Witco (India) bets big on e-commerce

As part of this, it is planning to set up stores in Bangalore and Hyderabad and is also looking at cities like Coimbatore in TN

Witco (India) Pvt Ltd, the Chennai-based luggage and personal effects retail chain, is planning to extend its market reach through e-commerce format, by launching a portal in another three months, according to company officials. The company, which has around 15 stores, is targeting to add another 10 retail stores in next one year.

As part of this, it is planning to set up stores in Bangalore and Hyderabad and is also looking at cities like Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. It is targeting to start 10 stores, mostly of 800-1000 sft size. Typically, a 1,000 sft retail store would require an investment of around Rs 50 lakh, said V P Harris, managing director, Witco India.

With the limited space in smaller format, which would allow the company to penetrate into the malls and hot shopping spots, the company has came out with an aisle design, in which it showcase various products of the same price range in the same area. "This would allow our customers to compare products from various brands easily. It is like comparing products in a portal,"he said.

"A virtual store would give us a better reach to the customers and we're planning to test it out," says Althaf Harris, director, Witco (India) Private Ltd. He added the company, which has a private label product range, would test the e-commerce model for an year from the launch.