As speculated earlier, American lifestyle brand Gap has formally announced its partnership with Arvind Lifestyle Brand to open franchise-ran Gap brand stores in India. The first shops offering the brand's summer 2015 range for grownups, children and babies are expected to open in Mumbai
and New Delhi in 2015. The brand plans to start about 40 franchise-managed Gap stores in India.
"India is an emerging, vibrant market and an important next step in our global expansion strategy," said Steve Sunnucks, Global President of Gap, whileannouncing the brand's India plans. The business believes that as the world's second most populated state with more than 1.2 billion people, India represents an important program to bring American everyday fashion to consumers around the world. Gap manages both business-owned stores and franchise shops around the world. The retailer has company-operated shops in the US, Europe, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Taiwan. Gap ended fiscal 2013 with 3,164 company-operated and 375 franchise stores around the world, it said in its yearly report. The decision to enter India through the franchise routes comes after almost a year of discussions.
Gap is cashing in on India
The San Francisco-based business was also rumoured to be in talks with online shopping portal Calvin Klein Womens Thong
.ite Myntra to establish the brand's online store in India. The US retailer already sources denim from Arvind for several years. Meanwhile, Arvind has entered into a franchise agreement with The Children's Place, the largest pure play children's specialty clothing retailer in North America. Arvind Lifestyle Brands is expected to op simply click the next web page
.n 50 stores over time starting in the fall of 2015.
In 2007, Gap launche http://www.theunderwearonline.com/cheap-price-for-calvin-klein-black-slope-form-logo-boxers.html
. the P.A.C.E. (Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement) workplace instruction system in India with one seller in two manufacturing units. The program offers female garment workers the life skills education and specialized training they should advance at work and in life. Now 25 of the 64 manufacturing facilities that participate in the plan are based in India. Since establishing its first franchise-managed store in 2006, Gap Inc. has rapidly enlarged the international reach of its brands, which now comprises nearly 400 franchise-operated shops along with about 3,200 company-owned shops.
After acquiring India operations of three major international clothing brands Debenhams, Next and Nautica, Arvind had signaled at its strategy to grow big in the organised apparel market to cross a one billion dollars (over Rs 6,000 crores) symbol. Arvind Lifestyle Brands, subsidiary of Arvind, which already has an impressive brand line up comprising Tommy Hilfiger, US Polo Assn, Elle, Geoffrey Beene, Arrow among others. Arvind recently joined hands with PVH Corp, the possessor of the Calvin Klein trademarks worldwide to manage expansion and improvement of the existing Calvin Klein Jeans attire and accessories (including belts, bags, and small leather goods) and Calvin Klein Underwear (including sleepwear and loungewear) companies.