Thursday, May 26, 2011

Promod To Acquire Majority Stake In Major Brands India. Eyes 1000 Cr T.O. By 2015.

Major Brands (India) Pvt. Ltd, the local franchisee for fashion apparel and accessories brands such as Mango, Aldo, Charles & Keith and Nine West, will form a joint venture with French womenswear retailer Promod.

This changes the existing franchise agreement between the two. Both firms will raise their investment in the brand locally, said Kamal Kotak, country head, Major Brands. Promod will hold a 51% stake in the venture and Major Brands the rest.

India has nine Promod stores, and contributes less than 3% of the brand’s global revenue. The venture will set up 40 stores in the five years, with contributions from the region expected to account for 15-20% of Promod’s global revenue, Kotak said.

The venture will also explore opportunities to raise sourcing from India for Promod’s global operations of more than 900 stores. It may also consider price cuts in India.

In the past, brands such as Marks & Spencer and Ermenegildo Zegna have changed from franchisee operations to joint venture partnerships. Both the brands have tied up with Reliance Retail Ltd. Marks and Spencer, which entered India in 2001, also cut prices by around 30% and started sourcing from the country when it formed its venture with Reliance Retail in 2008.

In the past three-four years, the business model has changed for such businesses, said Devangshu Dutta, chief executive officer, Third Eyesight, a consulting firm focused on the retail and consumer products sector.

“Earlier in the 1990s, the preferred route to enter India was (being a) licensee as import duties were high,” he said. “Then, in the last decade, it changed to franchise, and in the last three-four years, it’s a joint venture as India becomes a strategic market for global marketers.”

Major Brands has 80 stores and a portfolio of 10 brands across women’s fashion, footwear, accessories and kids apparel, Kotak said.

“By 2015, the company plans to have 500 stores and revenue of Rs.1,000 crore,” he said. For fiscal 2011, the firm’s revenue grew 40% to Rs.200 crore. Kotak declined to give details on profit made by the privately held firm.

“Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will add four-five new brands to our portfolio,” said Kotak, who is in talks with some 10 European and US brands that are looking at an India presence. He didn’t name any of them.

Major Brands launched its apparel brand Queue Up late last year. It will launch kidswear brand JFK later this year. On average, the investment for a 1,500 sq.ft store is Rs.80 lakh to Rs.1 crore.

“In next 12 months, we will invest Rs.50 crore for expansion,” said Kotak. The capex will come from promoters’ equity and bank debt.

Earlier in the year, Spanish brand Mango appointed DLF Ltd as another franchisee as it sees opportunity for growth. Mango, which contributes close to 25% of Major Brands’ revenue in India, has tripled the number of stores and turnover in the past five years. “We believe that India will be within our top 10 countries in terms of turnover in 2015,” Daniel Lopez, managing partner and deputy general manager of Mango, said in an email. Globally, Mango has 1,400 stores and a revenue of €1.27 billion.

Source: Live Mint . Com, Sapna Agarwal, 26 May 2011.


Tags: Aldo India Franchise, Charles And Keith India Franchise, JFK, Kamal Kotak, local franchisee, Major Brands India, Mango India Franchise, Nine West India Franchise, Promod Franchise, Queue


This Blog/Information/News Item/Press Release has been posted by Sparkleminds, A Franchise Consulting Company Based at India, Offering Complete Franchise Solutions Nationally and Internationally for more than a decade now.We help retail brands franchise and retail businesses expand to various geographies across the globe through our franchise development and franchise recruitment modules.If you are an entrepreneur seeking a international retail franchise we can help you evaluate and start a new franchise.Visit www.sparkleminds.com for more details on how you can either expand your existing business through franchising or start a new business.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

India Offers Great Business For Luxury Brands Licenses/Franchises. Top International Brands Re-Work India Retail Strategy.


