Baby store Frank & Mates has opened its first outlet in Cochin. Spread across three levels over an area of 3,500 sq.ft., the store has everyday baby essentials by brands such as Philips Avent, Medela, Chicco, Pigeon, Playskool, Funskool, Fisher-Price, Himalaya, Vicks, Huggies, Bella Baby, Tommee Tippee, Nuk, Step two, Quercetti, Johnsons & Johnsons, Chocolate Baby, and Care & Comfort.
The products available in the showroom include baby skincare products, healthcare products, bath towels, bath toys, cloth nappies, diapers, disposable wipes, baby blankets, clothes and accessories, baby and toddler food, food warmers, sterilizers, bottle/breast feeding accessories, travel accessories, playtime CDs, rattles and teethers, garments, toys, pregnancy skincare, and accessories.
The outlet also stocks a wide range of colorful prams, bassinets and high chairs. A food section with items such as bottled purees of fruits, sweet potato, broccoli, avocados, and chicken noodles is also available. For expectant mothers, Frank & Mates has a juice shop serving falooda shakes and salads.
Speaking on the occasion, Muneer Hamza, owner, Frank & Mates, said: "Brands like Mothercare, Mom&Me and Baby Shop present in bigger cities are favorite purchasing hubs for mothers. But in smaller cities, parents are deprived of good quality products for their babies. With Frank & Mates, smaller cities will now also experience wider variety of baby products.”
Hamza further added: "We want Frank to be a role model for kids. We have even brought out CDs with our signature jingle and songs that will impart values to children.”
With an investment of around Rs 1 crore, Hamza expects a profit of at least Rs 3 crore in three years time. Aiming to have an outlet in almost every state of South India, Hamza also plans to launch stores of not less than 3,500 sq.ft. in cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Trivandrum, and Calicut.
-Tista Sengupta
