‘Brand Factory’ opens 7th outlet; undertakes two-fold expansion within a year

Brand Factory, the value fashion chain of Pantaloon Retail– the country’s largest listed retailer owned by Kishore Biyani-led Future Group– opened its seventh store on Thursday, the 24th July, in Bangalore.

Spread over a retail space of around 55,000 sq ft, the new store is also the second outlet of retail chain in the IT capital of India. Bangalore is an important market for the chain as in FY 2008 it accounted for 30% of total sales revenue for the chain. The first store of the chain in the city attracts a footfall of 5,000 persons every day.

Brand Factory outlets offer products of well known global and local fashion brands numbering around 200. These products are sold at discounts ranging between 20 to 50%, all round the year.

Brand Factory, according to a Business Line report, has also roped in the products of Planet M, Globus, Staples and Dollar stores. Apart from selling apparel and accessories, which contribute 80% of business, Brand Factory stores are also offering products across categories that among others include footwear, eyewear, watches, home and kitchen accessories, travel goods, and cell phones.

The value retail chain has planned to nearly double the number of its outlets from seven at present to 13 by June, 2009. This, according to , will entail an investment of Rs 6 to 10 crore per store. This expansion is expected to increase the sales revenue from Rs 200 crore in FY 2008 to Rs 500 crore in FY 2009 (ending June 30, 2009).

Value retailing is estimated to be a Rs 45,000 crore business in India, which is believed to be growing at a healthy rate of 20% per annum.