B.Voc Retail Management and IT at BELA College Ropar Offline Course

B.Voc Retail Management and IT is a three-year full-time UG vocational course offered by Punjabi University, Patiala.

In the Information, Communication & Entertainment (ICE) age shopping has become a hobby for the new generation. The whole concept of shopping has altered with time, in terms of format and consumer buying behavior. Thanks to rapid urbanization and sprawling shopping malls, Multi formats of retail stores and huge complexes that have emerged at an ever-increasing speed in every upcoming city, retailing has grown into one of the largest sectors in the global economy.

Retail Industry, one of the fastest changing and vibrant industries in the world, has contributed to the economic growth of many countries. The term 'retail' is derived from the French word retailer which means 'to cut a piece off' or 'to break bulk'. Retailing is a vital part of the business industry that involves selling products and services to consumers for their individual or family use. Retailing can also be defined as the timely delivery of goods demanded by consumers at an affordable and competitive price. It is a vertical and people-oriented business industry. Retail business in India boomed in the '80s and within a short span of time, the Indian retail sector has been rated as the fifth most attractive, the emerging retail market in the world. Indian retail sector which accounts for over 10 percent of the country's GDP (gross domestic product) and around eight percent of employment, is expected to grow at a compound rate of 30 percent over the next five years.

Retailing process involves a direct interface with the customer and the coordination of business activities from the design stage of a product to its delivery and post-delivery service. Generally, a retail business can be classified into several types depending on their size, shape, product lines, amount of service they offer and the prices they charge, etc. Some among them are specialty stores, supermarket/ malls, factory outlets, franchises, chain stores, discount stores, lifestyle & personal products, furnishing household appliances & groceries stores, etc.