News

Singapore, November 27, 2007: Among the world leading apparel chain ANIE SMITH RETAIL LTD. has crossed yet another milestone with the launch of its retail chain in INDIA.

The Delhi based TALASH GROUP has been appointed as a master Franchisee for opening its retail outlet all over India. ANIE SMITH RETAIL LTD, which has been on an archive of expansion, has already outsmarted the competition and is now planning to open 250 outlets across India.

There are 48 major players in the branded apparel segment and ANIE SMITH by far plans by the end of 2009 to become the largest chain in the apparel segment. Now we are in talks with our partners for India, TALASH GROUP to launch our brand COASTA … in INDIA as well.

Mr. D. Mellow, chairman & CEO, OCD GROUP OF COMPANIES said, As the retail sector is experiencing a from INDIA, we are happy to be part of the success story and after soon OCD Group and its partners in India, TALASH GROUP will buy its other brand COASTA in INDIA as well our vision is clear “Accept challenge and lead through creativity”. Our business strategy is simple and clear to have presence is the fashion – conscious consumer’s neighborhood and resumes his fashion needs with our trends range of products.

The latest India Retail report also indicates that the total organized retail market’s size is currently at Rs. 55,000 crores. The lion’s share of this pie – 39% - is held by clothing and accessories, followed by food and grocery at 11%.
Contrary to common perception, its men who spend more in the organized clothing and accessories market as India emerges as the most attractive global retail destination, thanks to its predominant young consumers that constitutes 65% of the total population.

A research report shows that the expenditure in the organized retail sector on men’s wear by Indian consumers in about 42%, followed by 34% on women’s wear and 24% on kids wear.

In terms of value, the expenditure on clothing and accessories in the organized sector has grown from Rs 10,900 crore in 2004 to Rs 14,000 crore in 2005 to a whopping Rs 18,500 crore in 2006, according to The India Retail Report by Images & F&R – 2007.
Organized retail is on a high trajectory due to several factors like strong economic growth, favorable demographics, easy availability of credit, supply of real estate and shift of lifestyle patterns etc. As the global apparel business focus shifted from the western countries to Asia in the post-quota dismantling regime, India’s textile industry has opened up.
The report says that India has the youngest consumer profile as compared to the ageing population of the Indian population is shifting more towards the age group of 20-49 – the working population with purchasing power.

This shift is expected to be a major driver of consumption.

On the rising income levels, the report says a large number of households are getting added to the consuming class with growth in income levels. There has been a 100% growth in the addition of households – from 40 million in 1995 to 80 million households in 2005. This has resulted in a significant increase in high income group from 5.5 million households in 1995 to 18 million households in 2005 for the high income group and from 18 million households to 31 million for the mass affluent during the same time span.

As on August 20, 2007 ANIE SMITH Retail India Limited had 119 in-house manufacturing/finishing units and 114 warehouses which are spread across the world.
The company’s restated total income and profit after tax were Rs 44036.17 million and Rs 1344.87 million respectively as of and for the year ended March 31, 2007 compared to Rs 2583.85 million and Rs 211.98 million respectively as of and for the year ended March 31, 2006.
Keeping all this to consideration, chairman, OCD Group of Companies Mr. D. Mellow has signed a license Agreement with the MD of Talash Group Mr. Sapan Ahlowat to use the brand name ANIE SMITH in INDIA and open its retail outlet under the brand name of ANIE SMITH. The Talash Group will act as the master franchisee of ANIE SMITH RETAIL LTD. in INDIA.

We at Anie Smith are now in Talks with reversal after groups across the South Asian Countries to open its retail outlets in other Asia Countries.