Now, Consumerfed to churn out retail management professionals

After setting up a pharmacy college at Thrissur, the government-manned Kerala State Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (Consumerfed) is all set to undertake the Thriveni

Institute of Retail Management (TIRMA) venture at Idukki.

According to Consumerfed authorities, TIRMA will consist of one six-month course and two one-year courses in retail management.

“We envisage to provide trained professionals who can be assets to the retail management industry across the state,” said Joy Thomas, chairman, Consumerfed.

He added that the retail business is thriving not only in the state, but across the country. Furthermore, the courses offered by Consumerfed can definitely make a visible difference in this booming industry by providing responsible individuals who can take this vocation to the next level.

“Of late, a great deal of people seek employment in the retail management industry. But they are not trained to rise to the consumers’ expectations, a prerequisite to reap huge profits.

“So we have decided to tap this flow, which has resulted in the new enterprise called TIRMA,” he said.

According to the officials, such an enterprise is the first of its kind in the state and second in the country.

 “In India, there is only one institute by Birla in Pune which offers such a course. Now Consumerfed can proudly take a seat beside it by offering a similar course,” the officials said.

TIRMA will soon commence functioning with courses like certification in retail management, diploma in retail management and post-graduate diploma in retail management.

The officials said that at the outset, Consumerfed will provide its own certificates for those who complete any of the aforementioned courses.

 “Regarding other courses like BBA and MBA, plans are on to affiliate the courses with any of the prominent universities,” said Rigi G  Nair, managing director, Consumerfed.

All the three courses will have four common papers, namely Buyer Behaviour, Retail Operations Management, Retail Planning, and Retail Sales, Techniques and Promotion.

The Kerala State Electricity Board has already allotted one of its buildings to start a college at the earliest for the time-being.

The officials said that the college will be soon shifted after getting the appropriate land.