According to sources, the timing has to be right for it to bring in these brands in the prestige segment. The retail market has to evolve in the country. As of now, these are the early days.

Manwani feels that it would take a few years more before the company decides to bring in these brands to India. Such prestige brands cannot be launched in the conventional retail set up which exists in the country today.

Initially, it was felt that HLL would launch Elizabeth Arden and Calvin Klein after it formed the 50:50 joint venture with Lakme Ltd in 1995. While this did not happen during the two year period in which the joint venture operated, it was expected that HLL would bring in these brands afterhaving taken over the reigns of Lakme Lever Ltd.

There has been substantial speculation even after the recent Levers takeover of Lakme that the big brands are on their way in, but the speculations appear unfounded. It will take a few years more for these highly premium cosmetics brands to hit the Indian market. Internationally, Elizabeth Arden and Calvin Klein operates in fragrances and colour cosmetics. Fragrances is said to account for almost 70 per cent of Elizabeth Arden's portfolio.

Further, HLL has no intentions to go into retailing themselves to develop the market. The retailing business in India for specified products and other super markets is slowly catching on and is expected to develop in a few years. Among the latest entrants is Lakme Exports which has bought out Littlewoods in Bangalore and plans to spread its net of retailing outlets to other cities like Hyderabad and Chennai by the end of the year.