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Tag: luxury

  • Signify launches Interact IoT platform in India

    Signify launches Interact IoT platform in India

    Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting), the world leader in lighting, has launched its new Internet of Things (IoT) platform, called Interact in India, which will enable its professional customers to unlock the full potential of connected lighting for the IoT.

    The platform delivers new insights to help customers drive operational efficiencies and take more effective decisions. It also supports the company’s strategy to deliver new data-enabled services as value expands from lighting products and systems to services.

    Signify has already installed 29 million connected light points worldwide and plans for every new LED product it produces to be connectable by 2020. This growing number of connected light points, sensors and devices, as well as systems, can collect large volumes of data for which Interact was designed to handle. The highly secure, scalable cloud-based Interact platform uses sophisticated and modern data management and data processing capabilities, including machine learning, to bring sense to all manner of data – creating data-enabled services for customers that will deliver benefits beyond illumination. It also offers a growing suite of licensed open application program interfaces (APIs) which will foster innovation from third-party developers, development partners and customers, enabling various data enabled services to be developed.

    A typical example of such a service is occupancy data from different buildings, combined and analyzed to help managers to understand and predict how people use office space. Such insights can help deliver savings by optimizing the use of existing office space and support better designed, more efficient buildings.

    In addition, data from authorized third-parties can also be analyzed by Interact. For example, for a municipal authority, news articles and social media posts, reacting to a new lighting installation on a bridge, can be analyzed and data sent to a social impact app dashboard that summarizes the public sentiment.

    Launching the platform in India, Sumit Padmakar Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Signify’s operations in India said, “First, we led the way in energy efficient LED lighting, then in connecting lighting to deliver operational benefits for our customers. Now that light points are smart enough to collect data on their performance and the environment around them, we are tapping into that intelligence. By analyzing the data from our connected lights, devices and systems, our goal is to create safer cities, energy efficient buildings and industries and smarter retail stores in the country. We are confident that this platform will deliver immense value for our professional lighting customers in India”.

    Interact connected lighting systems

    These connected lighting systems, offering a unified user experience, feature applications that address industry-specific verticals. Available now are:

    – Interact Office – enables you to turn your office into a smart sustainable workspace with software that allows you to increase building efficiency and employee productivity.

    – Interact City – helps improve street lighting, safety, reduce energy consumption, improve efficiency and support your sustainability goals and beautify the urban landscape across roads.

    – Interact Retail – enables customers to group, zone and schedule connected lighting to create stopping power in stores. It also supports in-store location-based marketing services to increase shopper engagement and indoor navigation to improve staff productivity.

    – Interact Landmark – aids in managing and triggering light shows with dynamic architectural lighting to help increase tourism, regenerate downtown areas, and stimulate commerce.

    – Interact Sports – aids in monitoring, managing and coordinating across all lighting infrastructure from a single dashboard from pitch lighting, entertainment light shows, hospitality areas and exterior architectural lighting.

    – Interact Pro – an intuitive cloud-based software for small and medium enterprises that automates lighting and allows management via the Interact Pro dashboard.

    Signify became the new company name of Philips Lighting as of May 16, 2018. The legal name of Signify will be adapted in India in the beginning of 2019.

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  • Garuda Indonesia Expects to Make Profit in 2018: CEO

    Garuda Indonesia Expects to Make Profit in 2018: CEO

    National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia expects to end 2018 in profit and is targeting a net profit of Rp 1 trillion ($69 million) for 2019, its chief executive said on Friday. Garuda saved $96 million by working with lessors to restructure the financing of its planes until November 2019, chief executive Ari Askhara told reporters.

    “Our net profit for 2018 is positive, even though it might be a small amount,” he said, attributing the result to cost-cutting, renegotiation of aircraft leases and new partnerships.

    The result would be a marked improvement for the airline, which reported a $116.86 million net loss for the first six months of 2018. Ari declared in September that Garuda had abandoned hopes of making a profit this year, after struggling with fuel costs and a rising rupiah versus the US dollar.

