Hyderabad|India|November'2009: Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE), a Hyderabad-based non-profit business organization promoted to bring about social and economic upliftment of women force through entrepreneurship organised a full-day Seminar on Retailing for Entrepreneurs here at Hotel Novotel, Kondapur. Speakers from renowned Retail Chains such as Reliance Industries Ltd., ITC Ltd., Heritage Foods India Ltd. addressed the seminar. The seminar was organised with an aim to create awareness and knowledge on retailing and to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs, and all the participants to link up with major retail chains informed Ms. Sandhya Reddy, Senior Vice President - COWE. Various topics such as understanding the vendor registration requirements with retail chains; identifying suitable packaging; quality management; National and international standards; certifications to be acquired / achieved; marketing and supply chain management; etc. were covered. More than 50 entrepreneurs, including both women and men participated in the seminar.

Retail sector has grown tremendously in India in recent past and is making giant strides with global opportunities and huge market consumption in India, throwing open doors for producers, marketers, logistics, and chain of consumers. In this backdrop, COWE organised this seminar by putting the stakeholders together and to mutually explore the immense potential.

Mr. Rajnish Kumar, Business Manager, ABD, ITC – Marketing; Mr. S Kishore Kumar, Manager –Marketing Operations, ABD-ITC and Mr. Vipul Bhushan, Head-Buying & Merchandising (FMCG & Staples) Heritage Foods India Ltd. briefed about Heritage Foods and about the Need for Private Label. Topics such Expectations and engagement model with COWE and how they can associate together were also addressed. Representative from Reliance Retail spoke about the strategies and USP and how Reliance Retail can work together with COWE and benefit the women group. Ms. Surya Jyothi, Food Technologist and advisor for COWE covered various topics such as Food, Agro and Allied Products right from the concept to the end consumer i.e. from farm to the plate.

Participants, COWE members and Entrepreneurs, both women and men, equally had the opportunity to understand various aspects of retailing, branding, marketing etc., from the Seminar and Women Group are looking forward to tie-ups with these retail giants, informed Ms. P. Soudhamini, Secretary - COWE.

COWE (Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs) is trade body of women entrepreneurs with a vision to build a women force that is economically empowered, and are valued citizens of the nation. By pooling the dormant skills, talents, practical knowledge and resourcefulness of a woman and combining it with her intrinsic quality of dedication and commitment. COWE was inaugurated by Former Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2004. COWE is committed to the social and economic upliftment of women through entrepreneurship irrespective of their age, caste, creed, economic status or profession. Please visit our website to know more about our activities www.co-we.com

Reachout's News Bureau
November' 2009