Pradipta Mukherjee &Amp; Kanika Datta

Stories by Pradipta Mukherjee &Amp; Kanika Datta

The good, the bad and the aam aadmi

The good, the bad and the aam aadmi

Rediff.com   28 May 2009

Industrialisation in India is increasingly acquiring the characteristics of crony capitalism in which states are perceived to be ganging up with businessmen at the cost of the aam aadmi

Markets: A game between traders and common men

Markets: A game between traders and common men

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Given the very fluid state of national politics where a party can emphatically say diametrically different things at different times, it is hard to understand the basis on which brokers made this judgment.

Crisis: Retailers look to streamline logistics

Crisis: Retailers look to streamline logistics

Rediff.com   12 May 2009

Experts say the biggest expenditure for a retailer is real estate, followed by manpower and sales and advertisement expenses.

Indage Vintners shuts regional offices

Indage Vintners shuts regional offices

Rediff.com   9 May 2009

In an attempt to reduce costs, India's biggest wine producer, Indage Vintners, has started closing its regional offices, while centralising all sales and marketing activities at its headquarters in Mumbai.

IT companies look for commercial space

IT companies look for commercial space

Rediff.com   8 May 2009

According to Mayank Saksena, head -- transactions, Kolkata, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, "From January onwards, we have been tackling an increase in live enquiries in Kolkata. The rate of enquiries is significantly higher than in cities such as Hyderabad. Chennai, Pune and Bangalore, primarily because Kolkata has a large number of old business houses that have been occupying prime spaces in the central business district."

The 'Ford' test of CEO success

The 'Ford' test of CEO success

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2009

The surprise was Conde Nast Portfolio's topper for the world's best-ever CEO. It was Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors. There is no doubt that Ford was a great entrepreneur and business visionary. But, with the hindsight of almost a century, it is worth questioning whether he was a good CEO. Ford could easily have won the accolade in his lifetime for revolutionising the personal transportation industry with the Model T.

Shah Rukh looks to exit Kolkata Knight Riders

Shah Rukh looks to exit Kolkata Knight Riders

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2009

After dropping "Kolkata" from Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, actor Shah Rukh Khan has started discussions with Nokia, Sahara, the Anil Ambani group, and several other companies to sell the team he bought just over a year ago for Rs 300 crore, and exit the business.

How global brands became Indian heartthrobs

How global brands became Indian heartthrobs

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2009

The value for companies whose brands become local default names can be huge, says Kanika Datta.

Kolkata retail demand down, new projects on hold

Kolkata retail demand down, new projects on hold

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2009

Projects like City Centre II, Lake Mall, Terminus Mall, Axis Mall and Avani Riverside mall in Howrah, are already running behind schedule. As retail sales are down by 50 per cent, depending on discount or lifestyle retail categories, and consumers' discretionary spends are also down 15-20 per cent, developers are now cautious about new projects.

UB Group plans Rs 100-cr wine tourism

UB Group plans Rs 100-cr wine tourism

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2009

The company plans to invest close to Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) by June 2009 in its winery project and another Rs 50 crore in the next few years in building barrels, tanks and vineyards. It has set a target of producing a million bottles in 2009-10 and a million cases in three years.

Retail growth will miss industry estimates

Retail growth will miss industry estimates

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2009

The chances of organised retail trade crossing the Rs 230,000 crore, as predicted by the Images India Retail Report look remote, says Pradipta Mukherjee.

Health is exclusive wealth

Health is exclusive wealth

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2009

To be fair, the problem of inadequate healthcare does not lie with these hospitals themselves but in the manner in which they have been allowed to function by the government.

Movie tickets become cheaper

Movie tickets become cheaper

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2009

Many multiplexes are banking on promotional offers and schemes, like a 20 per cent discount on ticket prices, free popcorn, etc, for those booking tickets online. Around 70 per cent of the total revenues of multiplexes come from ticket sales, 20 per cent from food and beverages and the remaining from on- and off-screen advertisements. While footfalls have dropped 20-35 per cent, consumers' discretionary spend has stopped as far as movies are concerned.

Frooti, Appy to be costlier

Frooti, Appy to be costlier

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2009

This has come at a time when commodity prices have dropped and several companies are seeking to lower prices to boost sales. "While the recent drop in raw material prices have been an enabler, our margins are still under pressure due to several factors like operational expenses as well as production and packaging costs, which have peaked year-on-year," said a company official.

Fast-tracking customer service in a slowdown

Fast-tracking customer service in a slowdown

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2009

Acquiring new customers is important, but surely hard times provide an opportunity to ensure that existing ones are happier (management consultants call them 'sticky customers'), asks Kanika Datta?

Higher fee will help us break even: IIM-C

Higher fee will help us break even: IIM-C

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2009

The Rs 400,000-increase, applicable from this session, comes a year after the increase in fee by other IIMs. IIM-C is also increasing its need-based scholarship fund and stipend for research scholars.

Nandigram, Singur take toll on Buddha's dream

Nandigram, Singur take toll on Buddha's dream

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2009

The state received robust investment announcements worth Rs 2,43,489 crore in calendar 2007. In calendar 2008, investments fell 63 per cent, to Rs 90,095 crore (Rs 900.95 billion). The general slowdown in economic growth, however, may also have played a part in Bengal's declining rank, given that many of its major investments were in such sectors as steel, real estate and power, all of which are current casualties of slowing demand.

Business in India is still a political game

Business in India is still a political game

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

Many businessmen have extracted generous concessions from one government, only to see their businesses at risk when it is replaced by another, less friendly regime.

IIM, IIT students turn mentors for aspirants

IIM, IIT students turn mentors for aspirants

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2009

The programme is a free, student-driven initiative and independent of the admission process but is backed by the administration of these institutes. The programme is managed through either the institute website or a separate purpose-built website that matches the profile of mentors and aspirants based on the background and discipline.

Metro faces fresh retail trade charges

Metro faces fresh retail trade charges

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2009

The fresh allegations of carrying out retail trade have come from the Forward Bloc, a constituent of the Left Front government in Bengal, which had been opposing the entry of Metro on this ground. Forward Bloc-controlled APMC in the state has submitted a report stating the instances of violations of the terms of the Regulated Market Committee licence, said sources.