Future Group plans to double Pantaloon stores
Future Group announces its plan to double the number of its flagship multi-brand ‘Pantaloon’ stores in the next three-four years. The expansion of new stores would embark on an image makeover for the apparel and accessories chain to target youngsters. Group company Pantaloon Retail India, which opened its 50th store spread across 31,109 sq ft in New Delhi, plans to add another 50 Pantaloon stores across metros and smaller cities. Such landmark expansion plan of the retail chain would be a new sunshine opportunity for the signage companies dealing with in-store displays and others.
Lilliput inaugurates its first Lilliput World outlet of Ghaziabad. Lilliput World is a one-stop-shop destination for kids, offering large variety of kids products under one roof. It is an ideal place for kids where one can find a complete range of kidswear products, footwear, accessories, toys, baby care products, kids’ furniture and many more items. Lilliput World offers more than 4000 styles of kids’ products for the children falling in the age-group of 0-12 years. This kids corner is an opportunity of big business to signage companies, such as PSPs as well as others engaged in-shop signage.
Arvind Lifestyle Brands, Bangalore announces that they will increase the number of its ‘Club America’ multi-brand outlets in the country to enhance the reach of premium international brands in its portfolio. Having set up the first ‘Club America’ multi-brand store in Hyderabad, which sells brands such as Gant, Arrow, US Polo and Izod under one roof, the company plans to open 25 such stores in the next one year. Launch of the new high-end stores would bring a new opportunity to the signage companies dealing with in-store signage.
Ermenegildo Zegna Group, the world leader in luxury menswear, launches its first store at Taj Krishna in Hyderabad. This is the fourth store launch, forming an integral part of Zegna’s worldwide expansion strategy and establishing yet another pillar for Ermenegildo Zegna in India. The Ermenegildo Zegna store offers a perfect wardrobe for the stylish gentleman with a multi-faceted lifestyle, who enjoys the best under all circumstances – be it formal functions or leisure time. Spread across 2300 sq ft, Zegna store at Taj Krishna is designed by architects Gianmaria and Roberto Beretta and utilizes a variety of colors and it offers a new opportunity to the signage companies engaging in in-store signage.
Bangalore-based Rajesh Exports is the largest gold jewellery manufacturer in the country. It earns 95 percent of its revenue from exports. But now the company has taken a strategic decision to become the largest retailer of gold jewellery in the country by increasing the revenue from domestic retail sales of jewellery to 50 per cent of total sales within the next three years. The company shall achieve this by setting up 400 ‘Subh’ retail outlets across the country. All that glitter opportunity with the launch of the new jewellery outlets will be for the signage players too, in which in-store signage companies would find new business opportunity.
Kishore Biyani-led Future Value Retail is looking to set up a new format of standalone stores only for fruits and vegetables. The company is enhancing focus on fresh fruits and vegetables as a category. It has also been planned to open new format stores only for that. Fruits and vegetables is a profitable category and promises upto 10 per cent margin after taking into account wastages and supply chain losses. The company’s new format stores will be a new advantages for both consumers as well as signage players dealing in the retail or in-store displays.
Selling golf accessories in more than 100 countries, Callaway has planned to open exclusive stores in Chandigarh and Delhi by March 2011 and eight more stores across country in next three years. The company has formed Callaway Golf India—a fully owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf Company, California—to expand operations this side. Callaway Golf has 1,300 golf equipment patents in US and 3,000 worldwide. Opening of the high-end sports equipments outlet will be a new delight to the signage players dealing with in-store signage and others across the two cities.
Swiss watchmaker Rado, a part of the Swatch Group, announces the increase its retail outlets in India through mono-brand stores and shop-in-shops to enhance its presence here. Rado, which currently has 14 exclusive stores in India, plans to open around six new outlets next year, taking the total count to 20. Currently Rado watches are sold at eight shop-in-shop counters. Rado watches that come with an average price tag of Rs 50,000 in India are among the top five brands within the Swatch Group’s portfolio of about 20 brands. Of course, the new Rado stores would bring in a new opportunity to the signage companies, such as PSPs, those engaging in the retail segment.
Watch and jewellery maker Titan, which owns the Goldplus chain of jewellery is focusing on rural and tier II markets. The company decides to marry these two which would result in an ultra luxury product. Unveiling the three shortlisted designs of the company, Titan revealed they would ask the public to vote for the best design. Also in the new development is the company’s design on Nano car with the most popular design and show it around the country. Such new development in the company’s retail segment would bring a golden opportunity to the signage players, particularly the in-store signage companies.
India is the top international priority in the latest and ambitious expansion plan of British retail firm Marks and Spencer. While growing in the UK is the company’s foremost priority, laying the foundations for future growth international is also a key ingredient of the up to 950 million pound capital expenditure plan. Marks and Spencer currently operates in India through its joint venture Marks and Spencer Reliance India PVt Ltd. The firm already had ambitious expansion plans in place, with a target of opening at least 50 new stores in India over the next five years. The company’s expansion plan across the country will deliver a new business opportunity to the in-store signage companies.