Bata India eyes large stores

Bata India will set up large format stores to offer its 1100-strong product portfolio under one roof.

A Sengupta, senior district manager "� east of Bata India , said, "We are planning stores of 20,000 sq.ft. where we would be able to display almost 50,000 pairs of merchandise. Large stores deliver higher returns."

Bata eastern India sales was around Rs 50 lakh per store, mostly 600-1,000 sq.ft. in size.

Large format stores would raise sales to Rs 20 crore per store.

"Bata is redoing some existing stores for better product display," said Chandan Roy, senior general manager of Bata's retail operations in East.

"One 500sq.ft. Gariahat store was giving sales of Rs 1 crore annually. Since it is at a strategic location, another 300 sq.ft. will be added and interior design changed to get more customers. The new-look store is expected to do additional sales of Rs 80 lakh per year," Roy said.

For Durga Puja this year, Bata would give free gifts on every purchase.

Bata had 82 stores in eastern India now and saw biggest sales jump during Durga Puja in east with sales at Rs 11 crore per week per store.