Major Brands to step up retail expansion both online and offline

Premier international fashion apparel, accessories and beauty brands retailer Major Brands is stepping up expansion plans to open more stores and grow its online presence. Major Brands could also soon bring lingerie brands Victoria’s Secret and Pink to India.

Major Brands has been in India since 2001 with 180 stores and is now planning to have over 500 stores in the next 3-3.5 years. Tushar Ved, President, Major Brands says the online revenue is expected to grow from less than 5 per cent currently to over 25-30 per cent of overall revenue in this period. He further added the planned expansion comes on the back of new malls being opened by specialist shopping centre operators. Also, online retail market has matured in the last seven years. Previously the company launched shoes and accessories brand ‘Call it Spring’ and two years ago sports shoes and apparel brand New Balance.

The retailer also announced the launch of personal care brand Bath and Body Works, the second brand from its partner company, the US-based L Brands, whose portfolio includes lingerie brands La Senza, Victoria’s Secret and Pink. Shubrangshu Pani, MD, retail, JLL India says over the last three years, retail mall development has consolidated with a handful of specialist shopping centres operators, who among themselves had close to 10 properties. These mall developers have strong financial partners or funds backing them up and are now opening about 40-50 new properties in the next five years.