to reinforce Big Bazaars value proposition of Is se sasta aur accha kahin nahi.The scheme simply offers twice the price difference should the cost of an item at a Big Bazaar store be found to be more than the market price.

Exchange was an innovative promotion launched by Big Bazaar in 2005 to provide customers an opportunity to get rid of their junk and in return shop for a wide range of products at a discount. In-store communications in Big Bazaar are unique and rather novel.To ensure that no one misses out on an opportunity to gain from special offers, service boys ferry around a trolley with the product inside, announcing the scheme. Not only is this entertaining it also helps customers pick up the product from the trolley instead of walking up to the rack where it is on display. To make sure that non-English speaking customers dont feel alienated the communication is also conducted in the local language.The communication is always unambiguous and direct.

Project Title
Consumer buying behavior while Shopping The study of any subject is made by examining it in an organized fashion. There are three classes of variables involved in understanding consumer behavior; STIMULUS, RESPONSE and INTERVENING variables. Stimulus variables, such as advertisements, products exist in both the individuals external environment. These generate a sensory input to consumers. Response variables are the resulting mental / or physical reactions of individuals who are influenced by stimulus variables. For e.g.: - purchasing a product or forming attitudes about it could be viewed as response variables. Many of the variables affecting consumers (such as personality, learning, and perceptions are external situations, motives, and so forth) cannot be directly observed. The project Consumer buying behavior while shopping. Is carried out under supervision and guidance of BIG BAZAAR. The project was about studying the consumer buying behavior. A questionnaire was prepared by us in order to conduct market survey. The questionnaire was based on different parameters to judge and understand the consumer behaviors and determine the best possible strategies which could be used to attract customers. The research carried out in this project was descriptive in nature. The study was aimed at knowing the various eating habits of a consumer.

This project helped in understanding what exactly a customer looks in an eating joint before entering it. It gave an idea about the essential factors that are required now a day for an eating joint to attract customers in this competitive world.

We were also given a task to understand the customer eating habits, what a consumer wants while eating in a restaurant what all a consumer look for and what are their expectations, how can a mall owner satisfy the needs and wants of a consumer so that the consumer may come back and the retailer can retain its consumer. This project helped us to figure out the different consumer eating behavior and to understand the overall customer perception of eating in a restaurant as well as their demand for mall. The trend today has been to combine shopping with various offering. For e.g. apart from shopping there are food courts, cinema theaters and even in some an amusement centre for children. Shopping has made people spend not just on their requirements of goods to be bought but to look on the totally of experience have a quick bite at McDonalds in the mall or let the kids play fun game while one is busy shopping or even taking the family out for movie and having a dinner all under one roof. The benefits of this totally offering are that many vendors get to have peoples patronize their offerings, while the Shopping experience i.e. being enhanced, more business got by the stores at the venue. Shopping is no longer a onetime agenda for people. Various options are opening up.

Big Bazaar

Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited, is Indias leading retailer that operates multiple retail formats in both the value and lifestyle segment of the Indian consumer market. Headquartered in Mumbai (Bombay), the company operates over 7 millions square feet of retail space, has over 1000 stores across 53 cities in India and employs over 25,000 people.

The companys leading formats include Pantaloons, a chain of fashion outlets, Big Bazaar, a uniquely Indian Hypermarket chain, food Bazaar, a supermarket chain, blends the look, touch and feel of Indian bazaars with aspects of modern retail like choice, convenience and quality and Central, a chain of seamless destination malls. Some of its other formats include, Depot, Shoe Factory, Brand Factory, Blue Sky, Fashion Station, all, Top 10, bazaar and Star and Sitara. The company also operates an online portal, futurebazaar.com. Big Bazaar is not just another hypermarket. It caters to every need of your family. Where Big Bazaar scores over other stores is its value for money proposition for the Indian customers. At Big Bazaar, you will definitely get the best products at the best prices thats what they guarantee. With the ever increasing array of private labels, it has opened the doors into the world of fashion and general merchandise including Home furnishings, utensils, crockery, cutlery, sports goods and much more at prices that will surprise you. And this is just the beginning. Big Bazaar plans to add much more to complete your shopping experience.

Future group

Future group is one of the countrys leading business groups present in retail, asset management, consumer finance, insurance, retail media, retail spaces and logistics. The groups flagship company, pantaloon Retail (India) Limited operates over 7 million square feet of retail space, has over 1000 stores of its

leading retail formats include, Pantaloon, Big Bazaar, Central, Food Bazaar, Home Town, Ozone, Depot, future Money and online retail format, futurebazaar.com.

Future group includes, Future Capital Holding, Future Generally India Indus league clothing and Galaxy Entertainment that manages sports Bar, Brew Bar and Bowling Co. Future Capital Holding, the group s financial arm, focuses on asset management and consumer credit. It manages assets worth over $1 billion that are being invested in developing retail real estate and consumer-related brands and hotels.

