Major Brands to open 100 stores

Now, luxury shoppers in cities like Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and the like have something

to cheer about. Major Brands India, franchisees for well-known international brands like Mango, Aldo, Nine West, Promod, Charles & Keith, La Senza, Okaidi, Aldo Accessories and Inglot is planning to open new stores in these cities. The company has signed up various real estate developers for opening new stores of its existing nine international brands in premier malls across India. The target is to open 100 stores by March 2011.

At present, Major Brands is present in Mumbai, New Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. It has a total of 38 stores across India of around 1,000 to 2,500 sq. ft.

The various malls, where Major Brands now plans to open stores, are: Forum Courtyard, in Kolkata by March 2010, Venus Square in Ahmedabad by April 2010, and Silver Arch in Ludhiana by August 2010. They also plan to open a store in Chandigarh by August 2010. According to Kamal Kotak, Director, Major Brands India they will invest around Rs 30 crores in these new stores.

At the moment, Major Brands has 18 stores in Select City Walk, DLF Promenade and Ambience Mall, New Delhi. Thirteen in Mumbai's Atria Mall, Linking Road and Inorbit Mall and one each in Bangalore's Garuda Mall and Pune's Jewel Square Mall. The total retail space that the company currently occupies across India is around 57,000 sq. ft. It started operations in India nearly 10 years ago with the launch of the Spanish brand Mango in Mumbai's Crossroads Mall.