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Luxury brands a tough sell in wealthier India Dec 25, 2008 1:05pm GMT MUMBAI (Reuters) - On a recent evening at a luxury Mumbai hotel, shoppers tried on sequined sandals and handmade moccasins at Joy Shoes, an Indian family business that has sold out of its only shop for nearly 70 years. Around the corner, a Moschino store with stylish displays of apparel and accessories off the Milan runways stood empty. Starting at 3,500 rupees ($70) for a pair of men's shoes, Joy is not cheap. But the key to its enduring popularity, says Munna Javery, the third-generation owner, is knowing what customers want and maintaining relationships with them over the years. These are just two of the already considerable challenges facing global luxury retailers in India. Despite its growing number of millionaires, India lags emerging market peers China and Brazil because of a lack of quality retail space, high import duties on luxury goods, a cap on ownership in local units, excessive red tape and pirac...

Piquadro aims to roll out 16 stores by 2013 NEW DELHI: Italian travel items and lifestyle brand Piquadro, which had recently opened a store in the Capital, mulls setting up 15 such showrooms by 2012-13, eyeing the Rs 800 crore Indian branded luggage market. The $40 million company is seeking at tapping the corporate and fashion gifts market and has set up a 51:49 joint venture with DLF Group's retail management arm DLF Brands for expansion in India. “We have just started with our first Indian store at Delhi and our plan is to have a total of 16 outlets by 2012-13,'' Piquadro India Brand Head Jayshree Chowdhury told PTI. She, however, refused to divulge the company's investment plans for the India. The company is basically targeting the premium segment customer in the metros and Tier I cities. “We would be having a range of leather goods, luggage items and accessories including keychains, cufflinks, laptops bags and gift items. The company is set ting up its secon...

Rosebys plans 240 stores in India in first year of operations Bangalore (PTI): Seeking to expand its footprint aggressively, home decor and lifestyle products firm Rosebys Interiors India Ltd plans to open 240 single brand retail stores in India by October next, a company official said. Rosebys kicked off its Indian retail operations in October end and it now has 12 stores in Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and Uttaranchal. It entered the Karnataka market launching four stores here on Wednesday. It plans to open 25 stores in Karnataka in a year, CEO of Rosebys Aloke Banerjee told a press conference. Rosebys offers a range of products including bed covers, bed sheets, towels, cushions, and adornments such as photo frames, vases, candles besides home stainless steel ware and personal care products. Rosebys is the home retail arm of Gujarat Heavy Industries Chemicals (GHCL), which had acquired the UK brand (Rosebys). Rosebys plans to open 25 stores in Andhra Pradesh beginning from J...