The groups joint venture partners include Italian insurance major, generally. French retailer ETAM group. Us-based stationery products retailers, Staples Inc. and UK-based Lee Cooper and India-based Talwalkars, Blue Foods and Liberty Shoes.

Future Groups vision is to, deliver Everything, Everywhere, Every time to every Indian consumer in the most profitable manner. The group considers as a core value and its corporate credo is- Rewrite rules, Retain values.

Theoretical Background

Retailing is the most active and attractive sector selling goods or services directly to final of the last decade. While the retailing industry consumers for personal, non business use itself has been present through history in our country, it is in the recent past it has witnessed so mush dynamism

Retailing one of the largest sectors in the global economy is going through a transition phase not only in India but the world over.

The study of any subject is made easier by examining it in an organized fashion. There are three classes of variables involved in understanding consumer behavior, stimulus, response and intervening variables. Stimulus variables, such as advertisement, products and hunger pangs exist in both the individuals external and internal environment. These generate sensory inputs to consumers. Responses variables are the resulting mental and/or physical reactions of individual who are influenced by stimulus variables. For ex: - purchasing a product or forming attitudes about it could be viewed as responses variables.

Many of the variables affecting consumer (such as personality, learning, and perceptions of external situations, motives, and so forth) cannot be directly observed therefore, those who want to learn about the variables affecting consumer must often make inference to determine the extent to which a given variable is having an influnce

The study of consumer behavior can also be quite complex, because of the many variables involved and their throw the variables, tendency to interact with and influence each other. Models of consumer behavior have been developed as a means of dealing. With this complexity. Models can help organize out thinking about consumers into a coherent into a coherent whole by identifying relevant variables, describing their basic characteristics, and specifying how the variables relate to each other.

Consumer decisions Process

This process consists of the decision process regarding products and services. The major steps in this process are shown as problem recognition, information search and evaluation, purchasing processes, and post purchase behavior. Problem recognition occurs when the consumer is activated by awareness of sufficient difference her actual affairs and her concept of the ideal situation. This can occurs through activation of a motive such as hunger, by confronting

some external stimulus such as an advertisement, or by being effected by additional variables such as social or situational influences.

Internal search a quick and largely unconscious review of memory for stored information and experiences regarding the problem. The information is in the form of belief and attitudes that have influenced the consumers preference towards bands. Often such a review results in recognizing a strong brand preference, and a routine purchase occurs. However if an internal search does not provide sufficient information about products, or how to evaluate them, the consumer continues with a more involved external search for information. This result exposure to numerous informational inputs called stimuli, which can arise from a variety of sources, including advertisement, printed products reviews, and comments from friends.

Any informational stimuli are subjected to information-processing activities, which the consumer uses to derive meaning from stimuli. The process Involves allocating attention to available stimuli deriving meaning form these stimuli and holding this meaning in what is termed in what is termed short term memory where it can be retained briefly to allow further processing.

Indian retail market scenario

The financial year 2005-06 saw India ride high on the waves of a booming economy. The BSE sensex scaled new heights by crossing the 1200 points mark early that year. The GDP growth for 2005-06 was about 8.4 % while foreign reserves had crossed the US$ 165 billion mark. India had shed its tag of a third world country and is being hailed as one of the most rapidly emerging markets and a popular investment destination.

Between the affluent and the middle class has reduced dramatically. The Indian middle class is expected to grow from its current share of 22 % to 32 % of the total population by 2010 over the last few years retail has become one of the fastest growing sector in the Indian economy. Retail in India is currently estimated to be a $230 billion industry of which organized retail 3 % or roughly $ 7 billion. At keamey has identified India as the leading retail destination in their annual list of most attractive countries for international retail expansion (Global retail development index 2006). Organized retail is expected to grow at the rate of 25-30% per annum and is projected to attain a size of $23 billion by 2010. The booming services sector in India has fueled the growth of a new class of consumer the single urban youth whose expenses are typically independent of family compulsion. As observed globally the steady climb in lifestyle and leisure goods is essentially due to disposable income of this class of consumers. Over the last one year salaries have increased by approximately 15-20%. The divide The government has allowed foreign direct investment in real estate since early 2005. This has led to increased foreign interest and has encouraged joint ventures between Indian and foreign developer. Considering the vast potential in the retail business 51% FDI in single brand retailing has also been allowed recently. This move is anticipated to attract foreign investment technology global best practices and cater to the demand for high quality branded goods in India.

Corollary to the real estate growth retail boom too has percolated to the tier-2 and tier-3 cities of India of the total 361 mail projects currently underway in India 227 are in the top 7 cities while the rest 134 are distributed over various tier-2 tier3 cities. These statistics reveal the far reaching effect of positive macro trends In changing the consumer preferences and shifting mindsets towards organized retail experience besides new malls close to 35 hypermarket 325 large department stores and over 10000 new outlets are also under development. Growth in rural population and increase in agricultural incomes also offers considerable scope for innovative retail formats.

