Koutons Retail to launch footwear range by October

"We will come out with our footwear range for men and kids by October this year as part of our strategy to offer complete range of wardrobe and accessories to customers under one roof," Koutons Retail President Balvinder Singh Ahluwalia said here.     

The apparel manufacturing company would source footwear from China as well as India for its retail stores, he said.     

Besides, the company has also firmed up plans to foray into overseas market with the opening of its first store in Dubai next year.     

"The store is aimed to cater to the requirements of Indians living in Middle East countries," he said.   However, the company is yet to decide whether to open company owned store or to have an collaborative arrangement with other firms for this purpose.      The company also plans to enter the European market.     

"Definitely we will move to Europe but that may happen next year," he said.      Following an aggressive expansion plans, the company would open over 500 stores this year with an expected investment of over Rs 100 crore.    

 Koutons plans to increase the strength of their stores from 1,263 at present to 1,800 stores by this fiscal end," Ahluwalia said.