    The new partnerships include Garuda taking operational control of rival Sriwijaya Group in November, gaining a majority share of the fast-growing domestic aviation market.

    That partnership could be escalated to a 51 percent share ownership of Sriwijaya, depending upon discussion with Garuda advisors and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, Ari  told a media briefing. Garuda’s profit had yet to see a positive boost from Sriwijaya, he said.

    “Garuda might also see a partnership with [Malaysia’s] AirAsia … through [Garuda unit] Citilink but it’s very early,” he said.

    AirAsia president director Dendy Kurniawan confirmed in a statement that early talks with Garuda were underway, with “various forms of cooperation to support the industry being discussed,” but noted no final decision has been reached.

    Garuda has been battling for market share against local market leader Lion Air, which in October suffered a crash of a Boeing 737 MAX jet, killing all 189 people on board.

    Ari said Garuda had 30 million passengers in 2018 and would expand its fleet to include a new Airbus SE 330neo in September 2019 and a 737 MAX jet at the end of 2020.

    New profitable routes domestically and internationally are planned for 2019, he said.

    Ari also said an intended private placement of shares from subsidiary Garuda Maintenance Facility AeroAsia to longtime partner Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance had been canceled.

    He said that he considered the current share price of GMF AeroAsia too low and wanted to increase the company’s valuation first.

    Ari said GMF Aeroasia would partner with Dunlop and China Construction Indonesia to build a tire plant in 2019, with the first stage seeing a $300 million investment from the companies involved.

    The plant would be for the domestic market and supply 50 percent of its output to Garuda, 48 percent to Lion Air and 2 percent to AirAsia Group.

    Domestic air traffic more than tripled in Indonesia over the past decade as rising prosperity and lower fares made flying affordable for more people.

    With 129 million passengers in 2017, the Southeast Asian country is the world’s 10th-largest aviation market and is projected to continue growing.

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  • Sunway Malaysia sells land, assets to Sunway REIT for RM550m

    Sunway Malaysia sells land, assets to Sunway REIT for RM550m

    Sunway Bhd is selling its land and assets to Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (Sunway REIT) for RM550 million cash. Sunway said that its wholly owned subsidiary Sunway Destiny Sdn Bhd had on December 24 entered into a conditional sales and purchase agreement with RHB Trustees Bhd, being the trustee of Sunway REIT, for the proposed disposal.

    The exercise entails the disposal of three parcels of leasehold land in Sunway Town, Petaling Jaya, together with buildings comprising a five-storey academic block, a six-storey academic block, a 13-storey academic block as well as four blocks of five-storey walk up hostel apartment.

    Sunway said the proposed disposal will allow the group to unlock the value and realise its investment in the land and buildings, which will result in an improvement in the earnings per share of the Company by about 0.9 sen.

    Proceeds from the disposal will also lead to a net cash inflow of RM311.3 million for the group, with part of the proceeds will be utilised to repay existing bank borrowings, which is expected to reduce the group’s gearing and potentially save RM9.9 million of finance expense per annum.

  • Xiaomi India to foray into appliances, white goods space

    Xiaomi India to foray into appliances, white goods space

    Xiaomi is all set to convert its India arm into an end-to-end consumer durables company. According to a report, Xiaomi officials are currently identifying potential categories including air-conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, laptops and small appliances like vacuum cleaners and water purifiers for the Indian market. All the products will be smart appliances based on Internet of Things (IoT) or which can connect to the internet and other devices, and operated remotely.

    Xiaomi entered the Indian television market in February this year with products 30-50 percent cheaper than the top three brands — Samsung, LG and Sony. It eventually expanded TV sales to offline stores and started assembling them in India in partnership with contract manufacturer Dixon. It recently announced having shipped more than a million televisions into the Indian market.

    The company will follow the same model for appliances. The products will be priced aggressively in line with its announced strategy of keeping just 5 percent profit margin for itself and start local assembly after gaining some scale to take advantage of Make in India duty benefits, according to the report.

