Retailers, selling food and other essentials in India, ensured that the stores were open even in the midst of the pandemic to ensure availability for consumers. For this we owe a big ‘Thank You’ to retailers and retail employees, who went out of their way, at times risking their lives, to make this happen.
Retail employs more than 46 million people in India. Retailers and retail employees in India will be celebrating the ‘Retail Employees’ Day’, a movement that was started in the year 2011 to be commemorated every year on the 12th of December. On this day the entire industry comes together to acknowledge the efforts of retail employees.
This is one day dedicated to bringing cheer to retail employees, who work tirelessly on all other days to serve and delight customers.
Celebrated across five countries viz. Turkey, UAE, India, Philippines and Bangladesh, the initiative now enters its 10th glorious year of creating awareness and empathy for the retail community with #KhulkeBoloThankYou.
BS Nagesh, Founder- TRRAIN, said, “If the year 2020 has taught us one thing, it is gratitude, especially towards frontline retail employees and retailers who provided us essentials in a time of need, all while risking their own health!”
“This, 12th December, Retail Employees’ Day, with the #KhulKeBoloThankYou campaign we’re trying to create the world’s largest thank you movement to salute these frontline heroes. We as customers play an integral role to make this movement a huge success, and make an impact in the life of a retail associate with just two words – Thank You,” Nagesh added.
Bijou 
, Chairman, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “When the whole of India was locked down, our Retail employees braved transport, health and family pressures to ensure that Stores were kept open. And consumers got a chance to stock up their pantries and keep their kitchens running.”
“As we celebrate Retail Employees’ Day, we have a chance to thank our frontline retail employees, for the difference they made to us, during Covid lockdown and beyond. Thank you Retail Employee, for what you do for us on a daily basis,” Kurien said.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “The pandemic has really brought forth the capability of retailers and retail employees to selflessly serve consumers. During the lockdown, retailers overcame many challenges with persistent efforts of their employees to ensure supply, storage, retail and delivery of essential products while risking their lives to ensure consumer needs for food and essentials are met.”
“We do believe that it’s the right time for the consumers to go to their nearest retailer and express their gratitude with a simple ‘Thank You’ on this day,” Rajagopalan said.
Lalit Agarwal, Chairman, and Managing Director, V-Mart Retail, said, “On this 10th anniversary of Retail Employees Day, I extend my warmest wishes and gratitude to millions of our associates in the retail industry, who toil day and night to serve the customer and create customer delight.”
“This day is even more special this year, given the threat of Covid-19 pandemic and many setbacks we have faced, despite which our retail sector comrades have stood on duty day after day with a smile on their face. I salute their dedication, courage, and hard work, which is an inspiration for all of us,” Agarwal added.
Damodar Mall, CEO, Grocery Retail, Reliance Retail, said, “The world of retail, indeed the world of everything changed in this year. RED 2020 is special to me because every Retailer, Retail Associate, and Delivery partner stepped up beyond the regular call of duty to support the citizen families right through the crisis of pandemic.”
“I learned my lessons of customer centricity and a sense of societal duty from all people who put customer families ahead of their own. My heart swells with pride that I am part of these champion retail teams. With extra zest in my voice, I say #KhulkeBoloThankYou. Join me in saluting everyone associated with the retail profession today,” Mall said.
Venu Nair, MD&CEO, Shoppers Stop Limited, said “As we gear up to celebrate the Retail Employees’ Day on 12th December, I wanted to thank all the employees for being a part of the Retail family. This has been a challenging year on many fronts.”
“With pandemic hitting the revenues of the industry and stores closing across the country, for a substantial period of time, we have faced many a hardship.”
“Notwithstanding, some have taken the risk of working even during the peak pandemic only to ensure that essential needs of customers were met. I want to congratulate all of them for keeping customer centricity at core while representing the industry, brands, and engaging in conversations that help in a higher conversion to sales. I thank them for that and more.”
“This year, Shoppers Stop’s campaign is to celebrate not only all the customer care associates but more so the heroes behind these heroes – their families who have stood behind them and supported them throughout.”
“The families who bring in the love, understanding and support, that makes their jobs a bit more comfortable. It is these families who inspire us to do better. Thank you for keeping the faith and industry standards high and my best wishes for today,” Nair said.
With consumers joining in, Retail Employees’ Day 2020 would be celebrated with greater joy and fervour. Every ‘thank you’ received will help make the day more meaningful and go a long way in motivating retail employees who serve consumers in the face of personal risk & and infrastructural challenges.
Driven with the goal of gathering 1 Million Thank Yous, this movement by TRRAIN & RAI is a step towards empowering the frontline warriors of the retail fraternity across the globe and in India who strive to serve consumers against all odds.
Over the years, the Retail Employees’ Day has garnered tremendous support from 1000+ brands in India including Shopper’s Stop, Reliance Trends, Future Group, Arvind Fashion along with 100+ malls and 8.5 lakh SMEs.
Here’s how some retailers/ brands are celebrating Retail Employees’ Day 2020:
Arvind Brands
- Video on the life of retail staff with top management thanking all employees
- Messages from each brand’s CEOs
- Special eCards sent to all employees
- In-store communication to create awareness among customers
Big Basket
- Special video on everyday life journey of Big Basket employees with Managers and Supervisors thanking the sales associates for their contribution
- Grand welcome for employees followed with Cake Cutting and special lunch
- Thank You messages from leadership will be sent to all employees on WhatsApp
Marks & Spencer
No. of employees :1950 No. of Stores:95
- Celebrations started on 7th December, head office employees are posting Thank You message online to create the biggest Thank You
- Employees talent showcase and videos
Reliance Retail Ltd
No. of employees: 1.25 lakh plus No. of Stores: 11931
- CEOs of each format are creating special ‘thank you’ videos along with messages and mailers.
- Party at stores and Thank You messages to Frontline Warriors would be played on the Retail Radios of each store
- Thank You message board for customers at stores
Shoppers Stop Ltd
No. of employees: 5000 No. of Stores: 86
- A documentary film ‘Our Super Heroes – Our Customer Sales Associates’, shot across all stores will be launched on the 12th of December 2020
- Through the CYOD Program (Chose your own designation) Top 3 performing sales associates per store will get an opportunity to choose and role-play whichever designation they aspire to be on the Retail Employees
- Longest Thank you Message contest across all
- On 12 Dec, employees will receive a Red Carpet welcome with a party at each
- A curated calendar will be launched that has the top 12 customer service stories from across
- Thank You letter will be addressed to Shoppers Stop Associates who have truly gone Hadh Se Aage : Beyond the call of duty. It will be addressed to the Associate, thanking his/her family, personally signed off by the MD & CEO – Venu
