While the brand was recently soft-launched earlier this month at a select few Central stores in a shop-in-shop format, the company is now taking the EBO route and will throw open the first Cover Story store for customers at Infinity Mall, Malad. That's not all, the company will follow it up with a second store in Delhi thereafter.
Taking international fashion brands like Zara and H&M head-on, Kishore Biyani-led Future Group will launch its first exclusive brand outlet (EBO) for women's fast fashion brand 'Cover Story' in Mumbai next month.
While the brand was recently soft-launched earlier this month at a select few Central stores in a shop-in-shop format, the company is now taking the EBO route and will throw open the first Cover Story store for customers at Infinity Mall, Malad. That's not all, the company will follow it up with a second store in Delhi thereafter.
The store opening will see the launch of Cover Story's Summer'16 collection comprising contemporary and varied styles across apparel, accessories and shoes. The collection to be presented will include nine unique storylines, each designed by keeping form, fabric and fit in mind. The styles are expected to be priced between Rs 700 and Rs 4,000 and fresh styles will be introduced every week.
According to company sources, all of the Cover Story merchandise is being designed out of London-based Future Style Lab (FSL), a Future Group subsidiary incorporated in August 2015 to tap into the fast fashion market in India. While Future Group will source globally for Cover Story, the merchandise will be produced in India.
In fact, FSL will aim at democratising fashion with catwalk inspired aesthetics, quality and accessibility that's at the heart of the brand. "Cover Story will deliver the latest styles from the fashion capitols of the world to the fashion-loving and value conscious Indian women. The merchandise will be conceptualised by an international team of designers led by Ainsley Mackney, based on Victoria Street in London," said the source.
While Zara and H&M have been aggressively expanding footprint in the Indian market, Biyani is also expected to quickly roll out Cover Story stores in key cities across the country.
Incidentally, Future Group had to vacate a large retail space of approximately 29,000 square feet occupied by its Big Bazaar store at High Street Phoenix mall at Lower Parel in Mumbai citing high rentals between Rs 300 and Rs 350 per square feet.
Sources said, that the mall developer (Phoenix Mills Ltd) has leased out the entire space to H&M (Hennes & Mauritz AB) which is currently getting the fit-outs done for the launch of its first store in Mumbai. This store is likely to get operational before Diwali this year. In fact, H&M has also negotiated a large retail space with the same mall owners for another store at Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, Mumbai.
Who's Coco Sip it is?
Fruit juice maker Manpasand Beverages has entered the coconut drink segment under the brand Coco Sip. The company has priced it at Rs 40 for a 200 ml PET bottle and positioned it as a healthy and premium beverage consisting of 100% natural packaged tender coconut water. While Manpasand Beverages is laying claim on the brand Coco Sip, dna has learnt that Winfield Agro Industries, a company based out of Vadakara, Kozhikode in Kerala is already selling tender coconut water under the same brand for sometime now.
While dna couldn't reach Winfield Agro for a clarity on the ownership of the brand and its possible infringement. However, on its part, a Manpasand Beverage spokesperson said, "We are using the Coco Sip trademark since a very long time in respect of fruit juices and beverages, more particularly prior to the year 2016. We have checked the official website of the trademarks registry office and understand that Windfield Agro has not filed any application for registration of trademark Coco Sip.
"In other words, the brand Coco Sip is not registered in the name of Winfield Agro Industries. In the light of above, we can safely say that the use of the trademark / brand name Coco Sip in respect of the product coconut water is not an infringement."
Alto Altered
Automobile major Maruti Suzuki has launched a refurbished version of its hatchback Alto 800. The new range starts at Rs 2.49 lakh for the standard petrol model while that for the standard version with driver-side airbag commences at Rs 2.55 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Besides, the new vehicle's CNG (compressed natural gas)-powered standard variant starts at Rs 3.70 lakh, whereas the version with driver-side airbag comes for Rs 3.76 lakh.
"The new Alto 800 is technologically advanced with the latest convenience and class-leading safety features. Above all, it comes with improved mileage and assurance of unmatched service network, guaranteed performance and lower maintenance cost," R S Kalsi, executive director marketing and sales, Maruti Suzuki India, was quoted in a statement.
The company further said that with a highly efficient combustion system, the new engine provides excellent torque at low RPMs (rotations per minute), enabling less frequent gear change. "Alto 800 now delivers a superior fuel efficiency of 24.7 km/l of petrol, around 9% improvement over the earlier version. In CNG mode the Alto 800 offers a mileage of 33.44 km/kg, an improvement of around 10%," the statement said.
—Compiled by Ashish K Tiwari
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