The recent report 'World Investment Prospects Survey 2009-2012' has ranked India second in global foreign direct investments in 2010. Further, it says India will continue to remain among the top five attractive destinations for international investors from 2010-12. And even though the issue of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail is still being debated in the country, nearly a dozen global fashion brands are waiting to open shop here. Some are already in talks with domestic players for distribution arrangements. British clothing brand Jack Wills, Italian Rifle Jeans, American fashion designer Michael Kors are some big names likely to enter India soon, following licensing agreements with local partners.

Indian regulations allow 51 per cent FDI in single brand retail while no foreign investment is allowed in multi-brand retail. However, many fashion brands prefer the licensing route. Under this, the local retail partner invests in branding, marketing and expansion. As Abhay Gupta, Executive Director, Blues Clothing Company who has licenses for many top global brands in India avers, “If a brand enters directly, it would benefit in terms of financial muscle. While a franchisee would have his own limitations, own growth plans, and his own structure. Sometimes there may be a mismatch between the growth pattern presented by a franchisee and the growth pattern demanded by a brand. That’s where the discontent arises.” Gupta should know as Blues Clothing Company retails brands like Cadini, Versace, John Smedley among others.

Abhay says there is no set rule that brands should enter through the franchisee route. There have been both successes and failures of the franchise route and joint ventures. Similarly there have been failures of direct entries with sleeping partners and successes too. “But we have had two methods working for us. One is the franchise and the other is the license route. And we have done well in both. We have five stores per brand. No brand would grow from one to five stores if they were not satisfied with us as a partner. And we would not invest in five stores if we were not satisfied with the brand.” What works is that India contributes to global sales of these brands.

Ashish Dhir, Associate Vice President, Technopak Advisors, agrees there is a huge market for luxury apparels in India. The growth rate of the luxury segment is more than 20 per cent. Luxury brands are entering India. And in Delhi and Mumbai we have enough retail spaces for them.” According to experts, the luxury branded clothes market is pegged at Rs 2,000 crores or 10 per cent of the overall organized branded garments market in India. It is growing at over 30 per cent year-on-year, making India an attractive destination.

And the list of brands now wanting a foothold in Indian market is growing. For example, Jack Wills, a UK-based brand, is following the licensing route and will be available in metros. Rifle Jeans which entered India in 2006 but did not make a mark has been relaunched through a new local partner. As Dipak Agarwal, CFO, DLF Brands points out, “The business of retail fashion brands is worth $3 billion in India, out of which these luxury brands can easily capture half-a-billion dollars in next 3-4 years, provided they put in the right strategy.”

However, many brands already present in India have had to rework their marketing and retail strategy. The buzz is the likes of Calvin Klein, DKNY, and Hugo Boss are on the lookout for new retail arrangements while Gas wants new distributors. Diesel and Italian brand Miss Sixty which switched partners — Diesel switched from Arvind Brands to Reliance Brands while Miss Sixty did the opposite— are again looking around to add more distributors. Ditto for other luxury brands including Mango and DKNY (currently with DLF), and Brioni among others. Agarwal is clear that DLF’s arrangement with DKNY will continue. “They continue to remain with us. Rather, we are aggressively building up stores for them and are looking forward to opening a few soon,” he opined.

Tags:Jack wills, Rifle Jeans, Michael Kors, licensing agreements, Cadini, Versace, John Smedley, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, DKNY, Miss Sixty, Brioni, retail business, luxury retail in India

Source:fashion united may 25.


This Blog/Information/News Item/Press Release has been posted by Sparkleminds, A Franchise Consulting Company Based at India, Offering Complete Franchise Solutions Nationally and Internationally for more than a decade now.We help retail brands franchise and retail businesses expand to various geographies across the globe through our franchise development and franchise recruitment modules.If you are an entrepreneur seeking a international retail franchise we can help you evaluate and start a new franchise.Visit www.sparkleminds.com for more details on how you can either expand your existing business through franchising or start a new business.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Italian Fashion Franchise Brand Alcott Plans JV with DLF Brands To Open 20 Retail Outlets and Sourcing From India.



