Viveks - About Viveks

About Viveks

Mission & Vision

Milestones

Board of Directors

Accolades

Brands

Group Companies

Vivek Limited is a professionally managed public limited company carrying three retail brands - Viveks, Jainsons, Premier and continuously adding to the formidable strength of 1000 employees. Vivek Ltd is the largest consumer electronics & home appliances retail chain in India and the group consists of

       Vivek Agencies,
       Viveks Service Centre and
       Viveks Lockers

Viveks popularized several brands by creating visibility and have the distinction of being market leaders and trendsetters with continuous

support from the principal companies. Reliable services are ensured through cordial customer relationships. CII and Mckinsey raved about Viveks "More trusted than the brands it sells". This proves to be enough testimony to the acclaim enjoyed by Viveks as a household name.

The story of Viveks

B.A Lakshmi Narayana Setty influenced by the lofty ideals of Swami Vivekananda set up a small shop of 200 sq.ft., at Mylapore, Chennai, with an investment of only Rs. 10,000 (USD 230) to sell folding chairs. Slowly he added radios, fans, mixers, irons, heaters and other household equipments. He named his business Vivek & Co inspired by his Guru Swami Vivekananda. B.A Kodandaraman took over the reins of Viveks after the demise of his brother B.A Lakshmi Narayana Setty and increased the turnover of Rs. 1.65 lakhs (USD 3,840) in the first year to a stunning figure of Rs. 28 crores (USD 643,680) by 1980. Viveks evolved its strategies to suit the larger scene where there was a stigma attached to borrowing. Very few hire purchase options were available and hence Viveks started Vivek Hire Purchase and Leasing Ltd to finance consumer durables, which enhanced the core retailing business also.

Viveks grew from 3 stores to more than 53 stores and turnover increased to over Rs. 350 crores (USD 80 million) and also become a public limited company from a family run enterprise. In this process, 14 store Jainsons was bought over in 1999, 2 store Premier in 2001 and Spencers in 2002 and have recently absorbed Spencers into the Premier brand. With the liberalization of economy and other changes in the global scene, Viveks streamlined the marketing and advertising activities and shopping ambience was improved.