RAI’s RISE 2025 Brings Retail Pioneers Together to Redefine Growth and Technology

Speaking about RISE 2025, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “Retail in North India has grown at a steady pace. Consumers have remained resilient and are spending with care. Across the region, technology is moving from trial to daily use — digital payments are now routine, inventory systems are getting smarter, and SaaS tools are streamlining store operations. Growth is expanding beyond metros, with cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Ludhiana and Dehradun emerging as active retail markets. The next phase will be defined by how well retailers, service providers, fintechs and logistics partners work together. Platforms like RISE play an important role in bringing these networks together to turn ideas into progress.”

Rajesh Jain, Chairman – RAI Delhi Chapter & MD, Lacoste India, said, “North India has always been a bellwether for Indian retail sentiment. The past year has shown that premium and bridge-to-luxury customers are becoming more value-conscious without compromising on experience. Retailers who’ve invested in design, service, and consistency are seeing the strongest loyalty. The real transformation is in how technology is invisible but indispensable: it helps us personalise at scale while keeping the essence of physical retail intact.”

Lalit Agarwal, MD, V-Mart Retail Ltd, commented, “The real story this year is the democratisation of aspiration. Tier 2 and 3 markets in North India are buying differently – not just more, but smarter. Retailers must rewire their operating models to serve this ‘mass premium’ customer who wants affordability without compromise. The next phase of growth will come from operational efficiency, inventory intelligence, and hyperlocal understanding, not just store expansion.”

Anupam Bansal, Director, Liberty Shoes Ltd., expressed, “Footwear retail is a mirror to the broader economy; it tells you how confident consumers feel. Over the past year, we’ve seen a shift toward functional fashion: comfort, sustainability, and durability are shaping purchase decisions. The modern Indian shopper is pragmatic; they want quality that lasts and brands that stand for something real. This is pushing retailers to move from transactional selling to relationship-based retailing.”

Speakers at RISE 2025 engaged in insightful discussions on key themes shaping the future of the retail sector. Customer-First Growth in a Tougher Market: Finding Relevance Without Losing Resilience explored how leading retail CEOs are driving growth when every rupee and relationship counts, balancing price, purpose, and people while staying profitable. The Smart Store Playbook: Tech That Removes Friction and Adds Delight highlighted how innovations such as RFID, connected POS dashboards, and advanced store operations are creating seamless, efficient, and delightful shopping experiences. In Payments, Platforms & Possibilities: How Seamless Commerce Is Powering the Next Retail Wave, panelists examined how integrated payment systems and evolving commerce platforms are transforming customer experience, loyalty, and scalability. Marketing That Moves People: Redefining Retail Storytelling in a Connected World delved into how creativity, data, and technology—through tools like CRM, AI-powered personalization, and loyalty ecosystems—are enabling brands to build meaningful conversations with consumers.

Retail leaders speaking at the summit included, Aakash Koparkar, Vice President at Relaxo Footwear; Ankur Bhatia, CEO of Chogori India Retail Ltd.; Anupam Bansal, Director at Liberty Shoes Ltd.; Ashim Ashok Patil, MD and CEO of i-TEK RFID; Bharat Sethi, Founder and CEO of Rage Coffee; Devang Sampat, MD of Cinépolis India; Dhruv Bogra, Country Manager at Forever New Clothing; JP Shukla, CEO of 1-India Family Mart; Lalit Agarwal, MD of V-Mart Retail Ltd.; Mayank Mohan, Partner and CEO of Mohanlal Sons; Raghav Agarwal, Director of V-Bazaar Retail; Rajesh Jain, Managing Director and CEO of Lacoste India; among others.

As India’s retail landscape evolves, RISE 2025 reinforced the industry’s unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies, ensuring its ability to thrive in an ever-changing, dynamic market.

Retail India Summit & Expo (RISE)

Retailers Association of India’s (RAI) Retail India Summit & Expo (RISE) is the definitive platform for retailers to find the right business partners and solutions across categories to help take their business to the next level. It is tailored to help those in retail best respond to the changing trends of the industry and offer solutions and products relevant to the needs of the business. It is a must-attend event for those in retail looking for inspiration, innovation, new ideas and new suppliers in the quest to win new customers, retain existing ones, and ultimately increase sales.

About Retailers Association of India:

Retailers Association of India (RAI) is the unified voice of Indian retailers. RAI works with all the stakeholders for creating the right environment for the growth of the modern retail industry in India. It is a strong advocate for retailing in India and works with all levels of government and stakeholders with the aim to support employment growth and career opportunities in retail, to promote and sustain retail investments in communities from coast-to-coast, and to enhance consumer choice and industry competitiveness. Visit http://www.rai.net.in

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