Prakhar Mittal’s Post

HOW BATA BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN INDIA???? If we say "footwear", Bata is probably one of the first names that pop up in your head. But, as Desi as it sounds, Bata is not an Indian brand. Primarily a family owned business, Bata gets its roots from Czechoslovakia. So how did a foreign brand become a household name in India? 1931: Bata set up shop in Konnagar (near Calcutta) in 1931 and began selling rubber and canvas shoes suitable for the Indian feet and climate. Locals loved the lightweight footwear line, and it became wildly popular. 1939: In just 2 years, the demand for Bata shoes grew so much that the production site had to be doubled in size, and the region became known as 'Batanagar.' By 1939, Bata was selling around 3,500 pairs of shoes/ week through its 86 stores. Simple word-of-mouth marketing sufficed, and it faced unhindered growth for quite some time. But alas, it wasn't all smooth sailing. 1980-90: Due to partial liberalization in the 1980s, Bata began facing stiff competition from the likes of Khadims and Paragon. Further, issues like dated product designs, labor unions, and rude retail staff began tarnishing the Bata name. But it managed to find its footing over the next few decades. Bata went on an advertising spree, introduced sub-brands like North Star, Marie Claire, and Power, launched its first premium brand Hush Puppies, added new products like handbags and sunglasses, and introduced new store formats to revive revenues. 2024 : Today, Bata is the largest retailer and leading manufacturer of footwear in India. They have over 1375 stores across India. But the company's profits have dipped 30% on a yearly basis in the December quarter of FY 2023-24. Do you think they will be able to bounce back in the age of new-age companies? Follow Parisha Sehgal !!!!!

When I got my first Nike as a kid, I was on cloud 9. But if you ask me today, campus is my go-to brand and I no longer put Nike on the high pedestal as before. Here are some reasons why I’m bullish on Indian brands making it big in the footwear space. Most international brands are very metro-centric - the likes of Adidas, Puma, Nike, Aldo, Crocs, Sketchers, Charles & Keith, Kenneth Cole, Clarks, etc. Also, their primary focus is on the Exclusive Branded Outlet (EBO) format. In the economy, mid and mid-premium segment brands like Campus Activewear Ltd, KHADIM INDIA LTD., Bata Group, Metro Inc., Woodland, and Lotto Sport India have 40% share, also have a mixed retail approach of EBOs, LFSs, e-commerce, and distribution-led coverage. Other Mass footwear brand retailers such as VKC Group, India, Lakhani Footwear Ltd., RELAXO FOOTWEARS LIMITED, Ajanta Shoes, Lancer Footwear India Pvt. Ltd., etc. occupy 54% of the market. Nearly 70% of footwear is still sold through unorganized retail and Indian brands easily capitalize on either retail or distribution business. Footwear has evolved from just being a necessity and protection for the feet to an important part of the fashion outfit. Campus has understood this really well. They’ve flagship collections (spring-summer and autumn-winter), in-season replenishment, quick designs, production, and try to be never-out-of-stock for the core portfolio. They’ve also nailed their marketing and brand identity. Another good thing is, that the ASP of Indian brands is relatively lesser yet they’ve maintained good quality and innovative products. (sidenote, premiumization also going to play a big role in this segment) By the next year, the sports and athleisure market in India will cross 40K Cr+ Of this, footwear will be around 50%. The woman and kids category is also seems to be growing fast. And I see many Indian brands striking the right cords! They've now become cool and comfy as well unlike a decade ago. Which is your favorite footwear brand? Is it India? #Marketing #Fashion #Style #Innovation #CampusShoes #Growth #India

The Indian sports shoe market faces several development challenges despite its rapid growth. The industry is highly competitive, with global and local brands vying for market share. Local brands often struggle with issues like low product quality, inadequate innovation, and an overwhelming presence of unorganized players, which make up about 85% of the market. These smaller, unregulated manufacturers offer cheaper alternatives, making it harder for established brands to maintain competitiveness in price and quality( The Ken )(ShopTribe India ).Key strategies to overcome these challenges include: Partnering with Chinese suppliers: Indian brands can collaborate with Chinese manufacturers for product design, material sourcing, and supply of semi-finished shoes and components such as soles and uppers. This can help Indian brands lower production costs while maintaining quality. Investing in Research & Development: Local brands need to focus more on innovation and technological advancements, which can be done by partnering with Chinese suppliers to gain access to the latest materials and production techniques. Improving Manufacturing Efficiency: By upgrading manufacturing infrastructure and adopting automation, Indian brands can better compete with international brands in terms of both cost and production speed. E-commerce & Market Expansion: Brands should leverage the booming e-commerce sector in India to reach a broader audience while also considering global expansion, especially to regions like Southeast Asia where there is growing demand for affordable sports footwear. Overall, partnering with established Chinese suppliers for a complete range of services, from product development to materials supply, could significantly improve the competitive standing of Indian brands, enabling them to grow in both domestic and international markets. #IndiaFootwear #SportsShoeMarket #ChineseSuppliers #BrandDevelopment #IndiaSneakerMarket #SportswearIndia #SneakerCultureIndia #SustainableFootwear #IndiaChinaTrade #IndianBrands #Footwear #footwearindustry #India #Sportshoes #Shoebrands #shoeMarket #Factory #Manufacturer #shoes #sneakers #semifinished #shoeupper #shoematerial #Jinjiangshoes

