Devina Joshi
Advertising

Reliance Retail on a hunt for agencies for its recruitment drive

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail, a Reliance Industries venture, is on a hiring spree, aiming to rope in around five lakh employees. A creative pitch has been called for the purpose and, as per industry sources, the ad spends for the recruitment drive are pegged at more than Rs 25 crore

According to informed sources, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail, a Reliance Industries venture, is on the lookout for ad agencies for its recruitment ads. As is known, Reliance Industries aims to rope in around five lakh employees for its retail venture. To ensure that the best talent is brought aboard, Reliance Retail is leaving no stone unturned and, as per sources, plans to pump in more than Rs 25 crore into the communication for its recruitment drive alone.

Sources in the know have also informed agencyfaqs! that the pitch process is on and a few agencies are in talks with Reliance Industries. The names that came up include Rediffusion DY&R and Ambience Publicis. It is learnt that some of these agencies have already presented their initial strategies. The pitch is a creative one alone; the media AOR for Reliance Industries is Vibrant.

As per prior media reports, Reliance Retail is likely to roll out 1,500 supermarkets and 1,000 hypermarkets in phases in 1,500 cities and towns across India. These plans are expected to take shape around August-September 2006. It is learnt that the agencies have been asked to conduct an in-depth study of the markets into which Reliance Retail will make its foray. The study will include market statistics, consumer behaviour and other such details.

The sources also say that Reliance Retail is looking for radical ideas as opposed to regular recruitment ads. It is also being speculated that the agency selected for the recruitment drive communication has a good chance of being empanelled as Reliance Retail’s overall agency, as and when necessary.

When agencyfaqs! sought confirmation about the pitch from Reliance Retail officials, they were unwilling to comment on the development. A senior official denied the pitch, saying that the recruitment drive was at a nascent stage and it would be premature to talk about it as yet.

For the record, Reliance Retail will foray into most categories, including food and grocery, apparel and footwear, FMCGs, consumer durables, lifestyle products and services, home essentials, farm implements and inputs, distribution of energy products and services, distribution of financial and travel services, entertainment and leisure, health and well-being products and services and educational products and services.

© 2006 agencyfaqs!

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