• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager
• Smartbuy

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth
• Events 2007

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Bangalore, May 15 Chennai-based luggage retailer Witco looks to re-position itself as a fashion and lifestyle brand. The company, which is currently present only in Bangalore and Chennai, is also eyeing a pan-India presence.

“Luggage has ceased to exist for functionality alone. Aspects like colour, design, style and fashion are critical today. From being called as ‘luggage experts’, we now are positioning ourselves as a premium lifestyle brand with the tagline ‘Travel in style’,” said Mr V.P. Harris, Managing Director, Witco (India) Pvt Ltd.

In tune with changing consumer tastes, Witco’s merchandise too has evolved, said Mr Harris, who is here in the city to inaugurate Bangalore’s third Witco showroom. Witco retails a range of ‘premium’ brands such as Samsonite, Kipling, VIP, American Tourister, Antler, Crumpler and Delsey — across product categories such as luggage for long distance travel, short trips and daily commuting, handbags, schoolbags, laptop bags and accessories — in the price range of Rs 4,000-15,000. Our showrooms also reflect the theme of lifestyle and fashion, added Mr Harris.

As part of its new positioning, Witco plans to foray into apparel as well. It will retail six brands — Arrow, Wills Lifestyle, Levis, ColorPlus, Indian Terrain and Zodiac — at its format stores in Chennai to start with.

Witco has 12 showrooms in Chennai and Bangalore. It is looking to set up 50 stores in two-three years in metros and other major cities across the country, with stores in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai initially. “We will set up at least one large format flagship store in each city with retail space of 7,000-9,000 sq. ft.,” said Mr Harris. Witco is looking to gradually introduce apparel in these large flagship stores, he added.

For its retail expansion plan, the company is looking for private equity investment to the tune of Rs 40 crore and is in talks with some PE funds.

More Stories on : Brands | Leather

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
ICICI Pru makes significant gains in rural biz

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line