CROCS vs BATA Indian Consumerism is changing rapidly. I have been repeatedly harping upon the higher disposable income & hence premiumisation trends. Let’s explore this through a simple comparison of footwear segment between two brands – CROCS & BATA. Agree India is a land of masses & there is a large potential market in the bottom of pyramid. But there is a tiny segment at the top of the pyramid which is also bloating up incessantly. Brands need to watch out for this space. Increasing aspirations of young, digital exposure, Global fashion awareness & deeper pockets are leading to surge in affordability. BATA Bata is a footwear brand established in 1931 (almost a century ago). It revolutionized a brand in a commodity market then. Bata products are available in 800+ towns across 25000+ Multi Brand Outlets & 1500+ own brand stores. Average billing value might be around 400-500 Rs in a Bata store. Their FY23 numbers are 3450 Crs with a Net Profit of 425 Crs. CROCS A humble rubber chappal in Bata costs Rs.299/-. Same rubber chappal in CROCS with design & material mix changes costs Rs.6000/- (20X). Wow, what a value build-up! Crocs India FY23 revenue was reported at 500 Crs. Their Net Profit must be solid 150+ Crs (wild guess). Launched in 2008, Crocs had opened its 200th store recently. Now comparing the effort vs results of these two brands, India can throw a lot of surprises for the uninitiated. Brands of future must be ready for this massive transformation in India’s Consumerism. One can plan to build the next Bata or one can aspire to build the next Crocs or in between the two. Market is wide open for every brand offering an opportunity & it is left to the brand to create its own niche. Ofcourse, job is cutout differently for each of these versions & brand needs to be aligned for that course. 😊 #brand #brandmarketing #d2c #d2cbrand #consumer #marketing #footwear #premium #indiamarket #consumerbehaviour #business Image: MS Bing Ai

Campus Activewear Ltd The Next Bata or Relaxo? Let's understand the business model 1) What does the company do? Campus is India’s largest sports and athleisure footwear brand. Incorporated in 2006, is one of the leading players in organized sports & casual footwear sector in India. Since 2016, the flagship brand "Campus", has been the largest sports and athleisure footwear brand in India, in both volume and value terms. The company’s products are available via an expansive Pan-India network of over 20,000+ retail touch points, 200+ exclusive brand outlets, available in 28 states and large format stores such as Walmart, Vishal Retail and Reliance Smart among others and all the leading e-commerce portals. Campus has a very deep rooted understanding of its customers know our consumers, hence the product offerings are created, keeping in mind what they aspire for- comfortable, durable & stylish shoes, which make them feel empowered and confident. Today Campus is India’s biggest sports & casual footwear brand selling more than 15 million pairs annually. The brand offers a wide variety of light weight casual footwear with cool designs, reflecting the smart, carefree spirit of the young millennials. 2) Who runs the company? Leadership Team Nikhil Aggarwal - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hari Krishan Aggarwal - Chairman Anil Aggarwal - Whole-Time Director Amit Kumar - Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Vikas Bagaria - Chief Operating Officer (COO) Abhishek Mishra - Head of Marketing Sanjay Singh - Head of Sales Rohit Sharma - Head of Product Development Board of Directors Vikas Agarwal Ritu Agarwal #stockmarket #campus #equity #research #investing

Exciting news for the Indian retail market! 👟 The iconic French shoe brand Kickers is launching its first store in Chennai and plans to open a factory in Tamil Nadu. This move underscores the booming potential of India's $15.22 billion footwear market. Kickers' entry reflects India's increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, making it a key market for international brands. This follows other French brands expanding in India, notably Galeries Lafayette, KIABI, maje , SANDRO, confirming strong retail ties between the two countries. Business France India supports this growing French presence and SME development in this high-potential market. #RetailExpansion #KickersInIndia #FrenchBrand #BusinessGrowth #IndiaRetail #MarketEntry Eric FAJOLE | Anne DESSEMOND | Lila Peraud

#newstorealert American footwear brand #Crocs has opened its first flagship store in India, located in #Kerala. Spanning 1,600 sq. ft. of carpet area, the newly launched outlet is the #largest Crocs store in the country. Click on the link below to know more... Crocs, Inc. I LuLu Malls India I Metro Brands Limited I Nissan Joseph I Shibu Philips I Indraneel Mukherjee I Mohit Dhanjal I Arun Prasad Pillay #Crocsstore #newstore #footwear #Kochi #flagshipstore #retailindustry #retailgrowth #retailing #businessgrowth #Indianretailmarket #retailresults #retailindia #retailupdates #retailsectornews #businessnews   #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.’s (ABFRL) athletic footwear and apparel brand Reebok has expanded its retail footprint in South India with two new stores in Chennai, located in Anna Nagar and Phoenix Marketcity, Velachery. Click on the link below to know more.... Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. I Reebok I MANOJ JUNEJA I Prashant Singh I Vikas Dahiya I Kumar Harshit #reebok #abfrl #adityabirla #chennai #newstore #sportswear #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailindia #retailsectornews #retailresults #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing

Crocs: A Luxury in India? Exploring Pricing Differences Abroad #Crocs, the American footwear brand known for its comfort, is a premium purchase in India with an average price around ₹3,000 – a bit steep for many Indian consumers. During a recent trip to #Vietnam, I noticed some interesting price differences: at a Crocs showroom, each pair was about ₹500 cheaper than in India. At the popular King Kong market, they were available at nearly 1/4th of the Indian price! Experiences like this raise an interesting question – how many of us know what’s worth buying abroad and at what price? While social media can be a good resource, it’s tedious to sift through. Imagine an #app that offers quick local shopping tips and deals based on your current location. Think it could help make trips even more worthwhile? #ShoppingHacks #GlobalShopping #RetailTech #PriceDifferentiation #Travel #Footwear #Startups #Ziwy_app