In the Middle East apparel market, the company is probably one of the top five clothing retailers in the whole Arab world. The brand now operates more than 200 stores in 15 countries across the region including the GCC countries, Jordan, Iran, India, Syria and Armenia.

During 2011, 14 new Giordano stores opened across the region. In addition to a new store in Abu Dhabi and an outlet in Kuwait, the company is also expanding rapidly across Saudi Arabia, with 12 new stores opened in the Kingdom during 2011, and two more set to launch before year end. Complementing the retailer’s expansion plan is a large-scale refurbishment programme across existing outlets in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with investments in new stores and renovations reaching over AED 25 million in 2011.

“We are in full swing getting our shops closer to customers across the region. The substantial investments earmarked for this expansion programme seal our commitment to be a leading player in the retail apparel industry, not only in the Gulf but also across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and the Asian subcontinent,” says Ishwar Chugani Executive Director of Giordano International.

Chugani believes that the GCC in particular provides an interesting challenge in that it is so diverse, with so many different nationalities. “It is a mixture of people with varied tastes and outlooks. There are a huge number of different nationalities residing in Dubai alone, which makes it a fascinating and intriguing place to conduct business.”

He continues: “The region is a very resilient and dynamic market; there are the opportunities to expand, but you have to be at the top of your game and that does not just come down to fabrics and fashion but also the value and service you offer your customers. It has all the ingredients to support the growing retail market.”