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  • Mercedes-Benz Vietnam to recall 4,802 SUVs over faulty seatbelts

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam to recall 4,802 SUVs over faulty seatbelts

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam is expected to issue a recall notice for 4,802 vehicles due to seatbelt faults in their rear seats. Company representatives said that an application for the recall has been submitted and they are waiting for approval from the Vietnam Register, the vehicle registration, inspection and quality control department of the Ministry of Transport.

    The models affected by this recall are the popular GLC 200, GLC 250 4MATIC, and GLC 300 4MATIC. These models were assembled at the Mercedes factory in HCMC between March 2016 and February 2018, and sold mainly to Vietnamese consumers.

    It is expected that owners of the faulty SUVs can have their vehicles checked and repaired free of charge at Mercedes Vietnam dealers nationwide from Jan 15, 2019 till the end of 2023.

    For the left and right rear seats, the seatbelt retracts so much that its locking clip can be stuck in a crevice in the inner car plating. If this happens, the clip cannot be retrieved and used again.

    Mercedes GLC is one of the models distributed in the Vietnamese market by the German luxury manufacturer.

    In 2017, GLC was the best-selling model for the company as well as the entire luxury car market, priced at VND1.68-2.9 billion ($72,032 – $124,032).

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  • Bottega Veneta opens massive flagship store in Tokyo

    Bottega Veneta opens massive flagship store in Tokyo

    High-end Italian label Bottega Veneta has opened a new flagship in Tokyo this month. The six-storey store at Ginza Chuo-Ku is the brand’s largest in the Asia region, and features men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, handbags, eyewear, footwear, fragrances, jewellery and home decor.

    The store’s facade is composed of more than 900 metal panels similar to a motif featured on the brand’s handbag range, while the understated interior design matches Bottega Veneta’s furniture aesthetic.

    The label’s GM Claus-Dietrich Lahrs said in a statement that the Japanese clientele is important and extremely loyal – adding that Japan is one of the world’s leading markets for Bottega Veneta.

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  • UK-based international chain bar Toy Room enters India

    UK-based international chain bar Toy Room enters India

    Toy Room, one of the most talked-about premium and international brand which has attracted visits from A-listers around the world including Jessie J, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Scherzinger, has opened its first outlet in India in Aerocity. According to Akshay Anand, Owner Toy Room India, “Present in eight different countries, Toy Room is one of the biggest and hottest UK-based international entertainment brands with outposts already operating in London, Dubai, Istanbul, Rome, Mykonos, Athens, São Paulo and now India.”

    “This was the right time to introduce the brand in the country as food service industry is at its full-bloom all thanks to the well-informed and frequent travelling consumers,” he adds.

    Toy Room is the first international nightlife brand to enter the Indian market.

    Elaborating more about the brand, Anand says, “Toy Room is a playful, provocative, unpretentious and sexy place with a special focus on intimate hospitality and service and that is going to set it apart from other brands in the same category.”

    “With capacity for over 400 guests and a Hip-hop/ Rock ‘n’ Roll only music policy, Toy Room is derived from an urge to create an intimate setting for people to have fun,” he adds.

    Spanning across 4,500 sq.ft. Toy Room has been positioned as a finest party place that delivers an upscale nightclub experience with a focus on delivering premium hospitality, while still retaining its brand of sexy and provocative playfulness, which made it a worldwide sensation.

    The Toy Room brand internationally is known for placing children’s toys and imagery in an entertaining setting for adults, bringing together the notion of innocence alongside deviant party behaviour.

    “We are eyeing Rs 25 crore per annum revenue from Toy Room and going ahead we will be opening more outlets in Mumbai and Goa,” Anand concludes.

