Helios, the multi-brand watch retailer from Titan Industries, plans to open another 13 stores in different parts of the country by the end of this fiscal. A wide range of latest designs across 20 international brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, FCUK, Fossil, Guess and Armani, ranging Rs 3,000 to Rs 48,000 would be available in the showrooms. By the end of this fiscal, Helios would have 50 stores in India and would open more such stores in future.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Aviraté to open 9 stores
Aviraté, a premium international women’s western apparel brand retailed exclusively in India by Fashion 365 Retail, a subsidiary of Sri Lankan Timex Garments, is expanding its footprint across India with a total investment of Rs 20 crore.
The brand will also enter the Far East, West Asia and Australia in the next two years with separate investments.
The Aviraté brand from privately held Timex Garments is one of the top five apparel manufacturers of Sri Lanka with sales revenues of Rs 1,200 crore (FY2012). The firm derives 90 per cent of its revenues from garment exports to international brands such as Espirit, Wallis, M&Co, Jones New York, Diesel and Marks and Spencer.
Timex Garments has already invested Rs 10 crore in India in stores and stocks and will invest an additional Rs 10 crore to open nine more company owned stores across India in the next financial year. The firm will open four more stores across Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh in the next six months.
India’s retail sector is currently estimated at around $450 billion, and organised retail accounts for around five per cent of the total market share, out of which the demand for ready made and western outfits is growing at about 40-45 per cent annually.
The brand will also enter the Far East, West Asia and Australia in the next two years with separate investments.
The Aviraté brand from privately held Timex Garments is one of the top five apparel manufacturers of Sri Lanka with sales revenues of Rs 1,200 crore (FY2012). The firm derives 90 per cent of its revenues from garment exports to international brands such as Espirit, Wallis, M&Co, Jones New York, Diesel and Marks and Spencer.
Timex Garments has already invested Rs 10 crore in India in stores and stocks and will invest an additional Rs 10 crore to open nine more company owned stores across India in the next financial year. The firm will open four more stores across Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh in the next six months.
India’s retail sector is currently estimated at around $450 billion, and organised retail accounts for around five per cent of the total market share, out of which the demand for ready made and western outfits is growing at about 40-45 per cent annually.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
‘Dressing Up New India’ Vimal Plans to expand Franchise Network
Vimal, the textile brand owned by Reliance Industries has plans to expand its franchise network with 1,500 new retailers expected to stock its fabrics and apparels. The company recently released a fresh communication strategy in line with its plans, which says “1,500 new outlets across India are waiting for you…” The ad also includes a woman wearing a western dress. Much as the company claims that it is not getting into women’s western wear fabrics, there are indications that the extended franchises are getting roped in to enable the company get into fabrics for women and even home furnishings in the near future.
The textile company revamped the heritage brand in 2007. At present, it has 15 flagship stores apart from 400-odd franchise outlets. By adding 1,500 franchises, the company is looking at increasing the number of franchisees to 1,800 to balance its capital expenditure. In the past, the company had indicated that women’s fabrics would be a natural extension of the Vimal franchise.
With the tagline ‘Dressing Up New India’ Vimal has positioned itself as a brand for the masses. So far offering fabrics for menswear, its new communication strategy hints at the company’s entry into fabrics for women’s wear, though it has not confirmed the development. Though there is tough competition from Raymond and Siyaram, Vimal has the advantage of using the retail formats of the company such as Reliance Trends and Reliance Marts. There is also a likelihood of starting e-commerce through its website onlyvimal.com.
The textile company revamped the heritage brand in 2007. At present, it has 15 flagship stores apart from 400-odd franchise outlets. By adding 1,500 franchises, the company is looking at increasing the number of franchisees to 1,800 to balance its capital expenditure. In the past, the company had indicated that women’s fabrics would be a natural extension of the Vimal franchise.
With the tagline ‘Dressing Up New India’ Vimal has positioned itself as a brand for the masses. So far offering fabrics for menswear, its new communication strategy hints at the company’s entry into fabrics for women’s wear, though it has not confirmed the development. Though there is tough competition from Raymond and Siyaram, Vimal has the advantage of using the retail formats of the company such as Reliance Trends and Reliance Marts. There is also a likelihood of starting e-commerce through its website onlyvimal.com.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Angry Birds’ franchise hopes to fly high season
Original licensed merchandise from Angry Birds, the mobile game of wingless birds owned by Rovio Entertainment, has crossed revenues of Rs 50 crore in India. Dream Theatre, Rovio’s licensed merchandising agency, is expecting sales to escalate this festival season with companies such as Bata associating with the franchise.
“The about-to-strike Angry Birds phenomenon is an indicator of how the Indian retail market has warmed up to the concept of licensing, which is commonplace in the West. The popularity of Angry birds is phenomenal and the first of its kind for the Indian market where majority of licensed merchandising so far have hinged on TV exposure. This simple and fun game has captured the imagination of fans,” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder, Dream Theatre.
Roping in Indian companies such as Swadesh (for gifts and stationery) and Excel (plush toys), the Angry Birds franchise currently has 140 licensed products being sold at 600 odd retail points, across categories ranging from adult apparel, plush toys to stationery and gifts and novelties.
“The advent of Android and iPhones having Angry Birds games has helped expand the reach of this franchise. Today, we have one third of our sales coming from Angry Birds products amongst all the character-based merchandise we have at our stores,” said Prasanna Nagarajan, category Manager for toys and gifting, Cross Word Book Store.
This festival season will see another 350-odd products from the franchise across footwear and footwear accessories, kids apparel, fashion bags, and even furniture.
Footwear majors such as Bata are also reaching out to the target audience through the licensing pact with the property. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, group managing director, Bata India Ltd, said, “With this association, we look forward to further strengthen our relations with our younger audience. With a variety of products for pre-teens and teens, Angry Birds footwear with its styles and designs is expected to entice younger customers.”
“The about-to-strike Angry Birds phenomenon is an indicator of how the Indian retail market has warmed up to the concept of licensing, which is commonplace in the West. The popularity of Angry birds is phenomenal and the first of its kind for the Indian market where majority of licensed merchandising so far have hinged on TV exposure. This simple and fun game has captured the imagination of fans,” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder, Dream Theatre.
Roping in Indian companies such as Swadesh (for gifts and stationery) and Excel (plush toys), the Angry Birds franchise currently has 140 licensed products being sold at 600 odd retail points, across categories ranging from adult apparel, plush toys to stationery and gifts and novelties.
“The advent of Android and iPhones having Angry Birds games has helped expand the reach of this franchise. Today, we have one third of our sales coming from Angry Birds products amongst all the character-based merchandise we have at our stores,” said Prasanna Nagarajan, category Manager for toys and gifting, Cross Word Book Store.
This festival season will see another 350-odd products from the franchise across footwear and footwear accessories, kids apparel, fashion bags, and even furniture.
Footwear majors such as Bata are also reaching out to the target audience through the licensing pact with the property. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, group managing director, Bata India Ltd, said, “With this association, we look forward to further strengthen our relations with our younger audience. With a variety of products for pre-teens and teens, Angry Birds footwear with its styles and designs is expected to entice younger customers.”
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Reliance Brands to buy 50% stake in GAS jeans JV
Italian fashion apparel maker, Grotto, best known for its jeans brand GAS, is set to strike a strategic partnership with Reliance Brands, a unit of Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries, in an attempt to revamp its India play. Reliance Brands will buy a 50 per cent stake with management rights in a deal which is in the final stages.
GAS made its India debut in 2006 through Raymond and parted ways three years later. In 2010, GAS returned to the country through a completely owned cash-and-carry format, reaching customers through the franchisee route.
The Grotto family is expected to assign the brand rights for the Indian market to the new equally owned joint venture company, Economic Times reported, citing sources.
The GAS label, launched by Claudio Grotto in 1984, is the latest lifestyle brand to tweak its India strategy to sharpen its focus on one of the world's fastest growing economies to offset slowing growth in western markets.
GAS or Grotto Apparel Sportswear has few exclusive outlets and presence in department stores in the country currently. Reliance Brands operates about 60 stores for a slew of international fashion brands like Diesel, Kenneth Cole, Thomas Pink, Paul & Shark and Zegna among others.
The company, which has the backing of the deep-pocketed Reliance Industries, wants to be a platform for international labels across lifestyle and accessories aiming to enter the Indian market.
GAS made its India debut in 2006 through Raymond and parted ways three years later. In 2010, GAS returned to the country through a completely owned cash-and-carry format, reaching customers through the franchisee route.
