Helios in expansion mode

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.

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.

‘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.