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  • Starbucks opens immersive coffee destination in New York

    Starbucks opens immersive coffee destination in New York

    “We designed the Roastery as the pinnacle experience around all-things-coffee, and there is nothing else like it in the world. With premium coffees, teas, mixology and the iconic Milanese Princi Bakery, it serves as a Starbucks brand amplifier and a platform for future innovation,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO, Starbucks. “Beverages such as Draft Nitro, Cold Foam and the recent launch of Juniper Latte all began at the Roastery and have since been introduced to Starbucks locations around the world. It is the ultimate Starbucks Experience and an unforgettable way to connect with our customers.”

    Starbucks has a long history in New York. In 1994, Starbucks chairman emeritus, Howard Schultz, who was born and raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, opened the first Starbucks store in the city on Broadway and 87th Street on the Upper West Side. Nearly 25 years later, there are 350 Starbucks stores across the five boroughs in the city where Starbucks employs approximately 5,000 partners (employees). The Roastery employs nearly 300 people, including roasters, baristas, commessas and mixologists.

    “Like most people I first experienced Starbucks as a customer, where I would go to my store at 195 Broadway in the Financial District in New York City and order a tall latte which was the perfect way to start my day,” said Raul Adorno, Managing Director Reserve Roastery New York. “I look forward to welcoming my fellow New Yorkers and visitors from all around the world when we open the Roastery on Friday. You will be amazed.”

    At its core, Starbucks Reserve Roastery New York is a working coffee roastery, where every day Starbucks Master Roasters, who have trained for years in the craft of coffee roasting, will be small-batch roasting Starbucks rarest single-origin coffees and blends called Starbucks Reserve. Those coffees then get served fresh at the Roastery or shipped to select Starbucks stores around the world. That functional purpose, as well as the history of industry and manufacturing in the meatpacking district, is reflected in the design of the space.

    “New York is a hub to the world,” said Liz Muller, Chief Design Officer of Starbucks. “It’s an unbelievable place with such history. The meatpacking district has a fantastic history of industry, and the neighborhood has an electric energy; it is alive. We’ve designed a space where the excitement and dynamic activity of the neighborhood is mirrored in the Roastery. We want our customers to come in and feel very inspired.”

    Unique Food and Beverages

    Coffee Bars – There are two coffee bars at the Roastery, which in total offer seven brewing methods, including pour over, Chemex, coffee press, siphon, espresso, Clover and cold brewing.

    Upon entering the Roastery, visitors can visit the coffee bar on the main level, where baristas, called coffee masters, are crafting classic espresso beverages such as cappuccino, latte, cortado and specialty drinks such as whiskey barrel-aged cold brew, sparkling citrus espresso, nitro hopped apricot cold brew and rotating specials like the cardamom latte.

    Arriviamo Bar – For the first time in the U.S., Starbucks will debut the Arriviamo Bar inspired by the Italian tradition of aperitivo. This craft cocktail bar is located inside the Roastery where expert mixologists will serve cocktails and spiritfrees curated by award-winning mixologist Julia Momose featuring coffee and tea. Specialty cocktails include the Nocino Notte, made with cold brew coffee, barrel-aged gin and black truffle salt, and the Triomphe, made with Teavana/MC Darjeeling de Triomphe Tea, gin, dry Riesling, aquavit, passionfruit sparkling water and orange saffron bitters. The Arriviamo Bar will also serve a selection of beer, wine and classic cocktails

    Princi – Inside the Roastery is the Milanese boutique bakery Princi from founder Rocco Princi, with on-site baking of fresh breads, Pizzas, cornetti, focaccias, desserts and more.

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  • Hanwha Galleria Timeworld to sell luxury stuffs

    Hanwha Galleria Timeworld to sell luxury stuffs

    Department store operator Hanwha Galleria Timeworld is opening its second Galleria Luxury Hall next year. In benchmarking its first main store in southeastern Seoul, the owners are seeking to draw luxury French and Italian brands to trade alongside fine dining F&B operators. The store’s facade will undergo renovations with the aim of becoming a landmark building.

    A statement from Hanwha Galleria claimed the Timeworld branch is seen as the top department store in the area since its acquisition in 2000. Within the past decade, the firm has seen 7 per cent annual growth on average in sales.

