Trump firms up India ties

Flamboyant American billionaire Donald Trump’s interest in India as a prime market continues

as it gets ready to sell clothes, fashion accessories and home products in India. New York-based Trump Organization has tied up with New Delhi’s brand licensing firm Bradford License India (BLI) to find partners that will manufacture, distribute and market Trump products for the Indian market. BLI has earmarked four companies that are being evaluated for a licensee agreement. According to a Confederation of Indian Industry–AT Kearney 2010 report on the luxury market in India, the size of the luxury industry in 2009 was estimated at $4.76 billion (Rs 21.706 crores). This includes all luxury products, luxury services and luxury assets sold in India. The total luxury market has grown at the rate of 13 per cent in 2007-09.

Cathy Hoffman Glosser, Executive VP, global licensing, Trump Organization says India is no exception to Trump’s brand message of affordable luxury. Specialized Trump-branded products will be created to appeal to the tastes and sensibilities of the Indian consumer. They work closely with manufacturers to set pricing that would be appropriate for the category and the target market.

Trump’s apparel and accessories, include men’s shirts and suits, neckties, cuff links and jewelry, leather goods and glasses, and home range products such as furniture, lighting, mattresses and room décor. The firm is in the process of launching its products in Dubai and Scotland. In India, the brand positioning of Trump would be that of a product which is very aspirational, not strictly luxury. For accessories, it could be positioned like Satya Paul or Zodiac and for suits, on the lines of Raymond and Reid and Taylor.