25 May 2023, Mumbai  

Italian apparel and accessories brand Armani Exchange has opened its latest outlet at Phoenix Citadel in Indore, as announced by Foram Saiya, senior leasing manager at The Phoenix Mills Ltd., on LinkedIn.

A Mass Market Sub-brand by Armani

Armani Exchange, launched in 1991, serves as Armani's mass-market sub-brand catering to fashion-conscious individuals. While not directly designed by Giorgio Armani, it focuses on fast-fashion street style and offers accessible price points, making it popular among a youthful demographic.

India Presence and Reliance Retail Partnership

Armani Exchange made its entry into India in 2016, opening its first store at Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi. This expansion was made possible through a partnership with Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd., owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Group. Reliance Retail has successfully brought various international brands to India, including Giorgio Armani, and is currently in talks to introduce the renowned Armani/Caffè to the country.

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 27 April 2023, Mumbai 

With the current rebound in brick-and-mortar shopping, Woodland is looking to open 25-30 new outlets in the current fiscal year. The brand is also planning to expand its product line-up, which will be the first time since the pandemic began. The company is investing INR50-60 crore in capacity expansion and store additions to meet the growing demand.

Woodland specializes in outdoor and sports shoes. The brand has a strong presence in the Indian market and has been expanding its operations both in India and globally. In addition to its 475 exclusive outlets, Woodland has a presence in over 4,000 multi-brand outlets across India.

Woodland has a strong focus on the sports and outdoor segments, which have been growing fast in India.

The brand is currently producing five million pairs of shoes annually, and with its expansion plans, it is expected to increase its production capacity significantly.

Woodland is known for its durable and high-quality shoes, which are designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. The brand has a loyal customer base in India and is popular among outdoor enthusiasts and sportspeople.

The brand is owned by Aero Club, a company that was established in the year 1950.

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 01 May 2023, Mumbai 

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Raymond's consumer care business, which includes the Park Avenue male grooming brand and Kamasutra condoms.

What all you need to know

The deal, if it goes through, will give GCPL a bigger presence in the men's personal care and sexual wellness categories. Raymond has been looking to divest its consumer care business for more than two years, as it is considered non-core to its portfolio.

GCPL's previous acquisitions include the hair care brand Bblunt, but this would be its first large deal with an Indian brand.

With sales of ₹522 crores in FY22, Raymond is one of the top five players in the men's deodorants category and the third-largest in the branded condom segment but is a fringe player in the mainstream soaps and shampoo market.

This development comes at a time when GCPL is seeing a steady recovery in consumer demand after six to eight quarters of declining volume offtake due to price hikes.

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 21 April 2023, Mumbai

Bata believes that casualization and sneakerisation will continue to dominate fashion trends, with the rise of sneaker culture and customization driving a 40% growth in demand for sneakers.

What all you need to know

Despite inflation and market volatility, Bata India is poised for success by focusing on premiumisation and catering to the demand for branded footwear in tier 3-5 cities.

Bata India is embracing technology to transform its customer journey, upgrading stores with cutting-edge experiences such as 3D holographic units and lift-and-learn technology.

With a focus on prioritizing customer experience, Bata is spearheading a technology-driven roadmap to boost engagement and talent development. Bata India's revamped digital communication and advertising, highlight the company's commitment to both digital and traditional mediums to meet evolving consumer trends.

Bata India's hybrid work policy highlights the company's efforts to adapt to the changing workplace landscape, prioritising employee comfort and productivity.

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 19 May 2023, Mumbai  

Campus Activewear, a renowned sports and athleisure footwear brand, has partnered with cricketer Umran Malik to introduce the highly anticipated Nitrofly range.

This collaboration aims to combine Malik's exceptional skills as India's fastest bowler with Campus Activewear's commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving extraordinary performance.

The highlight of the Nitrofly range is the incorporation of the cutting-edge 'Nitro' technology, a performance-enhancing feature that sets these athletic footwear apart from others in the market. With the Nitro technology, Campus Activewear aims to revolutionize the world of athletic footwear by providing athletes with shoes that offer a perfect balance of speed, comfort, and control.

This collaboration between Campus Activewear and Umran Malik marks an exciting chapter for both the brand and the cricketer.

The Nitrofly collection will be available for purchase in select retail stores.

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19 April 2023, Mumbai 

Based on the findings of a report by Nielsen Sports that indicates a huge lag in inspiration in the country to pursue physical fitness, Puma India has launched a campaign ‘Let There Be Sport’ With this campaign, Puma will question the conventional mindset that sports is a digression from academics.

The campaign features cricketer Virat Kohli, boxer MC Mary Kom and footballer Sunil Chhetri.

“Puma’s new platform, Let There Be Sport, will encourage sport and fitness as a life skill.

Puma is one of the highest-selling international sportswear brands in India. It currently has around 360 stores across 120 cities and is present across e-commerce platforms in India.

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15 May 2023, Mumbai 

Gioia, a luxury leather handbag brand, has made opened its flagship store at Mumbai's Phoenix Market City, Kurla.

The newly launched Mumbai store reflects its commitment to luxury, craftsmanship, and history. The store's design aims to provide customers with an immersive retail experience, showcasing the brand's exquisite handbags in a visually stunning environment.

Mumbai store is the second store, Gioia has also announced their third store in the prestigious Mall of Asia in Bangalore, scheduled for June 2023

The brand, founded by the talented mother-son designer duo Diksha and Vashisht Bhatia the creative minds behind Gioia, opened its first store in Kolkata back in September 2022.

Gioia's foray into the Mumbai market represents a significant milestone in the brand's journey.

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 27 April 2023, Mumbai 

The Indian government is taking a tough stance on e-commerce platforms, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stating that while the government is not concerned about flash sales, it is against predatory pricing and other unfair practices used by e-retailers to limit consumer choice.

Goyal also expressed concern that consumers are being diverted to entities preferred or promoted by online retailers in order to avail of discounts, which is against foreign direct investment rules.

He emphasized that the government's e-commerce policy aims to prevent cheating and predatory pricing, citing China as an example of how dumping of goods at low prices can harm domestic manufacturing and force consumers to buy goods at high prices. Goyal urged e-commerce players to respect the country's FDI laws and operate marketplaces as marketplaces.

He also called for support to protect small retailers, who are at risk of being shut down by e-commerce giants in developed economies.

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15 April 2023, Mumbai 

Hrithik Roshan launched the first flagship store for his fitness-focused clothing brand HRX in Mumbai. With the opening of this Mumbai store, HRX plans to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint across India and plans to open 12 additional stores in 2023.

The new store, located in the Phoenix Market City mall in Kurla, spans over 2,600 square feet and features 500 products across categories such as clothing, footwear, accessories, fitness equipment, audio, nutrition, and personal care. The store is designed to provide an integrated shopping experience with a decor resembling a gym.

HRX, which was established as an online brand a decade ago, has now expanded its footprint to brick-and-mortar stores to offer a more personalized offline experience for customers. The brand, co-owned by Hrithik Roshan and Exceed Entertainment, caters to Gen Z and millennial fitness enthusiasts and fans of the actor, who is known for his love of exercise.

The expansion of HRX's brick-and-mortar footprint is a significant move for the brand as it looks to tap into the growing fitness market in India. According to a report by Research and Markets, the fitness market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2020 to 2025, driven by the increasing awareness about health and fitness among Indians.

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