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  • SHISEIDO X SIRIVANNAVARI Princess Hanayaka Collection

    SHISEIDO X SIRIVANNAVARI Princess Hanayaka Collection

    Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, in her capacity as Creative Director of SIRIVANNAVARI, has graciously designed a special makeup collection “SHISEIDO X SIRIVANNAVARI Princess Hanayaka Collection”. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is in charge of every design step, from meticulously selecting the color schemesand different shades for the beauty productsto designing the packaging.

    The princess used the graphics and drawings from her previous fashion collections to create elegant and graceful new designs. The whole process took over 2 years of her dedication.

    Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, in her capacity as Creative Director of SIRIVANNAVARI, graciously shares her thoughts on the “Princess Hanayaka Collection”:

    “SIRIVANNAVARI has always wanted to create the beauty products that can fully answer the needs of women in Asia.This is also what SHISEIDO wants as a premium makeup brand that understands the needs of Asian women well. That is how the collaboration of this collection started. I am very glad that we both share the same intention, which is to create what will enable the beauty of women in Asia to glow from inside and out naturally. For this collection, my intention is to create the beauty products that are compact, easy and convenient to apply. The colors in the palette must be beautiful and highly flexible for various combinations of mix and match for different occasions, from daytime natural look to nighttime glamour. One palette can be applied for eyes, cheeks, and lips makeup while the texture of the cosmetics must make it easy for different color combinations. I chose all the color schemes and different shades for this collection myself based on what color combinations I think will best bring out women’s beauty. I then used those colors to work with the graphics and drawings inspired by previous SIRIVANNAVARI collections to design the packaging. The drawings of rice ears, bees, and lovebirds are used as the main designs. When combined with a Japanese touch, the lines and feels become perfect for the packaging designs of this collection.”

    The collection Princess Hanayaka, meaning “a woman whois vivacious and as ravishingly beautiful as a princess” consists of 4 beauty products, which altogether create the perfect makeup: from blush to lipsticks, and from face illuminator to eye color.

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  • Louis Vuitton personalisation service launches in Asia

    Louis Vuitton personalisation service launches in Asia

    Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton is offering a personalisation service for a selection of men’s ready-to-wear items in a limited number of global stores. The My LV World Tour Louis Vuitton personalisation service offers clients the opportunity to customise their purchases with a variety of patches and embroideries inspired by vintage travel labels and varsity lettering of the kind Gaston-Louis Vuitton used to adorn his own luggage. The service was previously limited to leather goods.

    The patch themes include world-famous cities and heritage LV graphics, some of which will be available seasonally as limited-edition items.

    The Louis Vuitton personalisation service is available in only eight Asian stores: Hong Kong’s Canton Road and Pacific Place; Shanghai’s Plaza 66; Beijing’s Shin Kong; Japan’s Omotesando and Shinsaibashi; Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Seoul’s Shinsegae Main.

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  • CGS-CIMB sees strong vehicle sales in December, raises 2018 TIV growth forecast

    CGS-CIMB sees strong vehicle sales in December, raises 2018 TIV growth forecast

    CGS-CIMB expects vehicle sales to be stronger in December and has raised its 2018 total industry volume (TIV) growth forecast from 2.5% to 4% on the back of stronger-than-expected TIV year-to-date. “We expect stronger sales in December in view of year-end promotions and multiple new models that were recently launched. For example, Proton launched its first SUV, the X70 on Dec 12 and we learned that it has started delivery to showrooms. Proton has so far received encouraging bookings of over 12,000 units since the end of November,” it said in its sector note today.

    On Wednesday, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announced that TIV grew 2.1% month-on-month to 48,282 units in November due to higher passenger vehicles (PV) sold. Perodua and Mazda recorded 8% and 14% month-on-month growth respectively.

