Kontak Comforts makes Pune foray

Mattress major to open 200 showrooms across India

Foraying into the retail market for mattresses and bedroom accessories with the launch of three new showrooms in Pune, Kontak Comforts, manufacturers of branded rubberised coir mattress, plans to open 200 showrooms nationally in the next 2-3 years.

Kundan Kankaria, managing director, Kontak Comforts, said on Monday that the company will extend its presence in all the segments of the Indian market.

"We will spend Rs 7-8 crore in the first phase of our expansion to set up our showrooms across Maharashtra. In the second phase, we will open a showroom in every state of the country and have a total of 200 showrooms," Kankaria said.

The company plans to open three more showrooms in Pune in addition to the three existing ones, besides a showroom in each city across Maharashtra in the first phase of its retail expansion, Kankaria explained.

He, however, did not disclose the total investment planned as the company was still in the process of finalising it.

Bullish about the potential in the retail market, the Rs 15-crore subsidiary of the Uma Group of companies with its manufacturing set-up in Ahmednagar, is also planning to double its manufacturing capacity within the next 12 months.

"We are planning a new manufacturing plant in Ahmednagar to double our capacity from the current 10 tonne or 1,000 mattresses per day," said Kankaria.

With the distribution network already established in the city and a few states in the country, Kankaria said that the showrooms would offer much more than just products. They would also stock a completely new range of mattresses that have been scientifically designed and patented.

"The showrooms will stock our range of spring mattresses and rubberised coir mattresses, for which we have applied for a patent. Our focus here, is on offering much more than products, as we will hire a physiotherapist at each showroom for counselling, offer free expert advice by interior designers and also offer bedroom accessories like bedsheets, cushions, pillows, pillow covers, and more."

Unfazed by the unorganised sector having a a grip on a major part of the Rs 175-crore market, Kankaria felt confident of gaining a leadership position in Pune.

"We expect to capture 80 per cent of the Pune market," he said. As for the company, "We will grow from a Rs 15-crore company, to be a Rs 25-crore company by 2007. Retail will contribute Rs 10 crore to our total turnover," said Kankaria.