Celio, one of the leading French menswear retailers will face more focus on India. The retailer will increase its merchandise sourcing from India five times in the next 2 years and will also increase its retail presence by adding 15-20 stores annually. In terms of retail presence, India is already the second-biggest market in terms of stores after France.
Currently, India contributes about 4 per cent of the retailers’ sourcing and it has 70 standalone stores and 680 other outlets in India.
Globally the retailer has more than 1,200 stores and entered India through an equal partnership with Future Group 15 years ago, but later bought the majority stake in the firm.
Leading business daily, Economic Times quoted Marc Grosman, Founder and Global CEO of the company saying that retail in India is much more organised, consumers much more educated and the demand for fashion has increased a lot.
In India, Celio’s apparel is manufactured by third-party vendors. Marc believes that the apparel manufacturing industry is so big and well organised and mechanised, so there wouldn’t be any problem finding the kind of production his company needs.
He further added that India has changed dramatically over the past decade and the company can now do everything in India that it earlier did in Europe. He said, “It’s a different planet and has improved a lot. Retail is much more organised, consumers much more educated and the demand for fashion has increased a lot.
The company is also planning to take product designs and know-how from India to other countries.