| At a time when the retail sector in India is facing | | | | this segment are making increased investments to |
| perhaps its worst crisis, the book and stationery | | | | raise their production capacity and expand their |
| retailing industry are surprisingly still doing substantial | | | | network. |
| business. | | | | The book and stationery retailing industry is emerging |
| After witnessing a smooth sail for the past few | | | | as a recession-proof segment in India as growth |
| years, most retail segments have seen a downward | | | | continues to remain largely unaffected. Leading book |
| trend in the second half of 2008. This drop is largely | | | | retailers in the country like Landmark, Starmark, |
| due to lower consumer spending, funding constraints | | | | Crossword, Oxford Bookstore, RPG Retail’s |
| and intensifying economic conditions. | | | | Books & Beyond and Linc Pens and Plastics |
| However, this does not hold true for book and | | | | Limited as well as small stationery retailers are |
| stationery retailers who continued to deliver | | | | witnessing a rapid revival in offtake after a brief |
| consistent performance inspite of the declining | | | | period of slump. |
| economic conditions. | | | | Having witnessed a steady demand, this segment is |
| While consumer durables and lifestyle brands suffered | | | | optimistic about its business prospects in the coming |
| heavy losses due to the economic downturn, the | | | | years. |
| demand and sale of books and stationery items have | | | | However, to maintain their growth momentum and |
| suffered only a marginal impact. | | | | sustain healthy margins in the coming days, book and |
| Sales and revenue growth of small and mid-sized | | | | stationery retailing industry should focus on |
| book and stationery item retailers have fallen by a | | | | manufacturing more sophisticated, design-oriented |
| mere 15% to 20%, which is much lower in | | | | and high-quality products. |
| comparison to the sharp growth fall witnessed by | | | | Besides stepping up their export basket, stationery |
| other retail segments like apparel and footwear retail. | | | | retailers should also focus on expanding in emerging |
| Furthermore, inspite of the tough economic scenario, | | | | markets of Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa among |
| the Indian book and stationery retailers are | | | | others. |
| proceeding with their expansion plans. Companies in | | | | |