Royal Sporting forms retail venture with Shoppers' Stop

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Oct. 31

NECESSITY is clearly the mother of invention. Take the retail industry, which is being forced to opt for all kinds of permutations and combinations to beat the recessionary trends sweeping the country.

The RSH Pte Ltd owned Royal Sporting House (RSH), with a presence in eight cities through 13 outlets, has announced an alliance with the Shoppers' Stop chain to retail leading sports and active lifestyle brands.

Mr Bhupendra Nagpal, Chief Executive Officer, RSH Distribution (India) Pvt Ltd, told presspersons here on Wednesday, that RSH is targeting a turnover of Rs 12 crore in March 2002, of which Rs 7 crore is expected to come from sales at Shoppers Stop outlets.

Added Mr B.S. Nagesh, CEO, Shoppers' Stop Ltd, ``While sports products accounted for two per cent to Shoppers' Stop sales last year, we expect the figure to double the following year, owing to the presence of several leading international brands being retailed through RSH.''

Shoppers' Stop closed last fiscal on a turnover of Rs 212 crore, and the retail chain expects to notch up a turnover of Rs 265 crore in March 2002.

The organised sports equipment, apparel and footwear industry put together is estimated at Rs 300 crore.

RSH had kicked off operations in India last year, with a standalone outlet in Delhi, under the franchiseeship of SSS Sports Pvt Ltd.

New entries

New Balance, Umbro, Dunlop, LA Gear, Us kids Golf, Ashworth. Sports lovers in the country are in for a treat, with Royal Sporting House (RSH), Asia's biggest name in the sports retailing industry, gearing up to bring these brands into the country.

According to RSH officials, the availability of these brands will be exclusive to RSH outlets within Shoppers Stop.

Pic.: Mr B.S. Nagesh (left), CEO, Shoppers' Stop Ltd, with Mr Bhupendra Nagpal, CEO, Royal Sporting House at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Picture by Kamal Narang