Retail News India: Iconic American luggage brand Hartmann will be launched in India this year with the first store expected to be opened at Mumbai airport in March.
Samsonite South Asia Private Ltd, makers of two well known brands– Samsonite and American Tourister, which had acquired Hartmann, will introduce the brand in India by March, according to Leo Suh, Executive Vice President Asia, Samsonite Asia Ltd.
“The brand will be launched in second or third quarter with the first outlet to be opened at Mumbai airport after the inauguration of the new terminal by march this year, followed by an outlet at Delhi airport by the year-end’, Leo, here in connection with the company’s dealers conference, told reporters here.
Two more outlets in India at Chennai and another at Delhi are also on the anvil in the next two years, he said, adding, the plans are to open 25 stores across Asia.
There are close to 150 products under Hartmann brand of which 50 per cent are in travel briefcase, business and ladies handbags. The brand which caters to the top five income bracket and the products are priced between Rs 45,000 and above.
Pointing out that the current downturn had not affected them, Leo said Asia has grown by double digit in 2013. In China there has been some slow down effect, but the US market has seen growth.
India was an important market– the fourth largest after US, China and Korea and Samsonite hopes to cross rs 1500 crore in the country by 2015.
On acquisition plans, Leo said the company was focusing on bags and to fill the gap in the bag portfolio, ‘we are looking for more acquisitions. We are in talks’, he said.
Source: Economic Times