The Grotto family is expected to assign the brand rights for the Indian market to the new equally owned joint venture company, Economic Times reported, citing sources.
The GAS label, launched by Claudio Grotto in 1984, is the latest lifestyle brand to tweak its India strategy to sharpen its focus on one of the world's fastest growing economies to offset slowing growth in western markets.
GAS or Grotto Apparel Sportswear has few exclusive outlets and presence in department stores in the country currently. Reliance Brands operates about 60 stores for a slew of international fashion brands like Diesel, Kenneth Cole, Thomas Pink, Paul & Shark and Zegna among others.
The company, which has the backing of the deep-pocketed Reliance Industries, wants to be a platform for international labels across lifestyle and accessories aiming to enter the Indian market.
Manish Arora, BIBA launch designer label
Popular fashion designer Manish Arora on Thursday joined hands with ethnic women’s clothing retailer BIBA to form a joint venture for retailing of his label -- Indian by Manish Arora.
The new JV, in which BIBA will have 51 per cent stake, will launch its first store next month in New Delhi, followed by three more in the next six months.
“We were looking for a right partner to take the Indian by Manish Arora brand everywhere,” Arora said.
Due to the synergy between the brand and BIBA and economy of scale, the prices of Indian by Manish Arora collections will be reduced by around 30 per cent initially, he added.
Commenting on the development, BIBA Apparels managing director Siddharath Bindra said: “The first store will be opened at DLF Emporio in Vasant Kunj in Delhi. We will open four store in the next six months.”
The JV will open 20 outlets in the next two years.
The new JV, in which BIBA will have 51 per cent stake, will launch its first store next month in New Delhi, followed by three more in the next six months.
“We were looking for a right partner to take the Indian by Manish Arora brand everywhere,” Arora said.
Due to the synergy between the brand and BIBA and economy of scale, the prices of Indian by Manish Arora collections will be reduced by around 30 per cent initially, he added.
Commenting on the development, BIBA Apparels managing director Siddharath Bindra said: “The first store will be opened at DLF Emporio in Vasant Kunj in Delhi. We will open four store in the next six months.”
The JV will open 20 outlets in the next two years.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Manhattan Pizza Hires Sparkleminds to Roll Out International Pizza Franchises In India
Bangalore, India (PressExposure) October 25, 2012 -- Manhattan Pizza ( http://www.manhattanpizza.com )a U.S.A based restaurant group, with expertise in making gourmet pizzas plans its strategy to enter the Indian market. Manhattan Pizza is well-known for its award winning New York Style preparation of Pizzas and their entry into the lucrative Indian market seems opportune as the Indian audience has now matured to the authentic taste of Pizza.
In July of 2009 and 2011 Manhattan Pizza was voted as the best pizza by readers of the Washingtonian Magazine. This is an honour bestowed to only the finest dining establishments in the Washington DC area.Along with serving delectable NY Pizza,Manhattan also offer Subs, Salads, Sandwiches, Calzones, Souvlaki, Gyros and Pastas making the menu both extensive and scrumptious. When one enters a Manhattan Pizzeria they experience a little bit of Italy, a wee bit of Greece and Americana in the comfort of their own neighbourhood.
The Azar brothersstarted operations in 1997 and with several years of prior restaurant experience developed Manhattan Pizza into a neighbourhood "fast casual" pizzeria that is second to none. Ever since its start Manhattan Pizza's loyal customer base has grown exponentially. Manhattan has been serving delectable New York style pizza by combining the freshest, highest quality ingredients with authentic original Italian and Greek recipes for over a decade. The décor of the outlets are New York themed with wooden floors and a cosy ambience and sounds which currently is lacking in the Indian market where all the chains have a similar look and feel.
Jack Azar, Founder & CEO of Manhattan Pizza is eager to step into the Indian market and is confident of great response, "We don't feel like a monotonous Pizza chain and eating a pie at Manhattan is an experience around which memories are made, we are not just another Pizza joint, we are your friendly neighbourhood pizzeria where the food is always fresh and hot and the serving staff are always warm and jovial."
P.K. Goriparthi, Executive Director & Head of International Expansion for Manhattan Pizza had the following to say after completing an exhaustive tour across India in August 2012. "The timing looks optimum and the market still remains an open ball park even with the head start a few chains might have had. Wereceived very nice response already and see a lot of scope to grow not only in the tier I cities but also in tier II cities. I am optimistic and excited to bring Manhattan Pizza to India."
Reliance Brands opens first Superdry store in India at Mumbai
Reliance Brands has opened the first Superdry store in India at Palladium mall, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Spread over 1,750 sq.ft., the outlet stocks T-shirts, jeans, sweaters, joggers, shirts, rugby shirts, polo shirts, bags, and accessories for both men and women.
SuperGroup and Reliance Brands entered a long-term franchise agreement this year in July to bring the British fashion brand Superdry to India. SuperGroup, which employs over 2,000 staff, owns the Superdry brand.
The collection at the store targets young people between 15 and 30 years.
Superdry claims that it has been worn by celebrities from David Beckham and Ben Stiller to Ewan McGregor, Jamie Oliver, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Pixie Lott, and Helena Christensen.
The price range for menswear is from Rs 2,000 to 12,000 while womenswear ranges from Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000.
SuperGroup and Reliance Brands entered a long-term franchise agreement this year in July to bring the British fashion brand Superdry to India. SuperGroup, which employs over 2,000 staff, owns the Superdry brand.
The collection at the store targets young people between 15 and 30 years.
Superdry claims that it has been worn by celebrities from David Beckham and Ben Stiller to Ewan McGregor, Jamie Oliver, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Pixie Lott, and Helena Christensen.
The price range for menswear is from Rs 2,000 to 12,000 while womenswear ranges from Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Travel company Yatra expands offline presence in Tier-II cities
Travel firm Yatra is in the process of expanding its offline presence in Tier-II cities. It recently added three franchise outlets at Mangalore, Amritsar and Bhilai this week, taking the total tally to 29. Dhruv Shringi, CEO and Co-founder, Yatra.com, said “These cities are emerging as an important travel hub not only for leisure, but for business traffic as well. These markets lacked abundance of travel agents and outlets.” “Launching our franchise in these cities, we aim to fill this gap and cater to the fast growing needs of the market,” Shringi added, according to a report in The Hindu Business Line. Yatra Travel World stores offer a range of products and services that include domestic and international holiday packages, air ticketing, hotel reservations, travel insurance, cruises and rail products.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Belgian chocolate company Leonidas opens first franchise outlet in India
Leonidas, the leading chocolatier from Belgium, offering premium range of chocolates, has opened its first franchise outlet in India at Santacruz West in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The outlet has been set up following a tie-up between Premium Pralines Pvt. Ltd and Leonidas for importing and distribution of the chocolates pan-India. Currently, the company sells over 115 products through 1,600 outlets across the world.
Karl Van Den Bossche, consul general, Belgium, and Tom Vermeulen, trade commissioner, Flanders Investment & Trade, graced the opening ceremony of the store and expressed delight tasting the delicacies.
Stating that Brussels was the single biggest spot for selling chocolates in the world, Van Den Bossche, said, "The national
airport sold around 800 tonnes of chocolate a year and is the chocolate hub of the world. There is a lot of potential for Belgium companies in India but the biggest hurdle is regulations and excise, the Indian market is too rigid and needs to be liberalised.”
Belgian companies are mostly small- and medium-sized, with good quality products, but they take their time to enter a market, doing thorough research. In India, the biggest challenge is, you need to have a good product but no market distortion and distribution channels especially the cold chains for products like chocolates needs to be liberalised especially for multibrand retail and that shall boost business."
Darshit Shah, MD, Leonidas Fresh Belgian Chocolates Premium Pralines Pvt. Ltd, said, "The chocolate industry in India is both organised as well as fragmented and is growing at the rate of approximately 12% to 14%. Being positioned as Belgium chocolates, Leonidas will facilitate the consumers in Santacruz with wide range of chocolate hampers, kids hampers and much more. All our chocolates are made from 100% cocoa butter, both the shell and the filling. The company believes in providing luxurious products of the best quality to the Indian consumer and plans to venture out into different luxury avenues for expansion.”
Shah added, "We plan to open stores in tier-I and tier-II cities, beginning with the metros in India. We have two formats in place - kiosk and store. The kiosk would suit the tier-I and tier-II cities, since there are consumers out there and they frequent the mall more compared to high street locations. The the store format would need an investment of Rs 50-55 lakh and the kiosk model would cost around Rs 20-22 lakh."
