Bally returns to India with Reliance Brands

Swiss brand Bally is returning to India in a joint venture with Reliance Brands. The first store will open in New Delhi in March 2017. Bally is a 165-year-old luxury brand. The joint venture will invest in building a world class retail experience by investing in training of staff and opening stores. Stores will be in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in the next three or four years.

Bally first entered India in a franchise partnership with Bird Group, which has interests in travel technology, hospitality and aviation. It had two stores in India, Mumbai and Delhi. Both these stores were closed. This time around the company has spent a few years finding the right partner and fine-tuning its strategy for India. In India, Bally will sell its entire range across men’s and women's footwear and accessories. The new store will be part of the brand’s global expansion which has seen the opening of two new concept flagships in Tokyo and Los Angeles this year.

Bally is the latest addition to the Reliance Brands portfolio which includes Steve Madden, Thomas Pink, Brooks Bro’s, Diesel and Super Dry. Most international retailers who have launched operations in India in the last four or five years have come through the franchise route.