09 June 2022, Mumbai:

India’s largest footwear retailer Bata plans to explore the franchise model to expand in smaller cities and large towns besides selling more footwear through distribution partnerships with multi-brand stores.

This gives the brand a lot more flexibility besides allowing it expand in India, says Gunjan Singh, Managing Director and CEO.

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Last two quarters, Bata added almost 20 to 30 stores every quarter and hopes to continue this pace.

Bata India has expanded its footprint to reach to more shoppers through multi-brand stores. The brand sells through 20,000-25,000 multi-brand outlets in over 1,000 towns.

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In FY22, Bata added over 80 franchise stores to tap shoppers in Tier III and small cities. It has more than 300 franchise stores that account for 18 per cent of store network.

Over the next two years, Bata aims to increase franchisee store share to 30 per cent, say ICICI Securities analysts. Late last month, the footwear retailer reported doubling of March-quarter profits to Rs 62.9 crore. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 12.7 per cent to Rs 665.2 crore from Rs 589 crore a year earlier.

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07 June 2022, Mumbai:

German sportswear brand Puma plans to sell its merchandize in India through a newly launched shopping app.

The new PUMA app will enable the brand to offer consumers a faster, seamless and convienient digital shopping experience. Powered with multiple technology features, the app enhances users’ experience, says AbhisheGanguly, Managing Director.

One of the fastest-growing and largest international markets for footwear companies, Puma houses brands such as Adidas, Nike and Puma since the last two decades in India and has grown by partnering in cricket and other sporting activities. However, many players have shifted their positioning to lifestyle and regular athletic wear brands.

The onset of COVID-19 has expanded the demand for fitness wear and sports equipment for sporting disciplines other than cricket in India. In addition, the contribution from e-commerce channels has more than doubled for most lifestyle and consumer goods companies. Last year, Puma generated nearly 43 per cent of its sales from e-commerce last year.

01 June 2022, Mumbai:

A consortium of India's Reliance Industries and private equity firm Apollo have filed a bid to buy the Boots chain from Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) after the other major bidder declared intentions to walk away from the deal.

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*As per a Fashion Network report, the controller of the Asda UK supermarket chain, Issa Brothers plan to exit from the deal as it is not ready to pay the £7 billion asking price. Rising interest rates and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have made buyers nervous about raising debt to acquire businesses of this type.

The Issa brothers and TDR Capital, who own Asda together, viewed the Boots purchase as a way to improve Asda’s pharmacy services.

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However, this could lead to multiple Boots store closures with branches being integrated into Asda superstores. WBA is reportedly seeking between £6 billion and £7 billion for Boots but the Issas are only prepared to pay £5 billion. WBA reportedly aims to retain a stake in Boots.

The Reliance consortium could have the advantage of its Indian strength with plans to expand the chain into the country. That would appeal to the WBA given that it’s hanging on to a stake in the business.

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CREDITS: *A Fashion Network report.

08 June 2022, Mumbai:

Indian TV producer Ektaa R. Kapoor and entertainment commerce platform Roposoplan to expand their co-created brand EK into the women’s ethnic wear category.

Currently, Kapoorsells home décor, furnishings, and wellness accessories range under the ‘EK’ brand name on Roposo. The brand was first launched in November 2021.

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EK’s apparel is sold on theRoposoplatform and on lock screen platform Glance, which have a combined user base of almost 200 million.

The brand’s products are also available on its direct-to-consumer platform along with other e-commerce platforms. The range includes cotton-based kurtas, lowers and dupattas.

Roposo is a creator-driven live entertainment commerce platform, a business unit of Glance and is also available on the lock screen platform.

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Consumers can shop live with creators and branded online stores across multiple categories.

The move also signals the popularity of co-created brands that have seen top celebrities associate with retailers to design and retail products online. In the past celebrities such as HrithikRoshan and ViratKohli have launched or lent their names to such private labels.

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06 June 2022, Mumbai:

Brand from the House of Red Chief Shoes, Furo Sports Shoes, has named actor ShahidKapoor as its brand ambassador.

The association will help Furo expand its customer base and exploit Kapoor’s pan-India popularity across all age groups to help its reach its goal.

ManojGyanchandani, Managing Director, FuroSports,says, Kapoor’s high credible energy is much needed in such dynamic times to inspire the youth towards an athleisure lifestyle

Rahul Sharma, Marketing Head, Furo Sports adds, to continue leveraging our association both in mass media and digital platforms – Kapoorwould be part of the brand’s forthcoming Brand campaigns, which are back-to-back lined up starting a few weeks from now.”

Furo Sports Shoes sells its products through retail stores and leading e-commerce platforms in the country.

02 June 2022, Mumbai:

India’s much-loved eyewear brand, Lenskart has collaborated with JJ Valaya for the campaign of his all-new bridge-to-luxury brand, JJV.

With this, the brand aims to lead and cement its place in the space of fashion and bring forward its trend-specific product offerings.

Over the course of its 10-year journey, Lenskart has received much appreciation for being one of India’s fastest-growing eyewear omnichannel brands. In keeping with its purpose to transform the way eyewear helps people see and experience the world, Lenskart aims to tap into an in-vogue audience to reframe eyewear from a functional product to one that is a form of personal expression.

The collaboration was incubated owing to the shared vision between Lenskart and JJ Valaya and their comprehension of the fashion space. With this, they have successfully created a campaign with the aim to encourage the audience to bring out their own personal style. It is when a lifestyle brand like Lenskart joins hands with a luxury designer like JJ Valaya, that collaboration becomes democratized.

31 May 2022, Mumbai:

The Khadi and Village Industries Board plans adopt a slew of measures including introduction of new designs and materials to raise its sales turnover to Rs150 crore during the current financial year.

P Jayarajan, Vice Chairmann, says,one of the factors that boosted the sale of Khadi products was the circular issued by the Industries department in January encouraging government employees to use Khadi products once in a week.

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Improving sales is part of efforts to give a new lease of life to the Khadi industry, which will also help Khadi product makers in units other than those run by the board.

ayarajan claimed that a situation was being created in which there could be an “artificial scarcity” of cotton in the country, which could hit the Khadi industry hard.

The import duty on cotton was lifted between April and September this year, and export too has been allowed.

He said the government should procure cotton being produced in the country and supplied to the Khadi industry considering its importance in employment generation and the indigenous tradition that it upholds.

Jayarajan also said that the Centre’s policies had been harming the Khadi industry.

The rebate offered for Khadi products has now been changed to 10 per cent marketing development assistance.

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He feared that even that support might be lifted. The State government has been offering 20 per cent rebate for Khadi products during the festival season to boost sales. The total rebate then adds up to 30 per cent, including the assistance offered by the Centre.

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07 June 2022, Mumbai:

India’s footwear and specialty retailer, Metro Brands launched its first ever vegan-friendly shoe collection in collaboration with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. Called Tie-Dye collection, the new range is made from modern and comfortable materials.

The collection allows customers to conform to their ethics while expressing their fun sense of style, says Pooja Gupta, Chief Corporate Liaison, PETA India. Alisha Malik, President-E-commerce and Marketing, Metro Brands adds, globally, growing number of consumers have been choosing vegan shoes, Metro Brands provides consumers they options they desire through its focus on innovation, trends, and customer service.

Metro Brands’ new collection is a testimony to Lingaya’s Vidyapeeth researchers prediction in 2021 saying, people may opt for vegan and sustainable apparel brands once the pandemic subsides.