S Kumars Nationwide Ltd (SKNL) has planned a Rs 70-75 crore investment outlay for setting up outlets in association with various international luxury brands. The company has already inked agreements with Stephens Brothers in the super-premium segment, as also with luxury menswear brand Dunhill and women’s fashion and accessories brand Escada.
Nitin Kasliwal, vice chairman and managing director at SKNL, said, “We believe luxury retail will boom in India in about four-six years, and we want to position ourselves to take advantage of this by leveraging our money, wherewithal and experience in this business, which has a long gestation period.”
The company is believed to be talking to 10-12 international brands. Kasliwal affirmed, “We are in talks with Italian, French and American luxury and super-premium brands to launch lifestyle accessories, shoes, crystals and apparel in exclusive monobrand stores for each partner. These brands will be signed under a licensing/franchisee partnership, but our arrangements will be exclusive in India.”
