Crocs to open 60 stores by 2018

US shoemaker  Crocs, a footwear brand mostly known for colourful rubbery clogs with holes, entered the country in 2007 through a joint venture with Chogori Retail which was later changed into franchise operation.

Crocs has terminated  its exclusive franchising agreement for India with Chogori Retail and will now partner several companies, instead, to open retail stores in India. "We have planned out a strategy of having few but strong franchise and shedding some of the partners that don't, can't or won't want to grow with us whatever the reason might be," said Nissan Joseph, general manager of Crocs India.

Crocs, plans to open around 60 stores in the next three years apart from pushing its online initiative that already accounts for over 10% of sales in less than a year of its ecommerce entry.

Joseph said the last of the Chogori stores could go on till June. "Some will close and reopen, some will reopen in different locations inside the mall and some will reopen through new franchise partners," he said. Made with lightweight anti-microbial foam called Croslite, Crocs first hit stores in 2004 as a beach shoe and became an instant hit, thanks to its radical colourful design and lightweight, comfortable and odour-resistant qualities. 

Carzonrent launches MYLES franchise program

MYLES has a strong community of customers who believe in using MYLES cars instead of buying cars. 

They also believe in MYLES philosophy of Car Sharing/Self Drive services that helps in the decongestion of cities and subsequently the environment. MYLES Angels will be an addition to the existing MYLES community that aims to get more like-minded individuals together to make a larger community of those seeking smart mobility solutions.

Carzonrent is also looking at increasing the MYLES fleet to 40,000 in the next three years.

Being the pioneers in providing 360 degrees mobility solutions, the franchise program gives a chance to the individuals to be MYLES Angels and to earn revenue out of the cars they own. 

Myles consumer base continues to grow at over 40% on a Month on Month basis in the last 14 months of its existence and provides a potential of high return to associates on the investments.

Being part of a technology enabled process and large network will allow high growth potential to the Myles Angels as well. Some of the exclusive features of the franchise program are highlighted below;

Assured Online Business.
Extensive Marketing Support.
Fleet management support
Technology Driven business less manpower required
Investor friendly investment scheme

Commenting on the launch, Sakshi Vij, Executive Director, Carzonrent said,"Myles comes with a promise that you can save anywhere between 20-40% of your yearly cost of owning a car if you choose to rent the car as per need. There are over 25000 Mylers who experience this benefit regularly. The rapid growth of this community has encouraged us to develop the Myles Angels network. Over the next 12 months, we will be looking to add over 2000 such Entrepreneurs who believe in making smarter mobility solutions available in their cities. We have always been the leaders in the urban mobility space and believe in innovation through technology and collaborative models. We believe self-drive is the next engine of growth of mobility in India."

Pind Balluchi to open 20 more outlets this year

Known for its delectable Indian delicacies, Pind Balluchi is planning to open 20 more outlets this year. Currently, the brand has a total of 31 outlets and one international outlet in Singapore. The outlets are a mix of company owned and franchisee-run. Under the umbrella of J S Hospitality, the brand even looks to expand into foreign locations especially the Middle East.

JS Chadha, Chairman, Pind Balluchi informs: “Our group runs popular fine dining restaurant Park Balluchi and banquet hall Vatika Grand too. The Vatika group started its first restaurant and banquet in 1992 at Pragati Maidan. Park Balluchi, our flagship restaurant has been the winner of many national awards and now we want to grow further with new outlets across the country.”

Chadha further adds: “In the present scenario, when everybody is running after various global cuisines, we came up with an Indianised version because we believe it's permanent and not occasional like other foods.” 

Pind Balluchi’s vision is to be the benchmark by being the only Indian specialty dining destination; thereby, creating a wow experience for its patrons at all times. The cuisine at Pind Balluchi has an enormous variety of mouth-watering vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes.  At each restaurant, ancient recipes that have faded from the memory of the world are rediscovered in the rare dining experience and the multifaceted identity of India is unified and preserved in its original form.

US fitness chain Anytime Fitness to pump up Indian muscle with 100 gyms

US-based fitness chain Anytime Fitness is using the franchisee route to grow faster in the Indian market and aims to open 100 centres in three years.

Anytime Fitness wants to be a pan-India chain. “We see a long-term opportunity in the Indian market considering the low penetration levels. We find the Indian market very similar to what the US market was 15-20 years back,” John Kersh, vice president, Anytime Fitness Gym, said.

“We have grown from one centre in the US in 2002 to 2,000 centres in 50 states of the country. With a presence in 20 countries we look forward to having 4,000 to 4,200 centres by 2018 and India is an important market for us as the incidence of lifestyle diseases is higher in the country and the awareness about health is growing,” he said.

The penetration of fitness programmes in India is as low as 0.5 per cent in India, while it is six to seven per cent in Asia and 16 to 17 per cent in the US.

According to Kersh, franchising has worked well for the brand globally as the operating expenses are low in the model.

