Big brands to set up stores in Chandigarh

Upmarket global brands like Nautica, Mango, Louis Vuitton are soon going to make their presence felt in Chandigarh. They hope to cash in on to the brand conscious customers here.

Chandigarh has the highest per capita income followed by National Capital Region.

"From this hub one can have access to the markets of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir," said Shatrujit Singh advisor to the luxury group, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), while adding that it would take two years to get established in the market.

"We will be looking at standalone stores and even five star hotels," Singh added.

Lifestyle major Nautica has plans to invest Rs 30 crore in the next three years to set up 12 stores across India. It has plans to set up shop in Chandigarh and has already signed for a store space in the city.

"By September 2006 we will be opeartional in the 4,000 sq feet area" said Darshan Mehta, president of Arvind Brands Ltd, which will retail Nautica in India.

Nautica will offer its exclusive range of men's and women's wear and accessories.

Emphasing on the potential of the market Mehta said prior to launching the Tommy Hilfiger flagship store in Mumbai it was opened in Chandigarh seeing the cosmopolitan outlook, apparel spending and globe trotting consumers here.

Spain's international fashion company Mango, on with its expansion in India, has plans to open new stores across the country as part of the brand's international expansion strategy.

"We are looking at cities up north like Gurgaon and Chandigarh and Surat and Pune in the west, in the second phase of expansion," said an executive of Major Brands Pvt Ltd (Franchisee of Mango brand in india).

The company currently has five outlets in India, three in Mumbai and one in the cities of New Delhi and Bangalore.