Whether we accept it or not, the human race is conducting the most dangerous experiment in the history of the planet – determining how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can hold before a catastrophic environmental meltdown!

Climate change has been a very debated topic for decades now, but as the heat of the planet is being turned up (by​​about 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit in just 2021), the heat in the debate is cooling off. There is comprehensive scientific evidence now to show that climate change is a brutal reality and that it is tampering with major earth systems – ocean currents, wind patterns, reefs, water levels and icesheets.

 Maldives – Facing Dire Sea Level Rise Threat

Look no further than India’s southern neighbour, Maldives, which is diverting cash from tourism to purchase land in an increasingly likely scenario of rising sea levels submerging the low-lying country. The frequency of extreme weather events – floods, droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes – is on the rise.

For instance, though the amount of rainfall that India receives annually has remained almost the same for the last two decades, the volatility in its distribution, intensity and timing has increased manifold. This has caused havoc in sowing and harvesting crops which in turn has made food and clothing much costlier. It has also led to displacement and loss of lives. In other words, climate change has ceased to be just a ‘macro problem’ to be ‘discussed and debated’ and has started affecting individual lives at social, economic and personal levels too.

Two-Pronged Effort Needed

A critical problem affecting both the macro and micro levels require solutions at the global and individual levels. Decarbonising the world food system and making it robust is important and requires emergency policy decisions at national and international levels, no doubt. But it also needs individual participation to consciously move away from meat and dairy products.

Phasing out fossil fuels to reduce the global carbon footprint has to definitely supersede geopolitical and profiteering interests. However, it also begs us to make changes to move into a simpler and more natural lifestyle. Changing land-use patterns and saving virgin forest lands require international cooperation to ensure countries that serve as lungs for the earth do not lose out on economic growth due to that. But it also calls for us to educate our children, the future denizens of the planet, to place larger interests above individual ones. As the Dalai Lama eclectically puts it – Be Selfish; Therefore, Be Selfless.

 It’s Time to Bring Change

Change is the only changeless constant in the world, and it always seems difficult. And so, making a ‘climate-change’ change feels like an uphill task. But it all begins with our perspective and attitude. Knowing that we are in it together – whether I am an eskimo in Iceland, an aboriginal in Australia, a tribesman in Africa or a global citizen – is a great unifying factor that goes beyond geographical, religious and racial boundaries. 

Remember, whatever it is that you do, it makes a difference to the planet. But that difference has to be a positive one.

The budget 2022–2023 is reshaping the furniture industry of India with infrastructure upgrades, exemptions, and investments.

The furniture industry was expecting a lot from the budget 2022–2023 for its growth and to make the industry more competitive. The budget announced on 31st January, 2022 met their expectations up to a great extent. Various initiatives, investments, revisions in duty, and tariff rates will make room for massive opportunities in the retail sector this year.

Let’s take a look at the budget 2022–2023 highlights that will impact the furniture industry.

Budget 2022 Impact On The Furniture Industry

Infrastructure Upgrade

PM GatiShakti initiative focuses on infrastructure upgrades. It includes the development of Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure for economic transformation, seamless multimodal connectivity, and logistics efficiency. The government has announced to invest INR 100 lakh-crore in PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. It incorporates the development of a digital platform to bring 16 Ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

The up-gradation of the infrastructure under the PM GatiShakti initiative will make a positive impact on the furniture industry. Better connectivity throughout the country will boost transportation, making it fast, robust, and affordable. Better transportation will result in a price drop on the products and services offered by the retail industry. The main impact will be on small and medium enterprises. And the end-users as well.

Duty Exemption

In the year 2022–2023, 350 customs duty exemptions have been withdrawn to boost domestic manufacturing. A 7.5 percent tariff is applied on duty on capital goods and project imports to promote ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The exemptions are removed from the products that are or can be manufactured in India and concessional duties are provided on raw materials that go into the manufacturing of advanced machinery that is not manufactured within the country.

