Textile Retail synergy creates career opportunities
By Rocky Pinto

With the organized retail industry is slated to undergo a CAGR of 40% over the next few years, and organized retail business is pegged at around Rs. 90,000 crores today. It is estimated to increase to Rs.2,50,000 crores over the next 5 years with the entry of corporates and FDI into the industry. The retail industry is expected to have 68 million square feet of mall space by 2007 year end. Conservatively, a person is required for every 300 square feet. Given this requirement, the projected growth rate in the retail industry and Indian economy slated to grow at 7 - 8% per annum, 2.5 million jobs are expected to be created by the year 2010.

Mumbai based, Synthetic and Art Silk Mills' Research Association (SASMIRA), has extended its offering by adding four courses in Retail Education, in addition to the existing 20 specialized courses in textile and allied fields. Admissions for the courses close by June 30, 2007. Mihir Mehta, Vice-President, SASMIRA, said, "The need of the hour is to provide necessary inputs required to deliver cutting edge of service that will be the differentiator for the coming era. Our focus in offering formal education and training in sunrise management fields, thus catering to the HR needs of the retail sector specific sectors."

Students have a choice of joining any four courses from a four week basic retail counter salesman program; a three month advanced retail counter salesman program; six month Retail supervisor programme and a eleven month retail manager program. Front-line staff a job in retailing is perhaps just a stop-gap plan and not a career option as is evident from the fact that this industry sees more than 25% attrition every year.

Ms. Monica Mehta, Consultant - SREP, said, "The principal objective of the SASMIRA retail education programme is to equip the students with the basic knowledge, information and practical applications, thus bringing about a paradigm shift in front-line retailing."

The other courses offered by SASMIRA for the academic year 2007 includes: Full time Diploma in Man-made Textile Technology, Man-made Textile Chemistry and Knitting Technology (SSC / HSC pass); Full time or part time Diploma in Fashion & Apparel Designing Technology (SSC pass); Fulltime / part time Diploma in Textile Color and Design Technology (SSC pass); Certificate course in weaving and wet processing of man made fibers and fabrics (SSC pass); computer aided woven designs (Diploma holders or Graduates); Diploma in Embroidery Technology and Merchandising in collaboration with Hakoba (SSC pass); and Diploma in Apparel Retail Management (HSC pass or Diploma holders), etc.

Synthetic and Art Silk Mils Research Association (SASMIRA), is linked to the Ministry of Textiles, and has trained more than 15,000 students who are well placed in the textile and clothing industry in India, US, UK, Indonesia, UAE, Bangladesh and other countries.