Future Group is experimenting with a new format of business with the launch of Big Bazaar Direct, a direct selling platform for which it will use a tablet based e-commerce backend. This platform will allow customers to shop at their convenience through Big Bazaar’s direct selling agents, and promote entrepreneurship. ‘Big Bazaar Direct’ is a first of its kind, direct-selling model by a large retailer in India that will allow customers to shop by ticking deals off a catalogue. The catalogues will be brought directly to customers by Big Bazaar’s franchisee partners, who will display the catalogue on a Big Bazaar Direct tablet.

According to Big Bazaar’s newly launched site for Direct, the retailer will offer nearly 1,000 deals on a tablet interface to the franchises from which customers can choose items. An order confirmation is sent via SMS to the buyers mobile after which the buyer makes a payment to the franchise. The company is promising 3-7 days delivery. Big Bazaar will fulfill the orders while franchisees will earn a cut from each order. The franchisees will have to make Rs 3 lakh investment to get the shop running.

The service’s rollout has been announced with an eyeball-grabbing media campaign one that distinctly reiterates Biyani’s departure from his pro-FDI stance.