India's steady economic growth has been the center of discussions and forecasts by economists and researchers across the globe. The hope, of course, is that India will fulfill the Goldman Sachs 2003 prophesy of being "Larger than all but the US and China in 30 years". The rapid growth in the retail sector can be compared with that of "product life cycle" in terms of competitiveness. This article focuses on the brand strategies that must be engineered into the marketing matrix addressing distinct components of brand value. It also analyzes the most Indian retailers' initiatives like giving a lot of emphasis on differentiation, international look and feel, and the use of store design to improve their brand positioning, which ultimately result in the changing landscape of retail sector in India.

India is on the brink of taking its place in the world of nations. Its steady economic growth has been center of discussions and forecasts by economists and researchers across the globe. Today, we have reached a position where a growth of 7% is taken for granted. And the question being asked iswhen are we going to reach 9% or 10%? The dividends gained at the technological frontier have spilled over into other sectors and this has probably been on India's biggest milestone on its road to economic growth.

The hope, of course, is that India will fulfill the Goldman Sachs 2003 prophesy of being "Larger than all but the US and China in 30 yearHowever, in India, retail trade remains in the backward state, but at the same time, is poised to experience a rapid growth in tandem with the economic growth.

India's $350-400 bn retail market$7.5 bn organized retailis growing at about 25-30% annually against economic growth of around 8% a year. Retailing in India, which contributes around 12%of the country's GDP and employs more than 4 crore people, is showing sign of bigger and better growth. A recent AT Kearney annual global retail development index has also ranked India at the top of the most promising consumer markets in the world and accorded "peak attractiveness" status to it.

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