Market Update: India

Two noteworthy American retail brands have unveiled plans to enter the mega-market of India:

• Saks Global (New York) is teaming with Reliance Industries Ltd. to open Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th stores in the country, report a variety of news sources, including Women’s Wear Daily. The luxury retailer signed a franchising agreement with Reliance, a Mumbai-based conglomerate, to open an as-yet undetermined number of stores in an as-yet disclosed cities (with sources saying Mumbai and Delhi are likely first locales).

“We are very excited about our partnership with Reliance,” Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of Saks Global, a unit of Hudson’s Bay Co., told WWD. “Over the next 20 years there is a tremendous opportunity to grow luxury businesses and brands in India.”

Reliance is active in variety of sectors, including oil, gas, chemicals, telecommunications, fashion and retail. Among the fashion brands company operates in India are Gap, Armani, Burberry, Diesel, Marks & Spencer, Superdry, Brooks Brothers and Steve Madden.

• Guess? Inc. (Los Angeles) will launch Guess Jeans, a California-based denim lifestyle brand, in India through a strategic long-term franchise partnership with Tata Group’s multi-category e-commerce platform, Tata CLiQ (Tata UniStore Ltd.).

As part of this partnership, Tata CLiQ will be the official retailer for Guess Jeans in India, expanding their retail presence through brick-and-mortar stores along with digital storefronts, thus building an omnichannel presence for the brand.

Said Nicolai Marciano, Guess Inc.’s Chief New Business Development Officer: “As the next step in our global growth initiative for Guess Jeans, we expect a rapidly expanding and prosperous partnership with Tata CLiQ. Our brand’s legacy, heritage, and innovative outlook on denim, paired with the local knowledge and expertise of Tata Group, ensure a strong and enduring partnership.”