The reduced customs duties on raw materials and intermediaries will support the domestic manufacturing of capital equipment and hence the small companies that want to manufacture in India. This will make the Indian furniture market more competitive which will lead to massive growth in the retail industry.

Export Incentives

Exemptions are provided on various items including embellishment, trimming, fasteners, buttons, zipper, lining material, specified leather, furniture fittings, and packaging boxes to help Indian industries secure foreign markets. 

Furniture export is a developing segment in India. The exemptions will boost the growth of furniture export businesses and help the country to recover from the impact of covid-19 on the economy.

Investment In The Furniture Industry

To push flat private investment levels and demand in the coming financial year, the government has increased the capital expenditure by over 35.4 percent from INR 5.54 lakh crore in 2021–2022 to INR 7.50 lakh crore in 2022–23. The expenditure has increased more than 2.2 times from the budget 2019–20 and constitutes about 2.9 percent of the country’s GDP.

It will encourage private and public investments in the country, overcoming the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The retail sector of India has a lot of potential to attract FDI. The massive investment from the government will accelerate the virtuous cycle of investments and growth.

A satisfied customer is a happy one, and a happy customer is loyal too. 

We believe customer satisfaction is the building block of any business. It is a long-term investment to keep the business thriving. That’s why we keep customer satisfaction as the topmost priority in our sales strategies.

But it’s not just our belief. A lot of studies and surveys show the importance of customer satisfaction too. Let’s find out.

Important Statistics About Customer Satisfaction

•   59% of loyal customers will leave the company after several unsatisfactory experiences.
•   17% of customers won’t come back again after a bad customer experience.
•   69% of customers recommend the business after a satisfactory customer experience.
•   50% of customers are more likely to become loyal customers after one satisfactory experience with the business.
•   The probability of converting a new customer ranges between 5–20% while selling to an existing customer ranges between 60–70%

Five Reasons Why Customer Satisfaction Means A Lot To Us

1. Customer Loyalty: When a customer is treated with respect combined with a wonderful shopping experience, they are more likely to purchase from the same business again and again. Keeping customer satisfaction the main component of our business marketing strategy at Autumnwood, we have managed to gain plenty of loyal customers.

1. Competition Differentiator: 81% of marketers believe customer satisfaction is a key competitive differentiator. A business with a lot of satisfied customers will thrive in the market, whereas low levels of customer satisfaction will result in a massive decline in sales despite expensive marketing campaigns and promotions. At Autumnwood, we have created a reputable image in the market with our exceptional customer service. 

1. Brand Ambassadors: A happy customer doesn’t keep things to himself, the same goes with unhappy ones. They will tell their friends or post it on social media about their experiences. With wonderful customer relations and after-sales services, our customers became an ambassador for our business. We attracted plenty of new customers solely based on their recommendations. 

1. Healthy Sales Revenue: For steady sales growth, every business needs a steady flow of customers. Customer satisfaction has always helped us in keeping our sales revenue high as always. Even in times of crisis, our customers became our support pillars and helped us keep our business up and running.

1. Gives Us Room For Improvement: Businesses conduct a lot of studies and surveys, but only a handful of their customers want to become a part of it. Why? Why would they, what’s in it for them? 

Due to multiple satisfactory experiences with our business, our customers believe helping us with surveys will, in turn, result in better future experiences. This helps us with finding our weak points and keeping marketing expenses low. 

Why Customer Satisfaction Is An Essential Factor For The Growth Of Any Business?

Every business stands on a foundation of business and customer relations. If your business doesn’t care about the customers, they will not care about your business too. And it’s not happy news when the market is filled with numerous competitors trying their best to build their customers list. Unsatisfied customers not only hinder your business growth but can also take your business to rock bottom. 

That’s why, Autumnwood always focuses on keeping the customers happy and strives hard to make customer experience a class apart.

In the wake of the news that the first few cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant have, inevitably, been found in India, there has already been a lot of anxiety in people. But one thing is sure that there are a lot of mutations, which may be more contagious than the last variant.  