The outlet has been set up following a tie-up between Premium Pralines Pvt. Ltd and Leonidas for importing and distribution of the chocolates pan-India. Currently, the company sells over 115 products through 1,600 outlets across the world.
Karl Van Den Bossche, consul general, Belgium, and Tom Vermeulen, trade commissioner, Flanders Investment & Trade, graced the opening ceremony of the store and expressed delight tasting the delicacies.
Stating that Brussels was the single biggest spot for selling chocolates in the world, Van Den Bossche, said, "The national
airport sold around 800 tonnes of chocolate a year and is the chocolate hub of the world. There is a lot of potential for Belgium companies in India but the biggest hurdle is regulations and excise, the Indian market is too rigid and needs to be liberalised.”
Belgian companies are mostly small- and medium-sized, with good quality products, but they take their time to enter a market, doing thorough research. In India, the biggest challenge is, you need to have a good product but no market distortion and distribution channels especially the cold chains for products like chocolates needs to be liberalised especially for multibrand retail and that shall boost business."
Darshit Shah, MD, Leonidas Fresh Belgian Chocolates Premium Pralines Pvt. Ltd, said, "The chocolate industry in India is both organised as well as fragmented and is growing at the rate of approximately 12% to 14%. Being positioned as Belgium chocolates, Leonidas will facilitate the consumers in Santacruz with wide range of chocolate hampers, kids hampers and much more. All our chocolates are made from 100% cocoa butter, both the shell and the filling. The company believes in providing luxurious products of the best quality to the Indian consumer and plans to venture out into different luxury avenues for expansion.”
Shah added, "We plan to open stores in tier-I and tier-II cities, beginning with the metros in India. We have two formats in place - kiosk and store. The kiosk would suit the tier-I and tier-II cities, since there are consumers out there and they frequent the mall more compared to high street locations. The the store format would need an investment of Rs 50-55 lakh and the kiosk model would cost around Rs 20-22 lakh."
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Anytime Fitness Announces Sub-franchisee Agreement for India
New Delhi-based House of Fitness Pvt. Ltd., the Master Franchisee of Anytime Fitness LLC, the world's largest "24 hour" co-ed chain of health clubs, has signed its first sub-franchisee agreement for India with Shri Krishna Wellness.
With the signing of the agreement, Anytime Fitness brand would open its first Gym at Model Town, New Delhi.
"This is the first step towards expanding our services in the Indian healthcare market and we are pleased to tie-up with Shri Krishna Wellness. Shri Krishna Wellness would get all the support from us which would include the brand support and years of our experience in this vertical," said Mr. John Kersh, Vice President of International Development, Anytime Fitness, USA.
According to statistics from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association's 2012 Global Report on the State of the Health Club Industry, only 0.03% of the Indian population is a member of any health club. This figure is in sharp contrast to the United States, where over 17% of the total population are health club members, and to Europe, where more than 10% of the population are members in the majority of countries.
"There is an opportunity to provide the best of health care facility across Indian Cities, as we have been witnessing that people in India are becoming increasingly health conscious due to various reasons. We expect the number of such people to grow over a period of time. There is already a tremendous demand for the corporate wellness programs. Although,India is far behind the America, but nevertheless, we are moving on the right track," said Mr. Vikas Jain, CEO, House of Fitness Pvt. Ltd.
Anytime Fitness' concept provides a perfect solution for busy people looking for comfortable and convenient facilities. The convenience and affordability of Anytime Fitness for both men and women will keep benefiting the members and encourages them to strive for and meet their health and fitness goals.
Anytime Fitness India will provide exclusive rights to Shri Krishna Wellness for use of the brand's trademarks, systems and intellectual property under supervision during the term of the agreement, and will support the sub-franchisee via its corporate headquarters in the United States.
About Anytime Fitness:
Founded in 2002, Anytime Fitness is now the fastest-growing fitness club franchise in the world, with more than 2,000 clubs worldwide. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Anytime Fitness prides itself on providing its members with convenient and affordable fitness options in friendly, well-maintained facilities that feature top-quality exercise equipment. Clubs are now open in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Spain, Grand Cayman andJapan, and members everywhere have free reciprocal access to all clubs worldwide.
For more information, please visit http://anytimefitness.com.au/.
About House of Fitness:
House of Fitness (HoF) has been established by a group of professionals to provide the best possible fitness facilities across India. The HoF management has been associated with the fitness industry for the past several years in various capacities. The management of HoF has been involved in setting up several gym facilities in India and has provided state-of the art fitness equipment to various gyms in the country. Backed by vast experience, HoF is well-positioned to take the unique franchisee model of Anytime Fitness to a new level in India.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Fruit Day seeks franchise partners
A homegrown brand of edible arrangements, Fruit Day is planning pan India roll out via franchise route. The brand is currently running only one store in Bangalore and mulls to expand to all major cities preferring malls and business hubs for its location.
According to Roopa Sridhar, Founder, Fruit Day: “We have a production facility and deliver the customer to their home and offices. Shortly, we are opening up a store in the central region of Bangalore while are in the process to franchise in other parts of the country”.
A total investment of Rs 8 lakh along with an area of 200 sq. ft is required by the franchise partners to open up a franchise outlet of the brand.
Abhinav Bindra enters Pizza business
Olympic gold medalist-ace shooter Abhinav Bindra has formed a joint venture company with Pizza Vito, an international chain of pizzas, to launch its brand in India. The new company Pizza Vito Holdings would soon launch its outlets in Gurgaon, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ludhiana. The company said it would open 500 outlets over the next five years through the franchisee model.
“This will be followed by a unique pizza wine to be introduced for the first time and to be imported from the customised vineyards of Sicily. The company has mega plans to introduce Pizza Vito to other Asian countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, Malaysia, Singapore,” it said a statement.
“This will be followed by a unique pizza wine to be introduced for the first time and to be imported from the customised vineyards of Sicily. The company has mega plans to introduce Pizza Vito to other Asian countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, Malaysia, Singapore,” it said a statement.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Angry Birds’ franchise hopes to fly high this festival season
Original licensed merchandise from Angry Birds, the mobile game of wingless birds owned by Rovio Entertainment, has crossed revenues of Rs 50 crore in India. Dream Theatre, Rovio’s licensed merchandising agency, is expecting sales to escalate this festival season with companies such as Bata associating with the franchise.
“The about-to-strike Angry Birds phenomenon is an indicator of how the Indian retail market has warmed up to the concept of licensing, which is commonplace in the West. The popularity of Angry birds is phenomenal and the first of its kind for the Indian market where majority of licensed merchandising so far have hinged on TV exposure. This simple and fun game has captured the imagination of fans,” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder, Dream Theatre.
Roping in Indian companies such as Swadesh (for gifts and stationery) and Excel (plush toys), the Angry Birds franchise currently has 140 licensed products being sold at 600 odd retail points, across categories ranging from adult apparel, plush toys to stationery and gifts and novelties.
“The advent of Android and iPhones having Angry Birds games has helped expand the reach of this franchise. Today, we have one third of our sales coming from Angry Birds products amongst all the character-based merchandise we have at our stores,” said Prasanna Nagarajan, category Manager for toys and gifting, Cross Word Book Store.
This festival season will see another 350-odd products from the franchise across footwear and footwear accessories, kids apparel, fashion bags, and even furniture.
Footwear majors such as Bata are also reaching out to the target audience through the licensing pact with the property. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, group managing director, Bata India Ltd, said, “With this association, we look forward to further strengthen our relations with our younger audience. With a variety of products for pre-teens and teens, Angry Birds footwear with its styles and designs is expected to entice younger customers.”
“The about-to-strike Angry Birds phenomenon is an indicator of how the Indian retail market has warmed up to the concept of licensing, which is commonplace in the West. The popularity of Angry birds is phenomenal and the first of its kind for the Indian market where majority of licensed merchandising so far have hinged on TV exposure. This simple and fun game has captured the imagination of fans,” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder, Dream Theatre.
Roping in Indian companies such as Swadesh (for gifts and stationery) and Excel (plush toys), the Angry Birds franchise currently has 140 licensed products being sold at 600 odd retail points, across categories ranging from adult apparel, plush toys to stationery and gifts and novelties.
“The advent of Android and iPhones having Angry Birds games has helped expand the reach of this franchise. Today, we have one third of our sales coming from Angry Birds products amongst all the character-based merchandise we have at our stores,” said Prasanna Nagarajan, category Manager for toys and gifting, Cross Word Book Store.
