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.

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.” 

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.

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.

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."