Retail eyewear chain Titan Eye Plus has sewn up plans for major expansion of its retail network of stores, adding 50-60 stores across the country in 2014-15 as its strengthens its presence with more brands, including Fastrack, Hipster and Glares.

Part of Titan Company Ltd of the Tata Group, the company opened its 96th store in South India and expects to hit the 100 stores mark shortly. It has a pan-India network of 278 stores operating across 106 cities.

S. Ravi Kanth, Chief Executive Officer of the Eyewear Division of Titan Company Ltd, said, “The company is in the process of finalising plans for the next financial year and expects to add 50-60 stores as there is a growing demand for branded eyewear stores. Customers want quality service and assurance and have begun to rely on brands and branded stores.”

Addressing a press conference here today, he said there is growing shift towards branded eyewear in a fragmented industry segment.

On recent trends in eyewear purchase, he said there is a growing segment of buyers who are visiting stores to buy glasses as a protective/preventive measure even though they do not have any error. They are typically professionals who are keen to use lenses to protect their eyes from computer glare.

The company showcased its latest range of Fastrack optical eyewear and said it would soon unveil the Hipster range, which is now an international trend that offers a retro look and Fastrack Glares for the fashion conscious. Titan is also in the process of launching a wide collection of sunglasses.

The company is looking at setting up another lens manufacturing facility in the North or East. The manufacturing unit in Chikkaballapur near Mangalore is close to full capacity utilisation.

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