This festival season will see another 350-odd products from the franchise across footwear and footwear accessories, kids apparel, fashion bags, and even furniture.
Footwear majors such as Bata are also reaching out to the target audience through the licensing pact with the property. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, group managing director, Bata India Ltd, said, “With this association, we look forward to further strengthen our relations with our younger audience. With a variety of products for pre-teens and teens, Angry Birds footwear with its styles and designs is expected to entice younger customers.”
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
MyTVS, ABC form JV in Gujarat; to expand via franchising
In what is seen as the equivalent of bigger retail stores possibly ‘edging out’ the neighborhood kirana kiosks, MyTVS, leading multi-brand car service provider from the TVS Group, on announced to set up about 15 workshops across Gujarat by 2015 to provide one-stop solutions to car owners, post-warranty period. Across India, MyTVS plans to set up nearly 100 such workshops by 2014 whose expected revenues would be around Rs 500 crore per annum. The company is also looking for franchisees to expand its pan-India network.
R Srivatchan, President, TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd, said here that these state-of-the-art workshops would provide a “retail experience” to car owners. “The after-market industry in this sector is worth Rs 24,000 crore, 50 per cent of which is in the organised sector,” he said.
Srivatchan said that his company has tied up with the promoters of ABC Bearings Ltd, a BSE-listed company in a 70:30 joint venture to set up the first outlet in Vadodara in October. The JV aims to be the largest multi-brand car service network in Gujarat, providing integrated car service solutions.
Earlier, MyTVS had tied up with the Rajgarhia Group in Kolkata for a similar business. The TVS Group would be expanding this network through such local joint ventures and franchisees, and soon enter the NCR region.
Excluding the cost of land, a workshop would cost Rs two crore each, he said. The JV business would also be entering into annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) with car owners for up to Rs 3,000 per annum.
MyTVS has a brand presence across India through its 24x7 emergency roadside assistance service business. It provides telematics-based vehicle tracking system and immobilizer, car diagnostics, insurance claims management services etc. It currently has 32 own outlets and another 40 franchisee outlets in the four southern states.
The 101-year-old, Chennai-based TVS Group had a turnover of $ 6 billion with a workforce of 39,000 in the last fiscal. TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd (TASL), a subsidiary of TVS & Sons, the holding company, has been in the business of multi-brand car servicing and 24x7 emergency roadside assistance for the last nine years.
R Srivatchan, President, TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd, said here that these state-of-the-art workshops would provide a “retail experience” to car owners. “The after-market industry in this sector is worth Rs 24,000 crore, 50 per cent of which is in the organised sector,” he said.
Srivatchan said that his company has tied up with the promoters of ABC Bearings Ltd, a BSE-listed company in a 70:30 joint venture to set up the first outlet in Vadodara in October. The JV aims to be the largest multi-brand car service network in Gujarat, providing integrated car service solutions.
Earlier, MyTVS had tied up with the Rajgarhia Group in Kolkata for a similar business. The TVS Group would be expanding this network through such local joint ventures and franchisees, and soon enter the NCR region.
Excluding the cost of land, a workshop would cost Rs two crore each, he said. The JV business would also be entering into annual maintenance contracts (AMCs) with car owners for up to Rs 3,000 per annum.
MyTVS has a brand presence across India through its 24x7 emergency roadside assistance service business. It provides telematics-based vehicle tracking system and immobilizer, car diagnostics, insurance claims management services etc. It currently has 32 own outlets and another 40 franchisee outlets in the four southern states.
The 101-year-old, Chennai-based TVS Group had a turnover of $ 6 billion with a workforce of 39,000 in the last fiscal. TVS Automobile Solutions Ltd (TASL), a subsidiary of TVS & Sons, the holding company, has been in the business of multi-brand car servicing and 24x7 emergency roadside assistance for the last nine years.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Lipsy inks franchise pact with BMI to enter India
Trendy young British fashion brand Lipsy on Tuesday announced that it has entered into an exclusive franchise agreement with Brand Marketing India (BMI) to market and distribute its products in India. Lipsy, which was acquired by Next Plc in 2008, is one of the UK’s popular fashion brands.
Known for its trend clothing and massive celebrity following, Lipsy is already selling internationally through recently opened franchise stores in the Middle East and CIS regions.
Emma Dobson, head of International Lipsy, said: “This is a key milestone in our international expansion and underscores the international appeal of our brand. We are delighted to be working with the team at BMI and look forward to introducing Lipsy to their customers.”
BMI, the company responsible for the successful launch and development of the Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and French Connection businesses in India, intends to open over 50 Lipsy stores over the next five years, thereby, effectively positioning the business to capitalize on the significant growth potential of the Indian market.
Commenting on the collaboration, Vijay Murjani, managing director of BMI, said, "The combination of glamorous fashion, affordability and a great retail experience has ensured the brand has been an overwhelming success with both celebrities and young trendsetters across the UK.”
"We are confident that the young Indian consumers will embrace the brand in the same way."
Known for its trend clothing and massive celebrity following, Lipsy is already selling internationally through recently opened franchise stores in the Middle East and CIS regions.
Emma Dobson, head of International Lipsy, said: “This is a key milestone in our international expansion and underscores the international appeal of our brand. We are delighted to be working with the team at BMI and look forward to introducing Lipsy to their customers.”
BMI, the company responsible for the successful launch and development of the Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and French Connection businesses in India, intends to open over 50 Lipsy stores over the next five years, thereby, effectively positioning the business to capitalize on the significant growth potential of the Indian market.
Commenting on the collaboration, Vijay Murjani, managing director of BMI, said, "The combination of glamorous fashion, affordability and a great retail experience has ensured the brand has been an overwhelming success with both celebrities and young trendsetters across the UK.”
"We are confident that the young Indian consumers will embrace the brand in the same way."
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
New York Pizza and Fried Chicken opens in Vijayawada
New York Pizza and Fried Chicken (NYPFC) has launched its first outlet in Vijayawada and its fourth franchise in Andhra Pradesh.
Announcing the launch of the new restaurant, NYPFC manager Yada Srimannarayana Murthy said that the franchise will provide American dishes with an Indian touch for the customers. “The restaurant was launched after observing the tastes and studying the project in different countries,” said Murthy.
Meanwhile, Pizza Hut also made its foray into the city with the launch of its first restaurant in the LEPL Icon Mall on Friday. With a seating capacity of 110 the restaurant is decorated in trademark Pizza Hut style with warm lighting and mood graphics on the walls. The welcoming waiters are more than willing to make the city people aware of wide ranging menu from signature pan pizzas and pastas to appetizers and beverages.
Speaking on this occasion Pizza Hut India Brand general manager Sandeep Kataria said that they were proud of this new launch and positive that it will offer a great dining experience and much more to the people of Vijayawada.
Announcing the launch of the new restaurant, NYPFC manager Yada Srimannarayana Murthy said that the franchise will provide American dishes with an Indian touch for the customers. “The restaurant was launched after observing the tastes and studying the project in different countries,” said Murthy.
Meanwhile, Pizza Hut also made its foray into the city with the launch of its first restaurant in the LEPL Icon Mall on Friday. With a seating capacity of 110 the restaurant is decorated in trademark Pizza Hut style with warm lighting and mood graphics on the walls. The welcoming waiters are more than willing to make the city people aware of wide ranging menu from signature pan pizzas and pastas to appetizers and beverages.
Speaking on this occasion Pizza Hut India Brand general manager Sandeep Kataria said that they were proud of this new launch and positive that it will offer a great dining experience and much more to the people of Vijayawada.
Indus-League mulls franchise model to expand in smaller cities
In a difficult retail environment when sales are subdued and retailers are battling pricing pressures, Future Ventures India Ltd-controlled Indus-League Clothing Ltd is using the franchise route to expand in smaller cities and keep entry-level prices intact. Indus-League sells apparel and accessories and owns brands such as Scullers, Indigo Nation, John Miller, Jealous 21, Urban Yoga, Daniel Hechter and has recently entered into a licensing agreement for Manchester United.
“In smaller markets in tier II and III cities, we were finding it a little difficult to run our own stores owing to manpower and other logistical issues, and so we decided to open 10 franchise outlets more as a pilot project to see how they do. We gave them six months this year, and now we have decided to open another 10 by this Diwali. The franchise format would also speed up stores in these markets. While we are not opening any flagship stores there, we will use a combination of two-three brands in each store,” said Rachna Aggarwal, chief executive, Indus- League.