    For the 11 months ended November, TIV rose 5.5% year-on-year to 550,526 units due to stronger PV and commercial vehicles (CV) demand on the back of the tax holiday period. PV and CV recorded healthy 5% and 8% year-on-year sales growth respectively during the period.

    For 2019, it expects resilient sales in PV on the back of new model launches in the passenger car and SUV segments from Perodua, Proton, Honda and Toyota but overall, TIV delivery is expected to be flat next year.

    “We project a 10% sector net profit growth in 2019, driven by positive earnings growth from all companies, led by Sime Darby. However, we see downside risk to earnings from the depreciation in ringgit versus US dollar and Japanese yen, as this will increase the distributors’ costs of imported complete knocked-down kits and complete built units,” it said.

    Bermaz Auto Bhd (BAuto) is CGS-CIMB’s top pick, in view of the company’s undemanding valuation, attractive yield and proxy to export sales growth. It has an “add” rating on the stock with a target price of RM2.65.

    “We expect BAuto to deliver robust sales volume in FY19-20, driven by the popular Mazda CX-5 and upcoming new model launches of Mazda 3 and CX-8,” it added.

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  • Berluti showcases its signature styles in Mumbai

    Berluti showcases its signature styles in Mumbai

    One of the world’s most iconic luxury footwear brands, Berluti, hosted an exclusive evening to showcase new styles to guests and present their signature technique of footwear tattoo artistry by Elena Lodiat Soho House, Juhu. Firmly grounded in bespoke know-how, Berluti took its technical skills and creative flair a notch higher by transforming the rules of style with tattooing.

    The rare tattoo designs based on four themes: a classic bestiary of Insects & Animals, the signs of the Zodiac and the Chinese horoscope, vintage designs with Eagles, and the subtle art of Calligraphy can now be perfected on Berluti’s original and globally renowned Venezia leather. The noblest of all leathers, only Venezia leather sustains the creative audacity of Olga Berluti’s vision of art.

    The design is crafted to meet the modern-day sensibilities of contemporary dandy men. Fire-breathing dragons, fantastic beasts, regal eagles, all the mythical creatures and several other esoteric designs can now be realized on the emblematic Berluti Venezia leather from shoes and handbags to belts and other small leather goods.

    With this exclusive service, Berluti brings an even more bespoke look to an already-unique shoe.

    Talking about the event, the only female shoemaker in the world Olga Berluti said, ‘’I always wanted to grace leather shoes with the markings of the skin; scars, gashes, branding, piercings. We have already mastered the color technique on the leather from bronze and brown to red and copper, and the dark blue of the Tuaregs. Only one thing was missing, the most obvious and most difficult: tattoos. I tried to tattoo shoes using every possible process, but the designs faded, the colors were lost beneath the patinas, and the tattoos had no “life” in them. However, my technique has evolved over the years and today I am using the exact same methods as tattoo artists, along with inks that work well with leather. I hope Berluti loyalists from across the world admire this new art.”

    An exclusive Indian distribution partner of iconic global brands Bequest Group, Managing Director, Gaganmeet Singh said, “Luxury is all about a bespoke experience and personalization and creating tattoos on leather is an artisanal process. We are glad to have showcased this unique technique of tattooing on the Berluti Venezia leather to our patrons in India. The activity was insightful and interactive at the same time that gave a chance to the luxury connoisseurs to get involved in the nuances of tattoo making on leather at this unique Berluti event.”

    Berluti currently has a store in New Delhi at DLF Emporio Mall and is scouting for a property in Mumbai to open its store.

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  • Acne Studios Opens First Store in Beijing

    Acne Studios Opens First Store in Beijing

    Acne Studios China has opened its third store, in Beijing. The Swedish luxury fashion brand launched in China two years ago, offering its eclectic mix of minimalist ready-to-wear fashion and denim. The new store’s interior features straight lines with glass, high-gloss white walls and contrasting stainless steel railing and shelves. A large display created by British designer Max Lamb stands in the centre of the store, painted in the label’s trademark shade of pink. It’s matched with purple rugs created by Lamb which contrast with the stark white interior.

