IndiaRetailBiz

“The Indian consumer has no doubt come of age. But the shopping experience in India has not kept pace with this change. Even though retail outlets have mushroomed across the country, most of them still do not offer Indian consumers the kind of shopping experience that people in the rest of the world are used to. With ‘new- u’, we are committed to bring that world-class shopping experience to India.” — Peter Baker, CEO, H&B Stores.

Health & Beauty (H&B) Stores, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMCG major Dabur India Ltd., is foraying into health, beauty, and wellness retail segment with the unveiling of its first store to be called ‘new-u’ in Delhi today (on Thursday, the 13th March, 2008).

The ‘new-u’ chain, which has been positioned as the ultimate retail destination for all health, wellness and beauty needs of emerging new customers in India, plans to offer comprehensive health and beauty solutions to its consumers under one roof. Customers visiting ‘new-u’ stores will be able to enjoy contemporary and attractively designed interiors with soothing and relaxed shopping ambiance.

The ‘new-u’ lifestyle retail chain of stores offering something new, engaging and innovative with unrivalled care and service, has plans to open 25 stores within a year. The ‘new-u’ stores, depending on the location, will occupy between 1,200 and 6,000 sq ft of space.

H & B, according to plans announced earlier in December, is looking at setting up new-u stores in all major cities across the country. The company expects to roll out over 150 ‘new-u’ stores with an investment outlay of about Rs. 140 crore by 2009-10. H&B expects to garner business of Rs. 1,000 crore by 2010 through ‘new-u’ retail chain.

The ‘new-U’ stores will stck about 20,000 products under different categories, including; colour cosmetics, fragrances, skin and personal care, baby & family care, fashion accessories, general merchandise, Ayurvedic, herbal and pharmaceuticals. The ‘new-u’ stores plan to also offer several international cosmetics and personal care brands into the Indian market. Like Unilever’s foray into beauty salons, H&B plans to also set up beauty parlours within store premises.

The ‘new-U’ stores will also house beauty and health experts who will offer advice to consumers on particular products that suit their specific needs. The beauty and health advisors are expected to become one of the strong differentiating factors of ‘new-u’ stores.