The response to Manchester United stores and the merchandise has been extremely positive and we have been surprised by the kind of fan following the brand has, particularly among youngsters, Aggarwal added.
“We have already opened seven Man U stores and will open another five stores in the next three months. The merchandise will also be available in Planet Sports stores and shop-in-shop formats. Though as of now Man U stores are mostly coming up in metros, we are opening one store in the new World Trade Centre in Jaipur,” said Aggarwal.
Last year, the company opened around 16-18 flagship stores and is planning to open the same number of stores this year. Among this, 40-50 per cent will be in high streets and the rest in shopping malls.
“In smaller markets in tier II and III cities, we were finding it a little difficult to run our own stores owing to manpower and other logistical issues, and so we decided to open 10 franchise outlets more as a pilot project to see how they do. We gave them six months this year, and now we have decided to open another 10 by this Diwali. The franchise format would also speed up stores in these markets. While we are not opening any flagship stores there, we will use a combination of two-three brands in each store,” said Rachna Aggarwal, chief executive, Indus- League.
The response to Manchester United stores and the merchandise has been extremely positive and we have been surprised by the kind of fan following the brand has, particularly among youngsters, Aggarwal added.
“We have already opened seven Man U stores and will open another five stores in the next three months. The merchandise will also be available in Planet Sports stores and shop-in-shop formats. Though as of now Man U stores are mostly coming up in metros, we are opening one store in the new World Trade Centre in Jaipur,” said Aggarwal.
Last year, the company opened around 16-18 flagship stores and is planning to open the same number of stores this year. Among this, 40-50 per cent will be in high streets and the rest in shopping malls.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Mad Over Donuts opens third store in Bengaluru
Singaporean brand Mad Over Donuts (MOD) has launched its third store in the city within a short span of two months. The store is located at Inorbit Mall, Whitefield. With over 38 stores across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi and NCR, MOD is working to strengthen its base in the south and is looking for more opportunities to expand,.
Tarak Bhattacharya, COO, MOD, said, “The strategy is to focus on the ‘Love at First Bite!’ experience, which includes not just excellent product quality, but also the fun experience that one gets whenever they walk into a Mad Over Donuts’ store.”
“Being positioned as a vibrant brand, Mad Over Donuts has evolved into a lifestyle choice for many especially with their fresh, delicious eggless donut offerings,” he further added.
Tarak Bhattacharya, COO, MOD, said, “The strategy is to focus on the ‘Love at First Bite!’ experience, which includes not just excellent product quality, but also the fun experience that one gets whenever they walk into a Mad Over Donuts’ store.”
“Being positioned as a vibrant brand, Mad Over Donuts has evolved into a lifestyle choice for many especially with their fresh, delicious eggless donut offerings,” he further added.
Landmark open to more brand tie-ups
Lifestyle department stores, Max Retail and Auchan hypermarkets will lead the growth for the $4.7-billion Dubai-based Landmark Group in India. Renuka Jagtiani, who spearheads the group's international business, said the target to achieve a billion dollar turnover from India is well on track with the addition of doughnut chain Krisy Kreme and the French hypermarket chain Auchan to its portfolio, reports Times of India.
Jagtiani, who runs the business along with husband and Middle Eastern retailing czar Micky Jagtiani, said India clocked over Rs 3,000 crore in turnover last year with a growth of 30-35 per cent annually even as the group looks to bring more brands across different categories here. "We have been here for 11 years and as a group we believe in each one of our businesses. Grocery retailing has been important for us. Auchan is a great hypermarket partner with a track record of success in emerging markets so this part of the business will be significant for the group," said Jagtiani, vice-chairperson of Landmark Group.
The group, which will be the franchise partner for the French retailer, aims to open 10-12 hypermarkets every year after it decided to discontinue its association with Dutch retail chain Spar. Jagtiani said if the Indian government decides to open up the multi-brand retail sector to foreign investment, it may look to change the ownership of Auchan iprovided both the parties agreed on it. The group has gone slow in its investment behind its fashion portfolio other than through Lifestyle and Max stores. "We are always on the lookout for brands and are open to associations, we are not limiting ourselves," said Jagtiani, who was instrumental in setting up the multi-brand fashion retail chain Splash.
Landmark group franchises international brands such as New Look, Aftershock, Reiss and Koton in the Middle East as well as Bossini and Kappa in India. The group withdrew Springfield and Vincci from the Indian market during the 2008 economic downturn and cut back on expansion of other fashion brands, the report added.
Jagtiani, who runs the business along with husband and Middle Eastern retailing czar Micky Jagtiani, said India clocked over Rs 3,000 crore in turnover last year with a growth of 30-35 per cent annually even as the group looks to bring more brands across different categories here. "We have been here for 11 years and as a group we believe in each one of our businesses. Grocery retailing has been important for us. Auchan is a great hypermarket partner with a track record of success in emerging markets so this part of the business will be significant for the group," said Jagtiani, vice-chairperson of Landmark Group.
The group, which will be the franchise partner for the French retailer, aims to open 10-12 hypermarkets every year after it decided to discontinue its association with Dutch retail chain Spar. Jagtiani said if the Indian government decides to open up the multi-brand retail sector to foreign investment, it may look to change the ownership of Auchan iprovided both the parties agreed on it. The group has gone slow in its investment behind its fashion portfolio other than through Lifestyle and Max stores. "We are always on the lookout for brands and are open to associations, we are not limiting ourselves," said Jagtiani, who was instrumental in setting up the multi-brand fashion retail chain Splash.
Landmark group franchises international brands such as New Look, Aftershock, Reiss and Koton in the Middle East as well as Bossini and Kappa in India. The group withdrew Springfield and Vincci from the Indian market during the 2008 economic downturn and cut back on expansion of other fashion brands, the report added.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Dheya Hires Sparkleminds to Roll Out Career Guidance Franchise Centers across India.
Dheya, A Pune, India, Headquartered organization, pioneering the
career development and career guidance industry in India has chalked out aggressive
business expansion plans over the next couple of years. It has Hired
Sparkleminds to advise its business expansion, strategically build the
franchise model and help it recruit franchises across India over the next 3
years. Dheya is a Career Development organization focused on Career Guidance,
Career Planning and Career Development activities for students, founded in 2005
by Mr Anand Desai. Dheya has scientifically developed its own Psychometric
Assessments, Career Guidance, Career Planning & Career development methods,
processes and Tools. It also runs India’s
first career assessment portal called www.dheya.com focused on career
assessment, career planning, career development and employability.
Ms. Aditi Bhattacharya, Co-founder and Head Research, mentioned
‘Dheya today has an unmatched research on career streams, education streams and
career decision tools, with in-depth study of more than 600 career streams and
250+ education streams for India. With proprietary reliable and well researched
tools & methods, Dheya helps students and professionals in realizing true
potential, plan a fulfilling career and build personal competence & life
skills to achieve greater heights and success.’
Anand Desai, CEO Dheya, said on the occasion that ‘Dheya’s USP is
its unique proprietary intellectual property that includes their Psychometric
testing tools , Career planning methods and processes, Career Information and
Research, Leadership competency Model, Business Simulations and Exercises,
Competency Assessment Tool etc. Our competitive edge is the indigenously
developed reliable career assessment and psychometric testing tools. The
approach to career solutions that we bring to table is unique, systematic,
research based and scientific. Over the next 3 years we plan to be in every
major city and town in India and are glad to have hired Sparkleminds to get us
there.’
Commenting on the Association, Mr Amit Nahar, CEO Sparkleminds
said, ‘India is evolving, the job market is maturing and opportunities are
ample. Indian companies have become multi nationals and foreign brands are
setting up operations in India. With maturity of companies come job profiles
which are more detailed and demanding. India has the youngest population in the
World with 38% of the nation’s population studying (Age: 6-24) The Indian
education industry is expected to reach a valuation of $110 billion by 2016.
Currently we have 431 universities, 21000 colleges and a staggering 11.9 lac
schools in India out of which 27% of students are educated privately. According
to a recent study only 25% of graduates are actually employable. This number is
shockingly low considering the amount of effort and money one spends to finish
education and this is where we believe there is an urgent need of organizations
like Dheya to work across the country and increase the net productivity of our
nation and to match people with the right skills and help them take up the
right career streams. We look forward to working closely with Dheya in helping
them get 50 franchises across India in the next 3 years.’
About Dheya:
Dheya is a Pune, India Based Career Guidance &
Development Organization focused primarily on career assessment, planning and
development and employability development and building success competence.
