Puma to offer omni-channel retail experience in India

German sportswear maker Puma aims to provide a combination of online and offline retail experience to Indian customers. Puma plans to let customers pick up their orders placed online from its stores within the same day. It will also equip its in-store sales staff to keep tablet computers handy, so that they can check the orders placed online and keep a tab on if something that is out of stock in a store is available online or in a store nearby.

To implement the new strategy, company would revamp Puma’s flagship stores in major India cities over the next six months. The plans also include better management of its inventory so that customers can find same merchandise simultaneously at stores as well as online. Puma, with 320 standalone franchisee stores across 115 cities in India, would also add new stores in existing and new cities while building its omni-channel format.

After getting FDI approval from the Indian government, Puma Sports India aims to acquire 49 percent stake held by its partner Knowledge Fire. The company plans to go solo and open its own stores in the country, while increasing its manufacturing base here.