“A centre needs around 400 members to break even and most of them break even in about six months. The centres are easily accessible being located in residential areas and are open 19 hours a day. Before opening a centre, we enroll around 150 to 200 members and this too helps the centres break-even fast,’ said Vikas Jain, managing director, Anytime Fitness India.

The company will initially handhold the franchisee in order to find the location, set up the centre, source equipment, recruit and train the staff and to promote the brand. Apart from setting up new centres, the brand is also open to converting and upgrading its existing gyms. In India a majority of the fitness centres are in the unorganised sector.

Truefitt & Hill to open 75+ stores in five years

With a legacy of more than 208 years in the men’s grooming industry worldwide, Truefitt & Hill, the world’s oldest and luxurious barbershop is all set to unwrap its new store in the upcoming corporate hub of Mumbai. The latest store will be in the premium and luxurious Palladium Mall, at Lower Parel.

Truefitt and Hill successfully introduced a new level of indulgence for the metro-sexual man that makes them one-of-a-kind brand since its first store was established in Mumbai at Khar in May’14 followed by the opening of second store in Colaba in June 14. Krishna Gupta, Managing Director, Lloyds Luxuries Ltd says: “We are thrilled with the response we have received, and are very proud to announce the opening of our third barbershop. We are also due to open a fourth store in another posh locality of Mumbai as we enter the next year.”

Further elaborating on the expansion plans, Istayak Ansari, Director, Lloyds Luxuries Ltd also states, “We will end our first year of operations with four+ open and operating stores across premium localities of Mumbai. We intend to open multiple corporate owned stores in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune next year. We have set a target to open 10+ corporate owned stores in the above territories. Our first store outside Mumbai will open in South Delhi. We have set a target to open 75+ stores over a period of five years of which 50+ will be corporate owned and the rest will be franchisee run. We intend to start franchising from next year onwards once we have set up operations in Delhi and Bangalore."

Canon opens 124th Image Square outlet

Canon, a digital imaging brand launched its 10th Canon Image Square (CIS) in Mumbai. Canon Image Squares are the brands exclusive outlets. The brand has so far opened 123 stores across 64 cities in the country. Canon’s service reach extends to over 3200 towns with 18 Canon camera service centres and 38 printer Canon Care Centres. This store in Virar, Mumbai, takes the total tally to 18th Canon Image Square in Maharashtra.

The company plans to expand its retail business by setting up exclusive Canon Image Square outlets across the country.  With the objective to reach closer to the customer and to develop an engaging relationship with existing as well as new customers, Canon Image Square is further expanding its presence in western part of India. All existing CIS stores in Mumbai are located in different catchment areas and are easily accessed by a wide cross section of customers for a world class experience.

The store will offer customers the latest Canon cameras, lenses and photography accessories such as camera bags, tripods, chargers etc., in addition to exciting printing products and solutions. Customers are provided complete experience of the products; they can take prints of photographs, directly from their smart phones, tablets, pen drives, memory cards or CD’s. Canon also offers free training for all DSLR camera buyers through the CIS stores.

Gloria Jean's Coffee Cafe is all set to re-enter the Indian market

Australian coffee cafe brand, Gloria Jean's Coffees, is all set to re-enter the Indian market after ending its six-year long master franchise with Citymax, the hospitality division of the Dubai-based retail giant, Landmark Group.

According to industry sources familiar with the development, discussions are currently on for inking an agreement that will see Gloria Jean's make a second attempt in establishing a foothold in the Indian coffee retail market .

Responding to queries on its re-entry plans, the spokesperson at Gloria Jean's Coffees said: "While we can confirm that Gloria Jean's Coffees remains committed to the Indian market, we would not be able to share more details on our India plans as yet."

As for the new Indian master franchise partner is concerned, the sources said that the former president and CEO of Lavasa Corp, Nathan Andrews is the front runner and that both parties have walked the path already. In fact, having quit Lavasa in November 2014, Andrews has been busy putting together a business plan while simultaneously establishing a new entity to take up the India master franchise for Gloria Jean's Coffees.

"In fact, if everything goes as per plans, Gloria Jean's will start brewing coffee all over again launching its first outlet in Mumbai sometime around April – May 2015," sources said.
Having already tested the India market, Gloria Jean's is likely to pursue the master franchise approach for its second stint as well but with a slight twist. Thus, bringing their 'skin in the game', the coffee retailer could pick up a minority stake in the new (Indian) entity.

The expansion strategy, however, will still revolve around opening company-owned-company-operated (coco) outlets to be able to ensure consistency in the quality of food and beverages served as well as customer experience across its cafes.

A typical Gloria Jean's Coffees outlet would occupy anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 square feet of real estate. The cost of setting up a cafe would vary between Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 crore, depending on the location i.e. shopping malls, standalone, or office complexes.