Dheya intellectual property includes the indigenously developed assessments
(Several ability tests, personality assessments, skill inventory, values
inventory, interest inventory etc.). Dheya has developed a matching engine that
helped us in matching the results of the assessments to 600+ career monographs.
Dheya today has a web content of 20000+ pages that includes information on 600+
careers, 250+ areas of education, 140+ degree/diploma programs, 270+
specializations.
Dheya started with a research and content team that
built monographs of various careers over the initial 3 years. The company also
developed its own psychological assessment tools, tested reliability and
validity for the tools and set up Indian norms by testing 1200+ students.
Thereafter the company launched India’s first career assessment portal called
www.dheya.com focused on career assessment, career planning, career development
and employability.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Hamleys to enter Gujarat
UK based toy retailer Hamleys is set to expand its India presence by opening a new store in Ahmedabad. The first Hamleys flagship store in India opened in Mumbai followed by one in Chennai. The brand is in a franchise agreement with Reliance Retail. The Ahmedabad store will be spread over 10,000 sq.ft of space in AlphaOne mall.
Alpha G:Corp that operates Gujarat’s biggest mall in the Vastrapur area confirmed this news and added that the store will be functional by September.
The brand also operates in different formats, including concessions stores, toy box and travel stores in the UK, Europe and the Middle-East. These stores sell a wide range of toys like playhouses, vehicles, family games, action toys, dolls, pre-school toys and soft toys among others for children up to 14 years.
Me n Moms unveils first franchise outlet in India
Me n Moms, the fastest growing homegrown retail kids wear and accessories chain, has launched its first franchise store in the country. Located in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, the store is spread across 1,000 square feet, and exhibits a dedicated range of kids wear and accessories under seven categories along with maternity care products for pre-natal and post-natal care. The store aims to become a ‘one-stop destination’ for both mothers and their children.
Naresh Khatar, chairman and managing director, Me n Moms, said, “Keeping in mind the fact that the Indian market for Infant’s apparel is registering a healthy annual growth rate of more than 15 per cent and India is poised to be one of the largest consumer markets, a lot remains to be tapped in the organized retail space thus paving opportunities for franchise models as well. We are happy to announce our first franchise owned and operated store in Guntur. “
“We have chosen this route to grow faster and keep ourselves abreast with the ever changing retail scenario. We have arrived at selecting this city for pursuing our franchise model, post careful evaluation of markets. We are looking at replicating this model across India for our brand,” Khatar added.
The products at Me n Moms range from footwear, furniture and toys to baby play-time and bath-time accessories. It also offers products from several other big brands in the same category under one roof as well as tailor-made products for expecting and new mothers. The products are a combination of quality and affordability par excellence that aim to promote the ‘joy of parenting’.
The company currently has a turnover of Rs 80 crore and aims to reach the Rs 300 crore mark within the next five years. It currently has 12 exclusive stores (Lucknow: 1, Hyderabad: 3, Mumbai: 3, Noida: 1, Pune: 3, Nasik: 1)
Naresh Khatar, chairman and managing director, Me n Moms, said, “Keeping in mind the fact that the Indian market for Infant’s apparel is registering a healthy annual growth rate of more than 15 per cent and India is poised to be one of the largest consumer markets, a lot remains to be tapped in the organized retail space thus paving opportunities for franchise models as well. We are happy to announce our first franchise owned and operated store in Guntur. “
“We have chosen this route to grow faster and keep ourselves abreast with the ever changing retail scenario. We have arrived at selecting this city for pursuing our franchise model, post careful evaluation of markets. We are looking at replicating this model across India for our brand,” Khatar added.
The products at Me n Moms range from footwear, furniture and toys to baby play-time and bath-time accessories. It also offers products from several other big brands in the same category under one roof as well as tailor-made products for expecting and new mothers. The products are a combination of quality and affordability par excellence that aim to promote the ‘joy of parenting’.
The company currently has a turnover of Rs 80 crore and aims to reach the Rs 300 crore mark within the next five years. It currently has 12 exclusive stores (Lucknow: 1, Hyderabad: 3, Mumbai: 3, Noida: 1, Pune: 3, Nasik: 1)
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Planet Retail signs long-term franchisee deal with Debenhams
Planet Retail has forged a 10-year master franchise agreement with the UK-based retailer, Debenhams, as it believes there will be less chances of the latter trying to independently set up operations once FDI in retail is finally allowed, reports Business Line.
Aditya Nadkarni, business head, Debenhams, said, “Since Debenhams already has a partner in India it can exercise a long-term option. There are going to be less chances of it breaking away once FDI is allowed. It is better to either have a joint venture or a long-term agreement and in our case we have a 10-year franchise deal with Debenhams.”
Master franchise agreements can vary between 5 and 20 years. With FDI in retail coming in, short-term agreements are likely to end. As Nadkarni says, “There will be a big shuffle once FDI comes in and new positions will be formed as some brands would like to do business on their own.’’ As a master franchise, Planet Retail imports, markets and operates stores on behalf of Debenhams in India.
Having completed four years in the Indian market, Debenhams has been positioned as a woman-centric premium brand catering to women between 35 and 45 years of age.
“Our stores have an international feel and we are spending Rs 5,000 per sq ft which is a huge premium compared to other departmental stores. Having changed our positioning, we intend to open 3 to 4 stores smaller stores at 30,000 sq ft every year. There is still no premium woman-centric store in the country and we believe we will be differentiating ourselves from the typical department store which mainly caters to men’s clothing,’’ said Nadkarni.
Currently, Debenhams has three stores and its first store in Gurgaon’s Ambience mall has broken even at the store level while the new ones in Mumbai and Bangalore will take another year-and-a-half to do so, the report added.
Aditya Nadkarni, business head, Debenhams, said, “Since Debenhams already has a partner in India it can exercise a long-term option. There are going to be less chances of it breaking away once FDI is allowed. It is better to either have a joint venture or a long-term agreement and in our case we have a 10-year franchise deal with Debenhams.”
Master franchise agreements can vary between 5 and 20 years. With FDI in retail coming in, short-term agreements are likely to end. As Nadkarni says, “There will be a big shuffle once FDI comes in and new positions will be formed as some brands would like to do business on their own.’’ As a master franchise, Planet Retail imports, markets and operates stores on behalf of Debenhams in India.
Having completed four years in the Indian market, Debenhams has been positioned as a woman-centric premium brand catering to women between 35 and 45 years of age.
“Our stores have an international feel and we are spending Rs 5,000 per sq ft which is a huge premium compared to other departmental stores. Having changed our positioning, we intend to open 3 to 4 stores smaller stores at 30,000 sq ft every year. There is still no premium woman-centric store in the country and we believe we will be differentiating ourselves from the typical department store which mainly caters to men’s clothing,’’ said Nadkarni.
Currently, Debenhams has three stores and its first store in Gurgaon’s Ambience mall has broken even at the store level while the new ones in Mumbai and Bangalore will take another year-and-a-half to do so, the report added.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Gitanjali pursuing retail expansion through franchise model
The Rs 12,000-crore Gitanjali Group, which receives 60 per cent of its total revenues from retail operations, is planning to add 25 more large-format, multi-brand franchisee stores in the current calendar year. The company launched the largest-ever franchisee store, with over 12,000-sft space and 9,000 varieties of jewellery on offer, in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Gitanjali Jewellery Retail Private Ltd managing director Santosh Srivastava said that the company was pushing more retail outlets in the franchisee mode as they help built trust for the brand among the customers on the back of a trusting local partner.
The company, which currently has 75 franchisee stores, account for 80 per cent of the company’s retail sales in the country. According to Srivastava, the economic slowdown had no significant impact on its retail business as the purchase of jewellery was more to do with Indian tradition.
“We grew 70 per cent year-on-year and would continue to grow at this level in the next three to five years,” he told reporters. The company proposes to double the retail franchisee network in the country by 2015, Srivastava added.
Pankaj Doshi, managing director of Doshi Gems and Jewels Private Limited, who owns the newly-opened franchisee store, said he expected to post at least Rs 50-crore sales in the first year.
Gitanjali Jewellery Retail Private Ltd managing director Santosh Srivastava said that the company was pushing more retail outlets in the franchisee mode as they help built trust for the brand among the customers on the back of a trusting local partner.
The company, which currently has 75 franchisee stores, account for 80 per cent of the company’s retail sales in the country. According to Srivastava, the economic slowdown had no significant impact on its retail business as the purchase of jewellery was more to do with Indian tradition.