NEW DELHI: Italian fashion brand Alcott that had inked a franchise agreement with DLF Brands to enter India in 2008, is mulling to convert their partnership into a joint venture.

"We are happy with the brand's (Alcott) performance in India and wish to grow here. Currently, we are talking to DLF to set up a joint venture in the country," Alcott Founder Salvatore Colella told PTI.

He said the plan is to convert their franchise agreement into a JV , wherein DLF will have the majority shareholding and Alcott will be the minority partner. Indian law allows only 51 per cent FDI in single brand retail.

He said India would be the first country where Alcott is looking at a joint venture and plans to open more big stores, which are larger than its existing ones.

"In Italy, all operations are company managed and in rest of the countries we have franchise run operations. Given the potential for growth in the Indian market, we wish to have a joint venture here," Colella said.

Alcott brand was born in Italy in 1990 and has presence in over 12 countries. It focuses on casual fashion targetting youth.

The brand entered India with DLF Brands in December 2008 and currently has 12 standalone stores and three shop-in- shops here.

"We intend to open 10 stores every year here. By the end of this year, we will have 20 stores in India," Colella said.

The firm currently imports merchandise from Dubai. However, it plans to start local sourcing not only for the Indian market but also to export to other countries.

"By next year we have plans to start sourcing products locally from India not only for the stores here, but also for those located outside India, especially cotton products," he added.

Alcott's global annual turnover is currently estimated at 200 million Euro, with Italy alone contributing 50 per cent.

"In the next 5-6 years, we expect to have a turnover of 50-60 million Euro in India," he said.

DLF Brands, a part of real estate giant DLF Ltd has several brands in its portfolio, including Mothercare, Sunglass Hut, Boggi Milano and DKNY.

Source:ET,20 FEB, 2011, 11.15AM IST,PTI

Tags:alcott, alcott franchise, DLF Brands, salvatore colella, casual fashion franchise, mothercare franchise, sunglass hut franchise, boggi milano franchise, dkny franchise,


This Blog/Information/News Item/Press Release has been posted by Sparkleminds, A Franchise Consulting Company Based at India, Offering Complete Franchise Solutions Nationally and Internationally for more than a decade now.We help retail brands franchise and retail businesses expand to various geographies across the globe through our franchise development and franchise recruitment modules.If you are an entrepreneur seeking a international retail franchise we can help you evaluate and start a new franchise.Visit www.sparkleminds.com for more details on how you can either expand your existing business through franchising or start a new business.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Alfred Dunhill Franchise In India See's Growth & Better Acceptance.

BRITISH luxury goods major Alfred Dunhill, which unashamedly dedicates itself to the pursuit of male indulgence, is witnessing a 30-35 per cent growth, not only in sales but also in terms of walk-ins, proving that Indians have indeed started accepting and integrating luxury as a part of their lives.

The main attraction for this brand is that it offers a complete wardrobe solution for the modern Indian male travellers, said Anjani Kasliwal, director of S Kumars Nationwide (SKNL). The company — one of the leading textile and apparel companies of India and has brands like S Kumars, Reid &Taylor, Belmonte and Carmichael house — owns the exclusive franchisee rights for Alfred Dunhill in India.

“Apart from its clothing lines, the brand also offers accessories and fantastic leather goods that will attract any male travellers.

We are seeing a huge demand of this brand in the three years of operations in India and going forward we expect this growth story to pick up pace even further,”

she added.

Dunhill specialises in premium men's luxury leather goods, writing implements, lighters, timepieces, fragrances and clothing.

According to Kasliwal, the market for luxury brands in India is still in its nascent stage, but it is growing rapidly. "Five years down the line, luxury will become the lifestyle of most the people in the country.

This is clearly evident from the way middle class in India is increasingly having more disposable income at hand and becoming conscious of fashion and brands,” she added.

