S.Oliver India to pump in funds for retail expansion

S.Oliver India, the local arm of the German apparel

retailer, will invest close to two million euros (Rs 14 crores) to add 20 points of sale to its existing 10 stores over the next six months. This is part of the 20 million euros (Rs 143 crores) investment it announced for India in 2012.

Apart from the new stores, the retailer has also reworked out its strategy for the Indian market by adding more entry-level price points to its existing portfolio. Citing demand for lifestyle apparel brands from Tier I, II towns, the company, over the next few months, will open stores in Pune, Kanpur, Ludhiana and Dehradun, apart from adding stores in Delhi and Mumbai.

The company is present in India through a 49:51 joint venture with Design Pod, having ended an association with Orient Craft Brands, an export house, last year. The success story of s.Oliver began in 1969 with the opening of the first retail outlet in Würzburg by its founder and owner Bernd Freier. Showing bravado, a certainty of style and an un-deceivable feeling for trends, s.Oliver has established itself as a pioneer in bringing the best of trends out of Europe to the world. In India, the brand has been present since November 2007.