Retail business Apparel Group’s India arm aims to significantly expand the retail presence of department store chain R&B in the country. The business will add 20 R&B department stores in the coming year to its current total of eight.
“We are super aggressive and bullish on R&B in India,” Apparel Group India’s President Tushar Ved told India Retailing. “R&B’s price point is right for India and is one of the best brands for us to grow here. There is a huge consumer segment at that price point.”
Apparel Group also plans to increase the presence of beauty products in R&B stores after having introduced the product category at one of its locations already and seeing a positive response. Apparel Group’s plan to expand its R&B store presence is part of its move to tap into growth in the affordable fashion market in India which follows the growing middle class and increasing brand awareness in non-metro areas.
As well as R&B stores, Apparel Group markets global brands including Charles & Keith, Aldo, Victoria’s Secrets, Bath & Body Works, and Tim Hortons in India. Apparel Group launched R&B in 2012 and opened its first store in Oman. The business now operates R&B stores in seven countries.
