The Hindu Business Line : Zerostock’s innovative retailing plan

Hyderabad, Feb. 21 Zerostock Retail Pvt Ltd, a new garment retailer from Hyderabad, has come out with an innovative idea for retailing men’s wear — there’s no readymade apparel available at the store. A typical store offers sample wear for trial and a display of designs and fabric.

“We don’t maintain any stock at the stores. We will have central inventories in different locations. We will source the needs from these locations,” Mr Ashok Mayya, Chief Executive Officer, told newpersons here on Thursday.

It offers apparel for men of all sizes. “They need not settle for standard sizes like 32 and 34, though they belong to 30, 31, 33 or 35. We will have sizes right from 29 to 46,” Mr Mayya said.

The size of the men’s wear segment is pegged at 45 per cent of the Rs 89,000-crore retail garment industry. Despite this, the segment was best with limited number of designs, sizes and stocks.

The company, which has tied up with logistics companies like AFL, will have the products delivered at customers’ residences or offices in 24-48 hours.

“They can as well shop using our online interface,” he said.

The company has introduced Cornerstone branded men’s wear apparel and shops. “We plan to open 30 stores in cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata and Jaipur by March-end,” he said.

By the year end, it would have 300 shops across major cities and towns. Savings, which the company makes in terms of smaller real-estate cost, inventory management and interior needs, would be passed on to the customers, he said.

The company, which has pooled in $4 million from angel investors for the initial spread, would look at raising Rs 50 crore more from venture capitalists to support growth plans.

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