Major Brands to market NineWest, Mac Cosmetics

Mona Mehta in Mumbai

Major Brands — which recently launched the Mango brand of ready-to-wear garments — is all set to launch NineWest, an international range of ladies shoes, bags and accessories. It plans to import this range from NineWest, a Rs 2,500-crore US-based company.

In addition, Major Brands is also foraying into the cosmetics segment by launching the Mac Cosmetics range of imported cosmetics in the Indian market.

According to Major Brands managing director Mr Suresh Bhatia: “The company will market NineWest and Mac Cosmetics range of products through the branded concept stores which the company would soon be setting up. While the NineWest range is targeted at the premium-end and middle to premium-end of the market, the Mac Cosmetics range is targeted at the middle-to-premium end of the cosmetics market.”

The move is aimed at spurring the range of ladies ready-to-wear garments and cosmetics markets. The NineWest range of products is priced Rs 2,000 upwards and Mac Cosmetics Rs 300 onwards.

Major Brands plans to release advertisements for the NineWest and Mac Cosmetics range next year, initially through the print media and then through the electronic media. The investment on advertising constitutes four-five per cent of the overall sales turnover.
Major Brands competes with small time importers.

Close on the heels of launching ‘Mango’ ready-to-wear garments, bags and accessories targeted at Indian women, Major Brands has garnered a sales turnover of Rs 75 lakh in one month, and hopes to touch sales of Rs 10 crore by 2002-end, claims Mr Bhatia.

The company sells the Mango range through a concept store which the company had set up at retail mall Crossroads in Mumbai in September this year.

The company is now looking at expanding ‘Mango’ concept stores by setting up outlets in Mumbai and Delhi next year. “The company hopes to invest Rs 1.5 crore for setting up each outlet,” informs Mr Bhatia.