Idiom Design targets Rs 50 cr turnover

With retail trade witnessing a boom, Bangalore-based Idiom Design and Consulting Ltd, an end-to-end design services consultancy firm, is targeting Rs 50 crore turnover next fiscal.

Set up in April 2005 through the merger of two design companies -- Tessaract and Esign, the firm has investments from Pantaloon Group promoter Kishore Biyani.

Idiom specialises in enabling organisations to design retail formats and has executed over 30 such assignments for Pantaloon alone.

The firm is expected to triple its turnover from Rs 6 crore in 2005-2006 to about Rs 18 crore by the end of this fiscal.

"The figures point to the fact that there are lots of takers for the idea "� 'Designed in India'. Indian companies are increasingly seeking holistic design solutions. Next fiscal, the firm's turnover will touch the Rs 50-crore mark," Idiom Design and Consulting Ltd CEO Shantanu Saha said.

The company has bagged orders from various companies to design brands for the retail space.

They include Godrej Aadhaar (rural retail), Siyaram's (brand identity and business transformation from fabric to fashion), Tata Teleservices (retail identity and creation of new retail formats for Tata Indicom), Indus League Clothing Ltd (retail identity) and many others.

Besides, Idiom has bagged new projects from Pantaloon Retail (I) Ltd. It includes a wholesale market brand for the factory outlet mall -- Brand Factory.

Commenting on the company's growth, Idiom promoter Girish Raj said: "In a span of 18 months, we have grown from a strength of just 40 persons to the present size of 168. We will be 200 by the end of 2006. And, to get a national footprint, we have commenced operations in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata."

The firm, which has design studios in Bangalore, also intends to set up a design school in a year's time.

"The roadblock for any design firm is the availability of people, who have the necessary design skill sets. At present, India produces about 600 designers annually (excluding architects).

The design school is aimed at reducing this demand-supply gap," Girish Raj stated.

According to him, the company's vision is to transform businesses, brands and their reputations by integrating all aspects of design into all areas of business.