Reliance spreads 'Footprint'

Reliance Retail of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) launched yet another specialty store. Reliance Footprint, dedicated to footwear, handbags and accessories, was opened simultaneously in Hyderabad and Bangalore on Wednesday.

The store will house over 25,000 products, including a wide array of footwear in every category ranging from formals, casuals, ethnic, party wear and sports. The shoes will be priced from Rs 300 to Rs 4,000.

Along with all the major footwear brands, the company will also sell their private label 'Footprint' at the stores.

Reliance Footprint offers renowned brands from Europe and America across various categories, a company release said.

It plans to have a pan-India presence by opening over 15 such large speciality stores across metros and mini-metros within the next 12 months.

By 2010, the company is planning to open 100 such stores in tier-I and tier-II cities across the country. Company executives also said they were planning to tie up with some foreign footwear brands to bring them to India.

In the next five years, the stores are likely to contribute 4-5 per cent to Reliance Retail's total revenue. The total footwear market in India is estimated at Rs 15,000 crore and growing 10-11 per cent.