IndiaRetailBiz

“We intend to be the best in the Rs 600-crore luxury watch segment with clear positioning in design, wear, comfort and standard.” — Peter Kaisit, Vice President (Sales).

Rado, one of the most copied swiss premium watch brand, is embarking on an aggressive expansion drive that will witness doubling of its exclusive stores in India from eight at present to 15 by 2011. Rado is also looking at growing rapidly in other existing retail channels comprising  exclusive franchisee outlets, shop-in-shops and multi-brand outlets.

Betting big on India, Rado is drawing up plans to make the country as its third largest market across the world in the next three years. Currently, India is ranked eighth on its sales rankings.

Growing at a healthy 30% per annum for the past five years in India, the iconic watch maker wants to become the country’s top premium watch seller in the next three years. According to Peter Kaisit, Vice President (Sales), Rado is already among the top two premiunm brands selling in India.

While new exclusive outlets are planned among others for Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Bangalore, it is looking at tier-II cities like Jalandhar and Ludhiana for setting up three new shop-in-shops. Currently, Rado operates five outlets in this format. Rado watches are also sold through 155 multi-brand outlets. Six more of such outlets in emerging small cities like Moradabad and Rajkot have been planned by the company with a view to cater to to the demand from middle-income customers.

Rado will soon be launching three models of Ceramica Colour Watches in the price range of Rs 1.59 lakh and Rs 9.95 lakh.

Rado, known for its scratch proof worldwide, began making watches half a century ago in 1957. Today, it makes over half a million watches every year with the help of only 300 workers.