Great Mall of Hyd Starts with a Bang

In true royal expedition style, the Great Mall of Hyderabad: The Royal Indian Shopping Adventure, kicked off to an electrifying start in Hyderabad, even as the AP government, the organisers -- Tourism department and Ogilvy Live, and the participant companies are hoping the bang doesn't end in a whimper.

The medley by "Silk" band of world-renowned musician Louis Banks, percussion specialist Sivamani, electric base master Carl Peter and Mridangam expert Sridhar Parthasarathy, with vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, gave the fitting start to Asia's largest shopping fest, inaugurated by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, with their breathless performance.

But, participating companies are keeping their anxious fingers crossed over the 30-day shopping and cultural extravaganza, that seeks to combine the "magnificence, the events, the experiences and the largeness of three mega global events of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Great Singapore Sale and the Colours of Malaysia.

The fest aims at attracting at least three million visitors from India and abroad. But, the sales tax sops announced by the government haven't exactly enthused manufacturers and retailers, especially automobiles, who have pulled out of the show, even as only 5 countries of the 15 shortlisted, are participating due to the war situation in the region.

"The overall sentiments are not too good. There is definitely less of spends this year than last, but this is the festive season and people are looking for bargains, and looking for an outlet in the period of gloom," Mr Subbaraman Iyer, said VP marketing of Tata Cellular, official communication partner and participant company. Tata Cell isn't looking for sales, but brand mileage from associating with the event, he told ET.

But, others aren't so optimistic. A lot of companies, including Archies, two wheeler major Bajaj Auto, state's largest dealer Saboo Motors, Hero Honda and car major Hyundai have either pulled out or not participating.

"The tax exemption is only applicable at the venue in city outskirts, not showroom, so customers will not go for a piddly discount of 2 per cent on life tax to purchase and get the vehicles all the way from therem" said Prashant Saboo of Saboo Motors.

Agrees Saral Talwar dealer of Hyundai: "Despite hype my customers don't want the hassle of cash payment and delivery of the car at the venue there. Besides, the tax sop is hardly anything."