With this saying, it becomes crucial for retailers to make every effort to take strict preventive measures towards what’s coming in. Retail stores must focus on employee and customer safety, as people have returned to a drastically altered world.

Customers are often concerned about store security and 62% believe that they would like social distancing procedures while shopping. Retailers must take care of these aspects by putting health and store safety first. One of the basic methods for improving store safety is to follow the government set protocols. Here are some preventive measures that retailers can take to prepare themselves for the next variant, Omicron.  

1. Keep track of the staff’s health: This is very crucial. To keep track of staff’s health, set up temperature checks and on-site testing. Ensure that they are fully vaccinated.
2. Daily Store Cleaning: This includes daily deep and thorough cleaning operations as well as the placement of hand sanitizing stations near checkout counters and at the store’s entrance. Businesses must ensure that they have a sufficient supply of cleaning supplies. Cleaning checklists and protocols can be made for the staff to follow.
3. Permit limited people to enter the store: Retail outlets can ensure permitting limited customers inside the store at any given point of time and also ensure that they are fully vaccinated.
4. Follow social distancing: The store must support social distancing, which is one of the best ways to reduce interaction and improve store safety measures. One-way traffic systems, barriers near checkout areas, and signage that emphasizes the significance of social distancing can all serve to reduce risk and increase trust.
5. Working environment: Make sure your employees are working in a safe setting. Protective screens can be installed in your manned checkouts to eliminate the risk of checkout personnel coming in touch with consumers. By increasing disinfection processes, the work environment can be made a safer place.
6. Make some changes for complete security: Retail stores can never be too cautious when it comes to shop security. While the immediate safety of customers and employees is the top priority, protective measures such as improved shift scheduling and increased contactless participation can help stores to prepare for the future.
7. Security Credentials: Use in-store methods to protect your customers at all times, such as enhancing disinfection routines, adding hygiene signage, and so on. Customers and staff can disinfect their hands and any equipment they use with sanitizers before and after.  So, in any place, sanitizers with instructions are more vital to be a part of security.

The new variant Omicron is presenting a unique set of challenges that emphasizes the value of community, cooperation, and retail trust. In these situations, retail stores can always rely on safe practices and precautionary methods towards delivering an excellent and healthy shopping experience.

Latest Trends are always the best friends of marketers. With a wise marketing strategy and optimal trend following, the sales can shoot up with minimal effort. Though, it takes a keen eye and experience to predict marketing trends. But don’t sweat it, we are here to help.

Trends come and go, but some of them can be seen from a mile away. With data from retail market studies and analysis, we created a list of exclusive trends that will shape sales in 2022 and beyond.

Without further ado, let’s jump to the list of three exclusive retail trends to follow in 2022.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

The concept of AI is not new but its use in retail marketing has increased dynamically in recent times. The key thing to keep in mind is AI is not limited to online marketing. You can use the latest technology such as augmented reality and virtual reality to create a personalized shopping experience in stores too.

How to apply?

Let’s suppose you own a furniture store, you can use AR via a smartphone to let the buyers see how the furniture will look in their own space. This will ease out the imagination part and make the buying process fun and fast.

Micro-Influencer Marketing

Influencers have been a part of the market for a long time now, as they create an impact on a large audience. A micro-influencer has a modest following of 1K to 100K, considerably less than a typical celebrity, but the key highlight is that they have a hyper-engaged audience. Their followers trust them and are more likely to follow their advice.

The second thing to take note of is videos, which are more popular than any other form of media. Whether we talk about Instagram reels, Facebook live streams, or YouTube shots, short videos are in trend now. So, to reach a bigger audience, go for short videos with creative and quality content.

How to apply?

Let’s suppose you own a jewellery store, you can approach a micro-influencer who makes relevant content. With a team effort, they can create short videos interacting with your jewellery and sharing useful information such as what to wear with what, how to purchase jewellery, etc.

