After bringing in a host of international labels in India early on, Major Brands has set an aggressive expansion plan to introduce their brands across the country. Currently, Major Brands and its sister company Fashion Brands have under their belt a number of international fashion brands including Mango, Nine West, Aldo, La Senza, Promod, Charles and Keith, Bally and Okaidi. The company is now looking to expand its base with these brands and new additions, to other cities in India.
Sharing details of the expansion plan, Suresh D Bhatia, country head and director, Major Brands India Pvt. Ltd, told Indiaretailing, “To begin with, by October 2007 we will be opening 10 stores in Ambi Mall, Gurgaon. The brands include Mango, Nine West, Promod, Aldo, Aldo accessories, Okaidi, La Senza and 2 new brands. By the same time, we will be opening 8 more stores in Select CityWalk Mall, New Delhi, with the brands as mentioned above.”
The company also has plans to open six stores in GVK One, Hyderabad. Bhatia added, “We are also looking to open stores at Jewel Square, Pune, with Mango and Aldo. By April 2008, we will have another Bally store in DLF Emporio Mall, New Delhi, and 5 stores with a mix of old and new brands opening DLF Courtyard Mall, New Delhi. By October 2008, we will be opening 10 stores in DLF Promenade, New Delhi.”
Very recently, prices of their brand Mango have been slashed by 15-20 per cent, thus making the brand more affordable. Bhatia explained, “This reduction has been executed because of our passing of duty reduction benefits to customers directly and also because of some amount of price reduction by Mango internationally.”
Talking about investments for expansion, Bhatia said, “As for Major Brands’ current retail strength, we are already occupying more than 50,000 square feet of retail space inclusive of the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. With our current expansion in Delhi, Gurgaon and Hyderabad, we will have additional retail space of approximately 50,000 square feet.”
Commenting on introduction of new brands, Bhatia said, “Major Brands is talking with various international brands. We are looking to have a mix of brands that supports ‘family shopping’.”
– Zainab Morbiwala, Mumbai Bureau