“We grew 70 per cent year-on-year and would continue to grow at this level in the next three to five years,” he told reporters. The company proposes to double the retail franchisee network in the country by 2015, Srivastava added.
Pankaj Doshi, managing director of Doshi Gems and Jewels Private Limited, who owns the newly-opened franchisee store, said he expected to post at least Rs 50-crore sales in the first year.
Anu Solar to take franchise route to open 2,000 solar product stores
Solar powered electronic products will now be available at retail stores across the country. These stores will sell varied products ranging from solar water heaters to solar powered calculators, caps with fans that run on solar power, solar power storing batteries and inverters. Bangalore-based Anu Solar pvt ltd, a leading manufacturer and seller of solar products, will open 2,000 stores across India on franchisee basis.
"These will be called 'one-stop experience stores' as the store and all the office equipments will also run on solar power, in order to show the public, the use and benefits of solar power," said T J Joseph, managing director, Anu Solar.
The government wants to encourage the use of solar energy but currently there are no private retailers for solar products.
The ministry of new and renewable energy has been promoting private entrepreneurs to open 'Akshay Urja shops' to sell and promote solar products but since 2002, only 300 shops have been established across the country and a good number of them are not functioning and there is no shop in the capital.
"We want the public to experience the power of solar and also raise awareness for the same," said Joseph. For Delhi, Joseph said there was an expression of interest from a client who plans to open 40 retail stores.
The company plans to make at least 20 stores operational by the end of the year, including one each in Bangalore and Madurai by September. With an investment of around Rs 25 lakh per store, the turnover expected is Rs 6 crore per year per store. By the end of the current financial year, the company hopes to open 50 stores.
These stores will sell a variety of products at MNRE subsidised rates. "As we are channel partners with MNRE, we provide government-approved subsidy on all products," said Joseph.
Solar photovoltaic cells, solar power storing batteries, inverters, solar water heaters are some of the products which the company will propagate the most and major sales will depend on them.
"These will be called 'one-stop experience stores' as the store and all the office equipments will also run on solar power, in order to show the public, the use and benefits of solar power," said T J Joseph, managing director, Anu Solar.
The government wants to encourage the use of solar energy but currently there are no private retailers for solar products.
The ministry of new and renewable energy has been promoting private entrepreneurs to open 'Akshay Urja shops' to sell and promote solar products but since 2002, only 300 shops have been established across the country and a good number of them are not functioning and there is no shop in the capital.
"We want the public to experience the power of solar and also raise awareness for the same," said Joseph. For Delhi, Joseph said there was an expression of interest from a client who plans to open 40 retail stores.
The company plans to make at least 20 stores operational by the end of the year, including one each in Bangalore and Madurai by September. With an investment of around Rs 25 lakh per store, the turnover expected is Rs 6 crore per year per store. By the end of the current financial year, the company hopes to open 50 stores.
These stores will sell a variety of products at MNRE subsidised rates. "As we are channel partners with MNRE, we provide government-approved subsidy on all products," said Joseph.
Solar photovoltaic cells, solar power storing batteries, inverters, solar water heaters are some of the products which the company will propagate the most and major sales will depend on them.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sparkleminds Begins Recruitments For Unit Franchises For BG Cleaning Systems at Pragati Maidan, Franchise Expo on 7-8 July for Delhi NCR.
After the appointment of ProClean Services Pvt
Ltd as the Master Franchise For BG Cleaning in Delhi NCR, Sparkleminds is now
participating at the Times Franchise
Expo in Delhi, India on 7-8 July 2012 at Pragati Maidan to assist the Master Franchisee
in recruiting unit franchises for its world class commercial cleaning services
across the region.
BG Cleaning Systems is a leading international
cleaning & facility services company that offers a wide gamut of services
from housekeeping services to specialized cleaning services, and also provides
facility services. BG is well known for
its high quality standards, and for its dynamic and innovative concepts and
systems which address the market‘s cleaning needs in a unique and systematic yet personalized manner.
We are now seeking qualified Unit Franchise
Partners in Delhi NCR.We are seeking franchises in Gurgaon,Noida,Faridabad,
Meerut, Ghaziabad, and all regions of Delhi Including West Delhi, North Delhi, South
Delhi & Central Delhi. Sparkleminds franchise team will be at the said
exhibition to meet with interested and qualified business entrepreneurs who
have good business acumen and the right bandwidth. The initial investment
needed to avail of a BG unit franchise is around 14-15 lakh Rupees which
includes an exclusive teritorry, equipments, a branded BG Van, Bike, and a 14
day initial training program at Iceland.
BG Cleaning Systems Delhi NCR launched its
operations in June 2012 under the able leadership and management of Mr. Amitabh
Pandey, the Master Franchisee for Delhi NCR. BG Delhi is now offering
housekeeping services, special cleaning services and facility services to
government institutions, commercial establishments, SMEs, hotels, schools,
stores, private institutions, malls,
apartment buildings, and all other types of facilities while adhering to BG‘s
strict international standards.
“ The need for professional cleaning services exists
in the Delhi NCR. As an international brand we will devote ourself to
addressing this basic need in the market and will hope that this will elevate the
cleaning industry of India to a superior level of excellence,“ said Mr. Pandey.
Among the housekeeping services offered by BG
Cleaning Systems Delhi to its diverse clientele are daily cleaning services and
regular cleaning services. To complement
and augment these services, BG also caters to the special cleaning needs of
both the public and private sectors. In addition to these, BG furnishes its
customers with facility services which include messengerial services, office
assistant services, pantry services and more.
BG
Cleaning Systems is a systematic
yet flexible organization, making it your ideal business partner anytime,
anywhere.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Myth & reality of franchise business
The world over franchise business is being promoted as a safe and profitable business, with very high rate of success, compared to independent small businesses. However, the fact remains that the success rate of a franchise business depends on franchisee to franchisee.
Among the many myths surrounding the franchise business, the first and foremost is that it’s a safe, risk-free business. Prospective franchisees should not develop any misunderstanding that franchising is a sure recipe for success. They should not get into this business merely on emotion and gut feel. Rather, should take an informed and careful decision before signing a brand.
A prospective franchisee should carefully study the franchise model and go for the one which is easy to manage and where there is strong support from the franchisor. One must clearly understand that the success of franchise system depends on the efficacy of the franchise system and how religiously one follows it. Feedback from existing franchisees of the brand will give prospective franchisee a fair idea about the success of the franchise system. The success or failure of any franchise business depends a lot on the franchisee. If a weak or unsuitable franchisee without any interest or knowledge of a particular category of business gets into the franchise system in the absence of a relevant selection criteria or procedures, surely, it’s a weak foundation for that franchisee business.
Many people get into franchising, holding a myth that anyone can make a success of franchise business and that they can make good money in short time by putting in lesser amount of efforts, compared to independent business. If you get into franchise business on this wrong promise and with unrealistic expectations, you are bound to tread on a risky road that may not lead you to success.
Those desirous of getting into franchise business should be fully aware of its pitfalls. They must realise that like an independent business, they require sufficient working capital with family and social support.
Another significant aspect of franchise business is that the prospective franchisees must have interest in their line of business and possess temperament and skill to engage with the team as well as with customers. Those having strong independent personality/outlook, may not fit into the franchise culture/system. If they want to make success of their business, they will have to learn to make adjustments. They should also have patience to build on the business. Before getting into franchise business, one must realise that his relationship with his franchisor is the key to the success of his venture. And the success of his business will depend on how well he manages this relationship.
Business acumen is an important asset of a franchisee. And it surely adds to the chances of success in business if the franchisee has previous experience of running business. Work ethics, organisational and leadership skills and customer-focussed approach with the ability to communicate and network are the assets of a successful franchisee.
In short, with business minded approach, constructive franchise relationship and vision for the future of his business, an entrepreneur can make his franchise business successful.
Among the many myths surrounding the franchise business, the first and foremost is that it’s a safe, risk-free business. Prospective franchisees should not develop any misunderstanding that franchising is a sure recipe for success. They should not get into this business merely on emotion and gut feel. Rather, should take an informed and careful decision before signing a brand.
A prospective franchisee should carefully study the franchise model and go for the one which is easy to manage and where there is strong support from the franchisor. One must clearly understand that the success of franchise system depends on the efficacy of the franchise system and how religiously one follows it. Feedback from existing franchisees of the brand will give prospective franchisee a fair idea about the success of the franchise system. The success or failure of any franchise business depends a lot on the franchisee. If a weak or unsuitable franchisee without any interest or knowledge of a particular category of business gets into the franchise system in the absence of a relevant selection criteria or procedures, surely, it’s a weak foundation for that franchisee business.