Experiential Retail

In a world full of consumer brands, customers are constantly looking for something unique. That’s where experiential retail jumps in. All you have to do is blend your product qualities and your brand values with an interesting and interactive approach.

How to apply?

Let’s suppose you own an apparel store, you can create different themes for different clothing sections. Let’s take an example of beachwear clothes. This section can come to life with a bit of sand, suitable wallpapers, fans for wind effect, and complimentary drinks. It will make your store a unique spot for apparel shopping, increasing the number of shoppers subsequently.

Now that you know what trends to follow and how to do it, get down to work and skyrocket sales in the upcoming year.

Marketing strategies change over time, but the pandemic has given a whole new direction to them. It has created a brand-new mould in which every business has to fit in to succeed in the upcoming times. 

Till now, the marketing world is mainly driven by creative branding campaigns through multi-channel marketing. But the pandemic has shifted the limelight from the brands to the consumers. It’s more about what value you offer than the product.

With the help of many researchers, studies, and data from all over the world, we have found the three pillars of marketing that will hold the marketing house post-pandemic.

The three pillars of marketing 

Digitalization: Master the digital world

It’s high time to shake hands with the tech world. The slow rise in technology has taken a rapid turn during the pandemic. Now the whole world is online, affecting not only the consumers but also companies working culture. From learning to working, creating to developing, production to marketing, virtuality is the new reality.

Digitalization is not a choice anymore but the need of the hour. Not only branding through every online channel is essential, but you should also be able to build a real connection with your customers virtually. Adapting to advance tech tools, making a strong virtual image, and creating an interactive on-screen experience will surely give you an advantage over your competitors.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you start underestimating the power of real-time consumer experiences. Your new marketing strategy should be a perfect blend of virtual and reality.

Personalization: Know your customers better than anyone else

As digitalization skyrockets, data-driven marketing is touching new heights. Now it’s not only about who visits your website or engages with your content, but it’s also about who can and who will be willing to. You have to find out, what your potential customers need, and what drives them to make the final purchase.

Targeting customers based on their age and gender are all in the past. Creating a personal relationship, a human connection is all that you need right now. You have to start taking notes of their situations, values, purchasing behaviour, etc. Everything from their psychographics to their attitudinal characteristics.

Health and environment: Everything breaks down into health and wellness

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for all to strengthen the roots of their health and environment. Routines such as exercise, healthy eating, and meditation are resurfacing after the pandemic. Believe it or not, this affects every business sector out there, whether they are related to healthcare or not.

As consumers’ concern about their and environmental health increases, they are more drawn in the favour of eco-friendly businesses. The priority shift leads to a massive rise in healthcare and green businesses. Now, every business has to become a health business, which in a way or another enhances their customer’s health.

You don’t have to turn everything upside down rather give a new shape to your approach. Build every marketing strategy on the foundation of these three pillars and you are all set for the new normal.

Waves of happiness spread across all over India when Bhavinaben Patel bagged the silver medal in para table tennis, opening the account for India with her massive win. And this was just the beginning. Tokyo Paralympics 2020

After the incredible performance of Indian Olympians in the 2020 Summer Olympics, it was time for Indian Paralympians to steal the limelight. India was expecting as many as 15 medals in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. But the reality surpassed the expectation when India witnessed the record-breaking score of 19 medals on the overall tally, taking our National Flag high up to the 24th spot.

The sound of our Indian National Anthem became even more prominent when it was played for the 5th time in the Paralympic Games 2020, as we received five gold medals. Complimenting the gold, we got eight silver and six bronze medals too. This year, India had sent its largest-ever contingent of 54 magnificent athletes to Tokyo and they got us the biggest win ever. Our last highest was 4 medals. That’s the reason this victory is five times bigger than the last one.

We bagged 8 medals in athletics, 5 in shooting, 4 in badminton, 1 in archery, and 1 in table tennis. Let’s get familiar with our champions.