As of now, Alfred Dunhill has two standalone stores in India – Delhi and Bangalore. The company will set up two additional stores in Mumbai and Hyderabad next year.

The company is also in talks to bring in other international brands in 2011.

Kasliwal did not divulge the details.

Separately, the Rs 3,840crore textile and apparel major S Kumar's National (SKNL), which also retails Brandhouse Oviesse, a joint venture between SKNL's fashion retail business Brandhouse Retail and Italian apparel retailer Oviesse, intends to expand its presence in tier-II cities.

Source: My Digital FM,Sreerupa Mitra, Jan 03 2011, Bangalore

Tags: Alfred Dunhill, Dunhill Franchise, S Kumars, Reid and Taylor, Belmonte, Carmichael House, Brandhouse Oviesse, Oviesse Franchise, SKNL, Brandhouse Retail, Anjani Kasliwal


This Blog/Information/News Item/Press Release has been posted by Sparkleminds, A Franchise Consulting Company Based at India, Offering Complete Franchise Solutions Nationally and Internationally for more than a decade now.We help retail brands franchise and retail businesses expand to various geographies across the globe through our franchise development and franchise recruitment modules.If you are an entrepreneur seeking a international retail franchise we can help you evaluate and start a new franchise.Visit www.sparkleminds.com for more details on how you can either expand your existing business through franchising or start a new business.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Esprit Considering The Franchise Route For Further Expansion

Esprit Looking At Franchise Expansion

NEW DELHI: Aditya Birla group company, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle today said it will open exclusive outlets for fashion accessories range of the international lifestyle brand, Esprit.

Madura Fashion and Lifestyle (MFL) that distributes the brand in India plans to have ten points of sale for Esprit accessories by next year and is eyeing a total turnover of Rs 100 crore this fiscal from the entire Espirit range of products, including ap parel.

“We are planning to roll out a new format, exclusively for Esprit accessories. In the beginning of next fiscal the company will set up small mono brand stores, counters and shop-in-shops only to sell accessories,” Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Chief Opera ting Officer (Esprit), Ms Manjula Tiwari said.

To begin with about ten points of sale will be opened next year, she added.

The company’s focus on accessories as a segment has gone up as it offers huge opportunity. The segment includes products such as bags, eye wear, jewellery and watches that contribute about 10 per cent to the total turnover currently.

At present, Esprit products are sold at 53 retail points in India, including 23 company owned exclusive stores in 11 cities.

Commenting on the sales outlook for this fiscal, Ms Tiwari said: “We hope to cross a turnover (at retail value) of Rs 100 crore.”

The company is also looking to expand its reach by opening new stores for the entire range of Esprit products in the existing markets as well as entering smaller cities.

“As we go ahead we would spread presence in smaller cities as well. In the next three years the plan to make the brand available in thirty cities,” she said.

By the end of current fiscal, at least 4—5 new stores will come up around India, Ms Tiwari added.

The company that currently owns and operates all the existing retail points, is also considering franchise route to spread the business, she said.

Esprit is an international youthful lifestyle brand that offers 12 product lines encompassing women’s wear, men’s wear and kid’s wear globally.

Tags:Aditya Birla Group, Espirit, Espirit Franchise, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle, Madura Franchise, Manjula Tiwari, MFL Franchise, retail franchise, lifestyle Apparel Franchise, garment franchise

Source: PTI,The Hindu Business Line,Nov 14 2010.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Willls Lifestyle Plans Franchise Expansion To Penetrate Smaller Cities

Wills Lifestyle, India’s premium apparel brand and the name behind India’s most celebrated annual fashion event, is all set to spread its fashion and lifestyle footprint across India. It plans to add 30 Wills Lifestyle outlets by June 2011. Currently, it operates 70 retail outlets in India, most of them being in the metros and larger cities. The company plans to focus on small cities such as Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bhopal, Aurangabad, Guwahati and Indore, among others in this phase of its expansion. They are also opening Wills Lifestyle boutique stores in ITC-operated five-star hotels to cater to the super-premium customers. With a distinctive presence across segments at the premium end, ITC has also established John Players as a brand that offers a complete fashion wardrobe to today’s young men. With its brands, ITC is committed to build a dominant presence in the apparel market through a robust portfolio of offerings.

