IndiaRetailBiz

Relaxed and classic in design, Hush Puppies footwear have defined what it means to be modern and casual. Being sold in over 120 countries, Hush Puppies has one of the highest aided brand recognition levels in the world, with many countries reporting recognition levels of as high as 90% or more.

The footwear giant Bata, among the country’s oldest single category retailers, opened the country’s first and exclusive showroom for selling “Hush Puppies” footwear products in India. The showroom was opened in Hyderabad, on Friday, the 12th October, 2007. This showroom will stock the entire range of more than 100 designs of shoes and sandals under Hush Puppies brand known the world over for contemporary, casual footwear for men, women and children.

Bata will set up one more exclusive showroom of Hush Puppies in Delhi, this year, before deciding on whether or not to set up an exclusive retail chain for the brand, depending on the consumer response it receives from the two stores.

The Hush Puppies brand was founded about 50 years ago in 1958, following extensive work done by the US-based footwear major Wolverine Worldwide. Hush Puppies range was develop as a practical method of pigskin tanning for the US military.

Bata has an agreement with the 124 years old, US-based $ 1.142 billion (2006 turnover) footwear major Wolverin Worldwide to manufacture and market Hush Puppies range of products in India. These products have been made available to customers in India in its showrooms by Bata.

Over the years, Bata has become quite aggressive in expanding its operations in India both in terms business volume and number of outlets. Having already opened 70 new stores this year, the company is currently operating about 1,200 stores. Bata plans to set up 70 to 80 new stores, every year, for the next three years.

The sales revenue is also registering a healthy growth of 25%. Against the previous year’s turnover of Rs. 800 crore, it expects to achieve sales of Rs. 1,000 crore, this year.