Pantaloon plans `Footwear Bazaar'  ( May '25,2004, HBL)

PANTALOON Retail (India) Ltd is introducing another retail store brand under the name `Footwear Bazaar'.

At present, the company is in the process of re-branding the retail space within its Big Bazaar outlets under this new retail brand but expects the Footwear Bazaar to become an independent chain of retail stores in future.

Carrying the baseline `Sunder, Sasta, Tikayu', the new brand is expected to add to the list of existing retail store brands such as Big Bazaar, Gold Bazaar and Food Bazaar.

Mr Ambrish Chheda, Chief Business Development Officer, told Business Line, "We have already flagged off a speciality retail chain division under our company and all these stores are expected to become standalone stores.''

The company is sourcing its footwear from Bata, and is looking at inking deals with other retail footwear brands such as Action and Liberty. Besides, it has also forged an alliance with a sports retail footwear company — Royal Sports House, which sources footwear from brands such as Nike and Reebok.

Mr Chheda said Footwear Bazaar should ideally occupy floor space between 1,000 sq.ft. and 3,000 sq.ft. and it exists within the Big Bazaar outlets. Also on the cards are plans to brand electronics appliances as another retail store brand. "There is still no brand name fixed as yet but we are definitely looking at both white and brown goods as being yet another branded speciality store.''