Indias vast middle class and its virtually untapped retail industry are key attraction for global retail giants wanting to enter new markets. As India continues to get strongly integrated with global policies the retail sector is bound to grow manifold in the years to come. The depth of the Indian market and the variations of the consumer profile portend a bright future for the sustained growth of the Indian retail sector.

Current scenario

Pune has been experiencing a retail boom since the last 2-3 years in 2005 approximately 1.25 mm. sq. ft of new retail space was added to Pune real estate market. This led the current retail stock of the city to grow to 3.5 mm.sq ft growth in commercial activities and the migrant population of young white collar workers has been the key driver of real estate boom in the city.

With 23 mall projects in the pipeline the city was expected to have a cumulative retail slot of approximately 4.5 mn.sq ft by end 2006 and infusion of new retail space over the next two years the total retail stock in Pune by end 2008 is estimated to be about 8.7 mn sq ft.

The city has been witnessing an interesting trend of movie screens being located in large format mall developments. Another noticeable trend in the retail format is the advent of specialty mall or niche malls.

Centre locations The locations where retail developers have flourished traditionally are the high streets of M .G Road F C road and J. M. road in the central part of the city these markets have a unique mix of local brands along with national and international retailers both are known to generate substantial revenues along with heavy footfalls.

However the development of malls in the neighboring locations is anticipated to affect the footfalls of these traditional high streets. A case in point is the presence of magnum mall (175000 sq. ft.) In the camp area which has created a pull effect on the consumer stronghold of M. G. road.nucleus mall (200000 sq ft ) in camp which became operational in 2005 had shoppers stop take up space for its second outlet in the city. Another large scale project Pune central a mall by pantaloon retail on bund garden road has food bazaar as its anchor tenant and caters to the domestic needs of the bulk of the resident population of central Pune.

These retail market in the central location of the city currently house approximately 1.78 mn.sq.ft of retail stock a new mall fun n travel (100000 sq ft) has been planned in the bund garden region while two malls ascent (93654 sq ft) And one centre port (1240000 sq ft) are coming up on the university road. These developments are slated to enter the market sometime in 2007.

Suburban and peripheral location

While the retail markets in camp an bund garden road continue to mature retail sector activity is increasingly shifting to suburban and peripheral locations of Aundh, Hadpsar karve road kondhwa and yerwada note wothy mall development sudev axis (350000) will also be operational in 2007 this micro market is expected to witness a number of large scale mall developments amounting to approximately 2.3 mn sq ft of new retail space by 2008.

CONCLUSION

Consumers behavior is often studied because certain decisions are significantly affected by their behavior or expected actions. For this reason consumer behavior is said to be applied discipline. 1. In a general sense, the most important reason for studying consumer behavior is the significant role it plays in our lives. Much of our time is spent directly in the market place, eating or engaging in other activities. A large amount of additional time is spent thinking about products and services, talking to friends about them, and seeing or hearing advertisements about them. In addition, the goods people eat and the manner in which they use them significantly influence how they live their daily lives. These general concerns alone are enough to justify our study of consumer behavior. However, many seek to understand the behavior of consumers for what are thought to be more immediate and tangible reasons.

2. The main reason behind this project was to find out the behavior of the consumer buying behavior while shopping at mall because most of the population surveyed preferred to shop at malls and how day by day the consumers demands are increasing and through this project I came to know that what are the various behavior of a typical customer who shops at mall.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Customers are becoming price conscious they are having many options in the market considering the consumer buying behavior the malls and other shopping centers should take certain definite steps like retaining customers by giving those schemes discounts and better service.

The trend today has been to combine shopping with various offerings for ex in a mall apart from shopping a customer enjoys food courts and many others services which todays modem malls provide.

Shopping has made people spend not just on their requirements of goods to be bought but to look on the totality of the experience have a quick bite at Mc Donalds in the mall are let the kids play fun games while one is busy shopping or even taking the family out to movie and having a dinner ALL UNDER ONE ROOF

The benefits of this totality offering are that many vendors get to have people patronized their offerings while the shopping experience i.e. being enhanced more business is got by the stores at the venue. Shopping is no longer a onetime agenda for people. Various options are opening up.

During the analysis it was found that customers become loyal to few malls and department stores and visit them often as compared to other. Although it was found all of them keep approximately same kinds of brands and products and the same pleasing environment. All

this in mind we need to differentiate our mall from others in the city to build up our own set of customers. It was found that the major problem faced by the customers is the crowed at the cash counter. The life of todays generation has become very fast. They dont want to wait in a queue for a longer period. Thus we must provide more cash counters in our mall.

One advantage is that there is only one mall in the city that is magnum mall others are the department stores. So enhance it and make it better to make it different i.e. by having special attraction like body spa, Gym in the mall. There should be a provision for ATMs in the mall too.