• Sumit Antil– Breaking the world record of 66.18m three times, he received the gold medal in Men’s Javelin Throw F64, India’s only gold medal in Athletics.
• Pramod Bhagat– He marked India’s name on the gold medal in the Men’s Singles SL3 sports class in Badminton.
• Krishna Nagar– Another Badminton champion who received the gold medal for India in Men’s Singles SH6 with his remarkable performance.
• Manish Narwal– This shooting star from India got himself the gold medal in P4 - Mixed 50m Pistol SH1.
• Avani Lekhara– She bagged two medals for India in the shooting. A gold medal in R2 - Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 and a bronze medal in R8 - Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1.
• Singhraj Adhana– Another double winner from India in Shooting. He received a silver medal in P4 - Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 and bronze in P1 - Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1.
• Yogesh Kathuniya– He received the silver medal in Men’s Discus Throw - F56 by giving a standing ovation performance from his wheelchair.
• Nishad Kumar– He won the silver medal in his first-ever Paralympics in Men’s High Jump - T47.
• Mariyappan Thangavelu– The Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awardee got the silver medal in Men’s High Jump - T63.
• Praveen Kumar– This youngest Indian Paralympian bagged the silver medal in Men’s High Jump - T64.
• Devendra Jhajharia– He became the first Indian to medal at three different Paralympic Games by winning the silver medal in Men’s Javelin Throw - F46.
• Suhas Yathiraj– Another silver came in Badminton with Suhas’s wonderful performance in Men’s Singles SL4.
• Bhavina Patel– Defeating the world’s top players, she won a silver medal in Women’s Singles - Class 4 in Table Tennis.
• Harvinder Singh– With his bronze medal in Men’s Individual Recurve Open, he became the first archer from India to win a medal at the Paralympics.
• Sharad Kumar– The former world no. 1 won a bronze medal in Men’s High Jump - T63.
• Manoj Sarkar– The current World no.1 Para-badminton player in the SL-3 Classification bagged a bronze medal in the 2020 Paralympics.
• Sundar Singh Gurjar– His performance was beautiful as his name; he received the bronze medal in Men’s Javelin Throw - F46.

Great competition, sporty spirit, and victories, Paralympics was a true celebration. As the Paralympics flame came to rest, Indian Paralympians made their way back home with record-breaking victories to celebrate.

Marketing isn’t only about the brand, but also about its consumers. To run a successful marketing campaign understanding your target audience’s current mood, natural behavior, and need of the hour is a must.

After the current state of the economy, the weather has the second biggest influence on consumer behavior. Only a one-degree rise in temperature can increase the sales by 2% in soft drinks, 24% in air conditioners, 11% in sun care products, and 2.5% in men’s shorts, to name a few. Whereas one-degree drop in temperature can elevate the sales by 2% of Soup, 3% of jackets, 5000 units of lip care, and so on. Popularly known as the ‘Profit of One Degree’, the weather has a huge impact on nearly every industry.

The good news is, you can use real-time weather data to create your next marketing campaign for guaranteed whopping success. There are multiple ways of using weather-based marketing. With these below-mentioned ways, you can take advantage of the ever-changing weather.

1. Traditional Marketing

Run weather-based advertisements on print, television, and place billboards in high-traffic physical locations. For example- “Looks like a great weekend for a hike! + a promotional discount on hiking boots.”

2. Digital Marketing

Create content driven by the daily forecast. You can stream a weather-related video series or send weather-centric promotional emails. Use various social media platforms and search engine marketing to promote your brand and make your audience engage with your content.

3. Event Marketing

Events are not just for holidays. Plan a springtime event on a warm and breezy day offering free drinks and exclusive in-store coupons on your products.

4. Informative Marketing

Use weather forecasts for spreading information as well as brand awareness. For example- “It’s going to be wet, make sure your bag is packed with a raincoat. Buy now!”+ [customized forecast]

5. Persuasive Marketing

We all know weather influences the mood and purchasing behaviour of a potential buyer. Display advertisements reflecting the consumer’s mind frame. For example- “Miserable, isn’t it? Imagine your perfect holiday, Book it now!”