Atul Chand, divisional chief executive, Lifestyle Retailing Division of ITC says they had to slow down their expansion plans as many retail properties, especially malls, were delayed during 2008-09, due to the economic slowdown. Now that these properties are nearing completion they have resumed their store expansion plans. Chand feels with rising aspirations, there has been a robust demand for quality apparel products in smaller cities and the company is keen on capitalizing on it. On an average a Wills Lifestyle store is spread over 2,000 to 3,000 sq. ft, creating a sense of premium shopping experience. Apart from company-owned stores, ITC is also looking at the franchisee model for new stores as the franchisees are expected to lower the gestation period for new stores. They expect around 20 per cent sales growth during the next year.

Indian Terrain Apparel Franchise Company To Add 35 Franchisee Stores By March 2011.

Indian Terrain, the premium men’s clothing brand has come up with a new fit in cotton khaki trousers -- a slim straight fit named Kansas. “We feel this will be liked by a lot of people. Our slim fit shirts are very popular. We have a range of products in the Kansas fit ranging from Rs 1,299 to Rs 1,599 price band,” says the CEO, Charath Narsimhan. As a brand Indian Terrain stands for self expression of each individual with its encouraging tag line 'Just Be'. This belief is personified in the brand’s range of clothing. ‘Just Be’ promotes uniqueness and originality which is reflected in its chic and lively lifestyle products and apparels. Having started out with just shirts and trousers, today the brand has a comprehensive product line. Positioned as a lifestyle brand with a bit of American casual wear inspiration, Narsimhan says, Indian Terrain is all about being an affordable, accessible casual lifestyle brand.

Collectively, the brand’s outreach is in about 93 towns and cities across India and its chalking out expansion plans. “In the next two to three years, we will expand into Tier II-III cities, where there is a lot of opportunity. We are looking to expand in those markets both through distribution as well as through our own stores. We have been opening a lot of stores in smaller towns in the last six months and that’s going to be our focus in the next two years,” Narsimhan says. At the moment, the brand has 45 EBOs. Only five are company owned and managed and the rest are all franchisees. The five company-owned shops are flagship stores in metros with an area of 2,500 sq. ft. each. “We will open more flagship stores in the next two to three years,” Narsimhan informs.

By March 2011, they will have another 35-odd franchisee stores. The aim is to have a total of 90 stores by the end of March 2011. Right now they have 70. As of now, 40 per cent of their sales come from MBOs, 30 per cent from own stores and 30 per cent from large formats. Over the next year, when all 90 stores are fully operational, 45 per cent would come from own stores, another 35 per cent from the MBOs and 20 per cent from the large formats.

Interestingly, Indian Terrain entered the men’s denim wear market about 18 months ago. Denim has a five to seven per cent share in the brand and by 2012, it is expected that denim’s share will grow two to three fold, reaching about 18 per cent. “As our retail footprint expands, we see an opportunity for denim to expand because many of our casual shirts, T-shirts are ideally worn with denim. So today a lot of consumers come and buy our upper wear and end up buying denims from others for reasons of fit, accessibility, brands and so on. We see a chance to convert part of that into our in-house clientele,” he avers. Indian Terrain will close 2010 with a turnover of Rs 100 crores. The management is confident they can target a 45 per cent growth by March 2011.

Tags:Apparel Franchise, Charath Nasimhan, clothes franchise, denim franchise, franchisee stores, garment franchise, Indian Terrain, Indian Terrain Franchise, retail franchise, textile franchise

Source:Fashion United,Friday, 12 November 2010