Arvind to open multi-brand outlets

Arvind Brands, the apparel and retail division of Arvind Mills, plans to launch multi-brand outlets of its four licensee brands "� Arrow, GANT, IZOD and US Polo. The move will help the company tide over rising real estate costs.

The company is finalising the project, which may be rolled out by the second half of this calendar year.

Arvind Brands CEO J Suresh said, "The multi-brand format will be cost-effective as it may make a 10-15 per cent difference in per square foot sales. It will also help in improving foot falls for the stores as all international brands will be available under one roof."

Arvind Brands has entered into an agreement with US-based Philips-Van Heusen to retail IZOD, its sports lifestyle brand in India. The $1-billion IZOD is licensed to 27 companies covering 25 categories in the US and 11 international territories.

The company plans to open five stores of IZOD. Suresh said, "The company will invest Rs 10 crore for retail and advertisement campaigns. Initially, we intend to open flagship stores in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore."

Arvind Brands has been marketing Philips-Van Heusen's formalwear brand Arrow since 15 years.

The company estimates Arrow to post Rs 160-170 crore turnover in this financial year. It may tie up with leading retail chains in West Asia and a departmental store in South Africa to retail Arrow. Currently, international operations constitute 7 per cent to Arrow's business.

Last year, Arvind inked an agreement with US Polo Association to design and distribute its US Polo brand. The company also retails lifestyle brand GANT.

Suresh said, "We are planning to open five US Polo stores and introduce its luggage range by September. GANT will be sold through exclusive stores and premium shop-in-shop concepts."