For those wondering why this place you have been frequenting for so many years for your groceries and other FMCGs is not maintaining its inventory of the latest and wide variety of these goods, the answer may come as a shock.[break]
The Blue Star Group, which opened Bluebird Department store more than a quarter of a century ago, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, will cease the operation of the store by the end of November. The pioneer of department stores in Nepal, which has still held on as a big name brand in a sector that has seen a big explosion of big and small similar stores in almost every nook and corner of the capital, will soon stop existing as it is.
According to Binod Tuladhar, founder and executive director of the store, the brand may still exist as the group is planning to license it out to other management groups. The group is in talks with new teams who will open and run a store in another location inside the Blue Star Complex in Tripureshwar and the store’s branch in Lazimpat, Tuladhar said.
“We are licensing out the supermarket business to a new management team within November. Political unrest and financial issues are the major problems for business to run. So, we have finally decided to change the style of doing business and we will be renting the supermarket area to the parties that come up with best offers,” Tuladhar said, “We are at present negotiating with three to four parties.”
A global fast food chain is expected to open its outlet in the place vacated by the store. Tuladhar, however, refused to make public the name of the chain as negotiations are still ongoing. “We have not signed a deal with anyone yet, so we cannot say what exactly will be replacing the store,” he said.
Problems such as traffic congestion, power cuts and unfriendly labor laws are causing major hindrances for operating shopping centers and it is high time the government addressed such issues to prevent business closure, he added.
Though Tuladhar promised that the new team will run the new store and maintain the service and quality that customers have been used to, loyal consumers are still concerned.
“I have been shopping at Bluebird ever since it was established and will be doing so till the last day. The store for me is only one of its kinds in Nepal that is concerned about its customers and provides wide varieties of products at reasonable price,” says Monica Shrestha, principal of a pre-school, who has been shopping at the store for 25 years.
Shrestha is one among many loyal customers who are concerned on weather or not the new management team will carry on the legacy of the store.
I hope the new management team will be able to keep the brand alive, Shrestha added.
“We have more than 200 loyal customers who rarely shop elsewhere. We are very much concerned about keeping our goodwill and image intact. So if things go fine, the Bluebird brand will not be changed,” Tuladhar said.
Stating that the shopping mall at Bluebird has already been leased out to different brands, Tuladhar said leasing the department store was nothing but a change in their style of doing business. “Business has been tough over the period and we have witnessed difficulties in concentrating on our own. As time goes we have to change,” Tuladhar said, adding, “I will not feel bad in handing over Bluebird as every business has a life and has to undergo changes over the period of time.”
He also disclosed that the group, encouraged by the success of the Bluebird Mall, will move into building and managing other shopping and business complexes in Lazimpat, Durbar Marg and other areas.
Bluebird Department Store had started operation with the investment of Rs 500,000. The company at present has the total asset of 120 million. The store has been selling quality and reasonable products directly imported from China, Thailand and India, among others.
The store with 110 staff is the first one to introduce the concept of pre-priced ‘European style’ supermarket and also the concept of food court in Nepal, according to Tuladhar.
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