Ahmedabad: A recent survey by the apparel design and merchandising department of National Institute of Design (NID) shows that Indian retail stores are not considered as consumer friendly by Indian consumers, reports The Economic Times.

According to reports, India retail industry is the largest industry in India with an employment of around 8 percent. This industry contributes to over 10 percent of the country's GDP. It is expected that by 2016 modern retail industry in India will be worth $ 175-200 billion.

But Indian retail sector fails to satisfy its customers in comparison to its global counterparts. According to the survey, customers do not get a complete retail experience in these stores. Surprisingly even the women shoppers do not spend quality time and money on them. The reasons for the unpopularity of these retail shops among women can be crammed outlets, unpleasant mannequins and even lack of seating arrangement to make their husbands comfortable as they go about apparel binging, shows the survey.

The aspects that retail stores should consider include accessibility, location, window display, facade, staff, packaging, decorative & props, ambience and interiors. Most of the exclusive stores for ethnic wear-do not consider the likes and dislikes of their target consumers, according to the survey.

According to NID faculty member Somesh Singh, the supervisor of the research, “Retail stores are yet to understand the value of retail design and are oblivious of the consumer-centric atmosphere. Retail design doesn’t only include interiors but factors like where the store is located, which very much determines consumers’ attraction to the store”. The retail stores lack in modern retail design approach, ranging from the selection of location to services offered to the customers as they often fail to take into account customers’ preferences.