Shoppers Stop to go easy on private labels

Shoppers Stop will not widen its private label segment further. About 18 per cent of

Shoppers Stop revenues came from private labels during the first quarter of this year. Instead the retail major wants to be known as a house of brands and give customers a wider choice of both Indian and international brands. The company experienced same store growth of 21 per cent in the first quarter this year over the same time last year. It has grown 13 per cent in billings with apparel contributing 60 per cent to the retail chain’s revenues.

Private labels are a way for retailers to improve operating gross margin. Shoppers Stop was one of the earliest in the country to adopt this model for growth and expansion. Haute Curry, Kashish, Life, Vettorio Fratini, Mario Zenoti are few of the Shoppers Stop private labels.

A few years back its label Elliza Donatein, a premium range of women’s corporate wear, made a stunning impact. With a special emphasis on elegant lines and luxury fabrics, it gave the Indian corporate woman a more confident, comfortable and trendy look. Shoppers Stop has 33 stores covering two million sq. ft. and plans to add 27 stores in four years and will add another 1.5 million sq. ft. of retail space.