The Hindu Business Line : Royal Classic expanding global footprint

Bangalore, Oct. 25 Apart from eyeing the domestic retail market keenly, Tirupur-based garment exporter Royal Classic Group is also eager to take its ‘Classic Polo’ brand to other Asian countries.

Currently, Classic Polo shirts are being sold in the UAE through chain stores. The company will soon open four exclusive stores in Singapore. Plans are on to open stores in the UAE as well. Mr R. Sivaram, Executive Director, Royal Classic Group, said, “We have also applied for licences in other Asian markets.”

Domestic operations

In the wake of a strong rupee appreciation, the company is looking to beef up domestic retail operations. Its target is to have 100 exclusive ‘Classic Polo’ brand outlets in the country by March 2008, from 44 EBOs today.

Both domestic business (which includes retail) and exports have contributed equally to the group’s turnover of Rs 300 crore this year. “Of that, Rs 100 crore is from retail alone. Last year, exports had contributed to 75 per cent of our turnover,” said Mr Sivaram. He was here in the city to launch its ‘zero-press’ trousers – with adjustable waist bands, wrinkle-free and crease retention properties.

Women entrepreneurs

The company’s stores are run based on the franchise model. Five of its stores are managed by women, an initiative which the company claims has got returns. “We want to encourage women entrepreneurs. We expect one-third of our new stores to be handled by women,” said Mr Sivaram.

The zero-press trousers are being manufactured at its trouser plant in Tirupur, using sewing technology from Germany and finishing technology from China. The trouser plant has 120 sewing machines and employs about 200 workers. Production capacity is 800 trousers per day. “We plan to double the capacity in a month,” said Mr Sivaram.

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