The CAIT said that India has the highest density of retail outlets. There are approximately 15 retail outlets for 1,000 persons. The overall size of retail market in India is estimated at Rs 15 lakh crore. About three per cent of the retail trade is in the so-called organised sector and the rest 97 per cent is self organised. The retail trade is expanding by as much as 8 to 10 per cent every year with an addition of 25 million middle-class consumers. It is expected that the size of retail trade would exceed Rs 20 lakh crore by 2010.

The trade leaders said that self-organised network of small shopkeepers across the country made "magnificent contributions to the economy both in terms of income and other things as time, flexibility, control and personal expertise."

Knowing something about consumer behavior, communication pattern, managerial styles and the amount of support members can expect from their family may be as important to entrepreneurs as knowing how to reach a market or managing cash flows, they said.