    Acne Studios creative director Jonny Johansson said it had been a long-held dream to open a store in Beijing. “It is also my hope that this store will bring us the opportunity to create many special projects in the future.” Lines exclusive to Acne Studio China will be sold at the new boutique to mark its opening.

    The store is located in Taikoo Li North Village on Sanlitun Road.

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  • American Eagle Outfitters India to open 25 outlets in three years

    American Eagle Outfitters India to open 25 outlets in three years

    US-based mid-to-premium denim wear brand, American Eagle Outfitters entered India in the summer of 2018 through a licensing agreement with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. The brand expects India will be its top three international markets in the next five years.

    In an interview with IMAGES Retail, Guillermo La Rosa, Vice-President, International and Business Development, American Eagle Outfitters says, “Our brand has been in India for the past few months and it has been performing well. We are learning a lot about the Indian consumer as we plan to expand within the market and as we will get these learnings under our belt, it will help us grow and offer the right products to consumers.”

    Target Customers

    American Eagle Outfitters is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices.

    The brand is betting big on Generation Z, who are between the age group of 15-25-year-old.

    “India’s rapidly developing and vibrant economy, anchored by the world’s largest youth population, provides an exciting growth opportunity for our brands and expanding our global reach,” says La Rosa.

    Category Mix

    The category mix of American Eagle Outfitters comprises of jeans, shorts, joggers, t-shirts, tops, woven shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and hoodies along with accessories like shoes, socks and belts.

    Elaborating on this, La Rosa says, “The breadth of our assortment is global; however, the category mix varies from location to location. For example, in DLF Promenade, the penetration is around 60 percent men and 40 percent women products whereas in Mall of India, it is 50-50.”

    In the Indian market, Denim is the Number 1 category for both men and women followed by other categories like woven shirts, polo shirts, fleece and sweaters.

    “In India, there have been a lot of learnings for us, like in the women’s category, the customer prefers more of bootcut whereas outside India it is more about skinny and super skinny. Skinny and super skinny is little bit slower than what we had anticipated. Similarly, in the men’s category, slim and skinny are very important globally whereas here in India it is more of slim and straight denim. It seems like here in India the customer wants more clean-cut denims. We will continue with what the consumer wants as we grow,” he adds.

    Decoding the Store

    The average size of the American Eagle Outfitters’ store spans across 2,500-3,500 sq. ft. in India.

    According to La Rosa, the store size of the brand in India is smaller as compared to that in the US. “In the US the store size ranges from 4,500 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft.,” he says.

    Despite the smaller spaces, the brand is hoping to launch more stores in more cities soon. Apart from this, the brand will also launch bigger flagship outlets.

    “We are looking forward to opening more flagship stores in key cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and these stores will be bigger than the average store. In addition to this, after the launch of Aerie in India, we expect to have bigger stores,” he adds.

    Aerie is a lingerie retailer and intimate apparel sub-brand owned by American Eagle Outfitters. In the US, Aerie targets the 15- to 25-year-old female demographic.

    Expansion Plans

    At present, the brand has three operational stores spread across Delhi-NCR and Chandigarh. Apart from this, it is available through its own website and also on fashion portal Myntra.

    “By this year-end, we are looking to open six to nine more outlets. In the next three years, we are looking at a total of 25 locations. For some of the new stores, we have got locations in Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi and we are also exploring other options,” La Rosa reveals.

    “We are not here to be in every single mall and exploit the brand. We want to be very meticulous and calculative in the partnerships that we have with malls. We will be launching the Mumbai outlet in the upcoming months,” he adds.

    The brand may also look at having a presence through multi-brand stores and in Tier II markets in the future. It will also open Aerie stores across India in partnership with the Aditya Birla Group.

    “We believe that in the next five years India could emerge as the top three markets outside the US,” La Rosa asserts.

    American Eagle Outfitters merchandise also is available at more than 190 international locations operated by licensees in 24 countries.