Ruosh plans retail expansion

Bangalore-based shoe exporter Sara Soule Pvt Ltd, plans to expand its Ruosh men's footwear retail chain to 17-20 outlets by March 2014. Ruosh recently opened its store in Chennai. Each store will be opened with an investment of Rs 4 million. The brand presently generates around Rs 270-crore-turnover from its eight existing outlets. Mohini Binepal, head, business-retail Ruosh, said. "Our focus is on value proposition to our customers while others looked at the business as mere distribution network." The brand also sells products like socks, shoe polish, brush, wallets, belts and others under the same brand. The brand also operates through various MBOs and online retailers. The Indian footwear market is pegged at Rs 20,000 crore, and 20 per cent of this constitutes the premium segment and the company manufactures 600 pairs of shoes and 11,000 pairs of soles a day at its facility in Bangalore. The export business makes shoes for various global brands including Esprit, Kenneth Cole, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Clarks, Buggati, and Witchery.