While shopping malls and stand-alone locations are preferred options for food and beverages brands, a lot of international players off-late, are seeking retailing space in office buildings / commercial complexes. This is because such locations not only offer a very convenient eating-out environment but also a good flow of office going crowd that patronises the stores.

Hidesign to open standalone shoe stores

Leather bags and accessories brand, Hidesign has plans to open standalone stores for its shoes vertical by 2016. Hidesign is operational since 1978 and started franchising in 2002. The company, which is entering into the footwear category with limited products in February 2015, will initially sell in 30 select existing stores in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Currently, the brand has 76 Hidesign stores in the country and is planning to open another 12-14 stores next year. The brand may consider franchising as an option to expand by next year. The brand also sells its products through e-commerce channels including Amazon and Jabong. Hidesign’s turnover was approximately Rs.150 crore in the last fiscal.

Hidesign always looks to expand into newer markets. The kind of franchisee that Hidesign would consider to invest in would have to hold similar brand values and an understanding of the product and the consumer. Franchisees provide them with an in depth understanding of their geography and expertise of customer handling that is appropriate to the market.

McDonald’s opens two outlets in Mangalore

Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (HRPL), a Master Franchisee for West & South India operations of McDonald’s restaurants and a subsidiary of the BSE listed Westlife Development Limited entered Mangalore with the opening of two restaurants in quick succession. These launches add to the established network of 74 restaurants across Southern India.

McDonald’s Forum Fiza Mall sprawls over 3500 sq. ft while the restaurant at City Centre Mall can seat up to 134 guests within the restaurant and 32 guests outdoors.

Ranjith Paliath, Vice President, Business Operations, McDonald's India (West & South) said, “We are proud to open two McDonald's restaurants in Mangalore. We ensure that customers who come to McDonald’s get quality fresh food at great prices. Our menu has been created using flavourful spices that appeal to Indian tastes.  The restaurants will each have a team of 50 employees to manage operations in the initial phase. Further, McDonald’s also aims to generate employment and provide international training to local residents, creating opportunities for first time job seekers while also adding to the strength of 2,500 individuals that they have directly employed across business operations in South India.”

McDonald’s operates through various formats and brand extensions including standalone restaurants, drive-thru’s, 24/7, McDelivery, Web and Mobile ordering, Breakfasts and dessert Kiosks. The menu features burgers, finger foods, wraps, hot and cold beverages besides a wide range of desserts. Several of the McDonald’s restaurants feature the in-house McCafé. 

CADD Centre's DreamZone To Open 200 Centres

DreamZone, an initiative of CADD Centre, has set a target of opening 200 centres by the end of this financial year. The brand is presently running 60 centres in the country and several others are under process.

On the kind of prospective franchise partners the brand is looking for, Official Spokesperson of Cadd Centre, says, “We are looking for partners who have a strong passion for education business and should have a desire to be in the business for many years. Largely, we expect to have franchise partners who are serious about their entrepreneurial journey.”

CADD Centre was formed as a business entity during December 1987 in Chennai. It is also promoting DreamZone which runs School of Interior Design, School of Animation and School of Fashion Design that collectively offer about 50 courses - from PG Diploma to Master Diploma to certificate courses - that suit student’s unique time and skill needs. DreamZone is an education member of Institute of Indian Interior Designers, icograda, ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD and CMAI.

IndiaOnline.In to Expand Its Business Via Franchisees

India’s online network, IndiaOnline.in has plans to expand its business network through 5,000 franchisees all over India. It is a one-stop shop for acquiring quality information about India and is a unique amalgamation of 350+ websites covering every state, city and town of India.

India Online Network has been in existence since the last five years and now it has brought a unique business opportunity for masses to join the Internet revolution in the country by partnering with them. IndiaOnline.in in its endeavour to create a network of more than 4,000 Business Associates from all over India, is inviting applications to join the network as Business Associate from each and every city and town of India. Smaller towns with less than two lakh population will have 1- 5 business associates per town or city while bigger cities will have multiple associates depending upon the size and population of the city.

Rahul Jalan, Director, Indiaonline.in says, “We take pride in expanding ourselves through the franchise route as we feel we will be creating a huge self-employment opportunity in every city and even the smallest of towns in India. By expanding our network, we wish to bring forward a unique business opportunity for anyone who joins our network as a Business Associate. We at India Online Network are striving hard to make India Online Network – a true synonym of the online information system India.”

Any-one who qualifies to become a Business Associate will have to pay a one-time very nominal non-refundable joining fee of Rs. 2000/- to 7000/- depending upon the city tier. It is a considerable and unique business and self employment opportunity for individuals, web designers, web marketing firms, cyber cafes, Aadvertising agencies, marketers, freelancers and even Students. The qualification needed to become the Business Associate is minimum 10+2 pass with reasonable knowledge of Internet with access to Internet connection.

The role of a Business Associate would be to promote and sell various paid membership, website and listing services among the businesses, industries and small businesses in their own city/town and also other local advertising options.