Kids and money

Seen in the picture here is 14-year-old Raunaq who is little Miss Shopaholic. Some 400 million kids of her age are India's most conspicuous consumers, lapping up not just toys, gadgets, phones and clothes but also counselling their parents on big-ticket purchases.

Tagging along: Raunaq at a shopping mall checking the brands. About a third of parents say there kids  pester for specific brands

Products nowadays are being designed and packaged keeping kids in mind.

With consumers today starting from age 0, the market for entrepreneurs has just got larger.

Raunaq with Shazor checking out apparels. Retailers are creating new business lines around young consumers.

Aryan, 6 and Rohan, 8: Technology has made things more appealing for them.

Aditya, 13 and Sitara. Too cool for school. The kids' segment is a big and serious business for brands of all hues.

'Mom, I want that.' Prithvi, 8. Retailers seed brand and logo in the minds of children who become their most attractive customers.

Adi, 8, is lovin' it. If kids in ads work, it is also because a number of marketers, mostly in the foods category, are keen to promote healthy dietary habits and lifestyle amongst children

Spoilt for choice. Retailers nowdays provide kids with a choices of plenty.

For 15-year-old Tari Technology rocks. Her BlackBerry is her best friend and a credit card always follows her to outings.

Shoring up Indian retail, tween style.

Never too young for a blowout at the salon. Aarya, 7,  at a parlour for a hairdo.