Points to keep in mind when running a weather-based marketing campaign:

• Run weather analytics not only on sales data, but also on campaign data.
• Use all three, past, present, and future weather data for better short-term marketing.
• Use negative advertising on dark and gloomy days. Since bad weather triggers a negative mood.
• Use positive advertising on warm and sunny days. Since exposure to sunlight increases our willingness to spend money and level of consumption.
• Analyse the perfect time to run the advertisements by studying the campaign data. Since the timing of the advertisement plays a crucial role.
• Give limited-time online coupons or free shipping on rainy days and heavy in-store discounts on warm days. Since weather also influences the channel the consumer uses to make the purchase.

And most importantly, you need the right fixtures and furniture in your retail store, because they are an integral part of a brand’s identity and storytelling. Weather-based marketing is not only a big trend but also the need of the hour, and this can be achieved only with the right fixtures and furniture. Whether you want to tell a story about how weather can change your shopping requirement or you want to showcase a new discount story on certain products, you need the perfect blend of the right interiors, fixtures, colors, lights and so much more, along with keeping your weather eye on. Do you Agree to Agree?

Have you ever pondered why certain businesses manage to be in the limelight and steal more attention than others? Constant highlighting of the brand impression is one of the main attributes along with others. What such businesses would be doing at the moment is to find ways to make hay while the sun shines. Retailtainment fixture manufacturers in india

Retailtainment is that silver lining on those dark clouds which can help you make that hay while the sun has begun to shine with the stores slowly beginning to open up now. As the name suggests, it is a combination of retail and entertainment. Founded by an American Sociologist, George Ritzer, retailtainment is the ultimate plan for retailers in the modern world. He defined it as “the use of ambience, right setup in the interiors, emotions, sound and activity to get customers interested in the merchandise.” It is an art to grab your customer’s attention in a public space.

The global pandemic in 2020 affected retailers all around the world as people were more inclined toward online shopping. It is during this post-pandemic time, when retailers can bounce back and take advantage of retailtainment if employed strategically. As people are now heading out for some fresh air, store shopping and more, there are greater chances of  retail stores doing better. But how can you apply it fruitfully? Let’s check it out!

Digital Signage: Advanced marketing has led to the introduction of digital signage that employs the concept of infotainment effectively for grabbing customer’s attention. All it requires is an LCD or LED screen that is easily visible to the masses. The 4K ultra high definition video of your brand or a specific product with attractive bright colours is sure to catch people’s eye, leading them to stop and take a look at the video. 

Type Of Content: Different types of content can be used to fulfil your purpose. Depending on your brand and reputation, you can choose static text, still graphics, floating text, pre-recorded videos, or live-streamed videos to get your audience engaged in the store. For instance, a recent football match video in a sports shop got people hooked onto it and the store ended up selling more merchandise than they expected. 

Target The Senses: The father of retailtainment had said- Use the customer’s senses to attract someone’s attention. Let us understand this better. A store selling a range of products wants its customers to spend as much time there as possible. Targeting their senses can be helpful here like attractive visual display of the items in the store, playing engaging music in the store, playing a video of a new product like perfume. Here, giving a free trial or a sample can be the icing on the cake. Experiencing the product is a step further in selling strategy. 

This is just one aspect of retailtainment. All of this will go null if one does not have a proper setup, the right fixtures to display your products, intriguing interiors or a properly designed shopping space. The visual appearance of your store creates a huge impact on a customer’s mind. Personalized design, high-quality interior solutions, and commercial furniture can help you take the entire look of your store to the next level. The Future of Retail Market in the Covid-19 World

Iron Man is to the Avengers, what Retailtainment is to retailers. Offline shopping is back in trend. The long forced imprisonment indoors due to the pandemic has made people crave to go out, try dresses and accessories, feel products and engage with people rather than idling on the sofa and ordering online. It’s time to get the business going with refurbished interiors, digital signage, and innovative content for marketing.

Be Futuristic, Engage Retailtainment.