Kent Shoppe on expansion spree

Water purifiers manufacturer Kent RO recently forayed into the retail sector by launching an exclusive store, Kent Shoppe, in New Delhi. Located at East Patel Nagar area, the shop is based on franchise model. Further, the company plans to roll out 200 outlets in a year’s time.

Mahesh Gupta, chairman, Kent RO Systems Ltd, said, “Kent has presence in multi-brand stores with a widespread distribution network. However, we realised that the shopkeeper sitting in a multi-brand store is a ‘quick seller’ and he would not spend time giving information about our products in the way we desire. Our idea is to put an array of products in the store and let the consumer have an experience of the new innovative range to make their life healthier.”

The upcoming stores will be spread over an area of 200 to 500 sq ft in major markets. Kent expects to generate a revenue of Rs 10 lakh from each store per month with a break even period of one year.

“Due to lack of proper information and knowledge, consumers face problems in picking the right product. It is this need gap that Kent intends to fill by empowering customers with proper information and guidance in a friendly environment,” Gupta added.

With a current turnover of Rs 250 crore and over around 40 per cent of market share, Kent is optimistic that the coming up of exclusive stores will enhance its market share in all categories.