NTC to launch 300 Indian Republic stores this year

National Textile Corporation (NTC), a state-run enterprise under the Textile Ministry aims to open 300 Indian Republic

apparel stores this year. The brand was test-marketed this January. Starting initially with men’s wear India Republic will have the entire range of garments, including women’s wear in the near future. It began by launching one store each in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi at the beginning of this year. NTC has tied up with four garment manufacturing units for supply of garments and the company expects to reach a turnover of Rs 250-300 crores.

Designed by Fitch Design, NTC expects an annual turnover of Rs 1.5 crore from each store. The new stores will be launched in the months of June, July and August. They will come up in high-street locations where NTC has own properties, which it expects will help keep costs low. The stores will be of 600-1,000 square foot each, and the company has the approvals to spend Rs 10 crores towards advertising and marketing the Indian Republic retail chain.

NTC's handloom and handicrafts retail chain, Brand India, will be expanding its footprint by opening 75 stores over the next three years. Brand India stores would primarily fulfil all the retail needs of the consumers for home and lifestyle products ranging from home furnishings to home furniture to ethnic garments and lifestyle home products. The Brand India stores will have apparels, accessories, home décor and furnishings, furniture and antiques and Indian crafts, handicrafts and heritage products.