Many people get into franchising, holding a myth that anyone can make a success of franchise business and that they can make good money in short time by putting in lesser amount of efforts, compared to independent business. If you get into franchise business on this wrong promise and with unrealistic expectations, you are bound to tread on a risky road that may not lead you to success.
Those desirous of getting into franchise business should be fully aware of its pitfalls. They must realise that like an independent business, they require sufficient working capital with family and social support.
Another significant aspect of franchise business is that the prospective franchisees must have interest in their line of business and possess temperament and skill to engage with the team as well as with customers. Those having strong independent personality/outlook, may not fit into the franchise culture/system. If they want to make success of their business, they will have to learn to make adjustments. They should also have patience to build on the business. Before getting into franchise business, one must realise that his relationship with his franchisor is the key to the success of his venture. And the success of his business will depend on how well he manages this relationship.
Business acumen is an important asset of a franchisee. And it surely adds to the chances of success in business if the franchisee has previous experience of running business. Work ethics, organisational and leadership skills and customer-focussed approach with the ability to communicate and network are the assets of a successful franchisee.
In short, with business minded approach, constructive franchise relationship and vision for the future of his business, an entrepreneur can make his franchise business successful.
Floriana Marble plans to increase retail footprint
Floriana, the largest marble retail chain in India, has unveiled its third international flagship store in Singapore. The brand is managed by the New Delhi-based SVIL Mines Ltd - a member of the 'Floriana Group'. In India, the company has 45 stores which are a mix of both company-owned and franchise-owned but company operated. . In the months to come, it plans to further intensify the product line and the retail network across the country.
The Floriana Group is a US$ 1 billion conglomerate and spans a wide spectrum of businesses from essential oils to personal care products to wellness centres and agri business to marble mining and retailing.
The Floriana outlet in Singapore is spread over an area of around 1000 square metres in Vertex - Ubi, an industrial district in the heart of Singapore. The store is dolled up with exquisite polished natural marble from different places like Italy, Spain, Greece, and Oman. It provides a unique consumer experience with well created replicas of living room, bedroom cladded with marble so that the customers could feel the elegance of the products while shopping.
The Singapore store is Floriana's third international store after Dubai and Sharjah. It also plans to open additional international stores to escalate its retail presence globally.
To support its plan to redefine the marble industry, the company has set up its manufacturing plant in Madhya Pradesh, which is world's largest integrated marble processing plant. It's a state-of-the-art Italian processing unit with a strong infrastructure and world class technology. Customers can therefore be assured of the quality, standardization and innovation of the product. The company is well cognizant of the significant role of the marble in the real estate growth and development in India.
The Floriana Group is a US$ 1 billion conglomerate and spans a wide spectrum of businesses from essential oils to personal care products to wellness centres and agri business to marble mining and retailing.
The Floriana outlet in Singapore is spread over an area of around 1000 square metres in Vertex - Ubi, an industrial district in the heart of Singapore. The store is dolled up with exquisite polished natural marble from different places like Italy, Spain, Greece, and Oman. It provides a unique consumer experience with well created replicas of living room, bedroom cladded with marble so that the customers could feel the elegance of the products while shopping.
The Singapore store is Floriana's third international store after Dubai and Sharjah. It also plans to open additional international stores to escalate its retail presence globally.
To support its plan to redefine the marble industry, the company has set up its manufacturing plant in Madhya Pradesh, which is world's largest integrated marble processing plant. It's a state-of-the-art Italian processing unit with a strong infrastructure and world class technology. Customers can therefore be assured of the quality, standardization and innovation of the product. The company is well cognizant of the significant role of the marble in the real estate growth and development in India.
UK's PizzaExpress to debut in India soon; hires CEO
The UK-based casual dining restaurant chain PizzaExpress has kicked off the process of starting its India operation, almost eight months after signing a 50-50 joint venture partnership with Bharti Family Office. As a first step, a chief executive officer (CEO) has been hired for the India business, and the company is learnt to be looking at a year-end launch of the chain. The first few outlets of the PizzaExpress chain are expected to open in metros like Mumbai and Delhi, reports Business Standard.
Ramit Mittal, son of Rakesh Mittal, vice-chairman and managing director of Bharti Enterprises and elder brother of Bharti Group chairman Sunil Mittal, is spearheading the PizzaExpress project from the Bharti Family Office side. Bharti Family Office is an initiative of the promoters of the Bharti group through their personal investments. The Bharti group’s business interest ranges from telecom to media to retail.
Since Ramit Mittal, 33, is already based in Mumbai as co-founder and joint managing director of Bulldog Media and Entertainment, PizzaExpress is likely to have its India headquarters in the same city, people close to the development say.
An official representing the joint venture confirmed that Vivek Mathur, who’s coming from the Godrej group, has been appointed CEO for PizzaExpress India. Over the next two to three months, many more senior and middle-level appointments are slated to take place.
Mathur was executive director and president (marketing, sales and innovation) at Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. Prior to that, he was managing director at Godrej Hershey Ltd and chief operating officer (marketing, sales) at Godrej Sara Lee. He has also worked with Tata Global Beverages Ltd and Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
“The joint venture is making progress as per our plans. We continue to work on developing the brand, business and team in India. However, at this stage, we don’t have anything specific to share,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.
Ramit Mittal, son of Rakesh Mittal, vice-chairman and managing director of Bharti Enterprises and elder brother of Bharti Group chairman Sunil Mittal, is spearheading the PizzaExpress project from the Bharti Family Office side. Bharti Family Office is an initiative of the promoters of the Bharti group through their personal investments. The Bharti group’s business interest ranges from telecom to media to retail.
Since Ramit Mittal, 33, is already based in Mumbai as co-founder and joint managing director of Bulldog Media and Entertainment, PizzaExpress is likely to have its India headquarters in the same city, people close to the development say.
An official representing the joint venture confirmed that Vivek Mathur, who’s coming from the Godrej group, has been appointed CEO for PizzaExpress India. Over the next two to three months, many more senior and middle-level appointments are slated to take place.
Mathur was executive director and president (marketing, sales and innovation) at Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. Prior to that, he was managing director at Godrej Hershey Ltd and chief operating officer (marketing, sales) at Godrej Sara Lee. He has also worked with Tata Global Beverages Ltd and Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
“The joint venture is making progress as per our plans. We continue to work on developing the brand, business and team in India. However, at this stage, we don’t have anything specific to share,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Italian furniture brand Natuzzi plans expansion in India; seeks franchisees
Italian furniture and upholstery brand Natuzzi, which entered the living rooms of the aspiring Indian families in 2010 with a flagship store in Delhi, plans another 20 shop-in-shop stores by end this year. The company, which opened its second flagship store in Mumbai recently, is looking for potential franchisees to expand presence. At present, Natuzzi has 12 points of sales in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Gurgaon and Coimbatore.
Natuzzi is a part of the 514-million euro NYSE-listed Natuzzi Group that designs, produces and sells a vast range of armchairs, sofas and furniture accessories. It exports innovative, high-quality sofas and armchairs to 123 countries in 5 continents.
Nitin Bahl, country manager, Natuzzi India, said, “Natuzzi Store at Mumbai is a testimony of our continued commitment to this market. Ahmedabad, Pune and Goa are of strategic importance to our growth plans in the country and we are in the process of expanding our presence in these markets.”
The company also plans to develop a network of Natuzzi and Italsofa branded stores across all key locations in Western Region including Ahmadabad and Pune in the near term.
The store will give the customers of Mumbai a chance to experience all - from classic leather furniture and relaxed living room environment to sophisticated furniture of modern design and trendy colours.
Natuzzi is a part of the 514-million euro NYSE-listed Natuzzi Group that designs, produces and sells a vast range of armchairs, sofas and furniture accessories. It exports innovative, high-quality sofas and armchairs to 123 countries in 5 continents.
Nitin Bahl, country manager, Natuzzi India, said, “Natuzzi Store at Mumbai is a testimony of our continued commitment to this market. Ahmedabad, Pune and Goa are of strategic importance to our growth plans in the country and we are in the process of expanding our presence in these markets.”
The company also plans to develop a network of Natuzzi and Italsofa branded stores across all key locations in Western Region including Ahmadabad and Pune in the near term.
The store will give the customers of Mumbai a chance to experience all - from classic leather furniture and relaxed living room environment to sophisticated furniture of modern design and trendy colours.
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