IndiaRetailBiz

DONEAR, among the country’s top three brands in its product category, which offers a wide variety of medexotic Suitings, Trouser & Shirting fabrics in premium and medium price range, is entering the organised retail sector with the opening of about 30 franchisee-owned discount format retail stores under the brand name of “D’Cot” in the central and western Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat states, according to an Economic Times report.

Yuvaraj Singh, the vice captain of India’s victorious cricket team in the Twenty20 World Cup, has been roped in by Donear to promote new retail initiative of the company.

“Yuvraj is an aggressive all-rounder and we too have a similar objective. An aggressive entry in retail and foray into the segments where we have not been present so far such as garmenting,” said Ajay Agarwal, Executive Director, Donear Industries.

Donear expects to increase the number of retail stores to about 400 in a period of one year, most of which will come up in tier II and III cities. Besides a range of men’s wear, these store would also offer accessories and footwear. Donear will invest about Rs. 50 crore on this venture.

This move of the company comes in the wake of the company augmenting its production capacity from 11 million meters to 17.5 million meters this year. Donear was set up three decades ago in 1977 men’s wearby Vishwanath Agarwal, a textile industry veteran. Currently, Donear operates through a traditional network of 44 Agents, 290 Wholesalers and 12000 Retailers, spread across the country. Donear achieved Rs 161 crore of sales in 2006-07, and hopes to increase the same by 150% to Rs 400 crore in a couple of years.