Aditya Birla group firm Madura Fashion & Lifestyle today said it is expanding the reach of its apparel brand Van Heusen by adding 50 new stores by the end of next fiscal.

The brand, which is looking for a jump of 16-18 per cent in sales turnover in 2013-14, is also planning to expand reach in the North Eastern region by doubling the number of outlets.

“We are expanding our outlets. We currently have around 200 stores across the country and are planning to add 40-50 more outlets during next fiscal,” Vinay Bhopatkar, Brand Head (Van Heusen), Madura Fashion & Lifestyle said here.

The brand will roll out the new stores mainly in Tier II cities such as Bareilly, Bhilai, Warangal and Tirupati, he added.

The sizes of the new stores will vary between 1,000 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft, and most of these will be opened under the franchisee route.

When asked if any store is being closed down, Bhopatkar said: “Yes, some stores get closed every year due to various reasons. Next fiscal, 5-8 shops will be shut down... A total of around 20 stores are yet to make profit.”

Talking about its plans for the North East, he said the brand currently has three outlets in Guwahati, Shillong and Dimapur.

“The region has an immense potential and it is a large market for us. We will open 2-3 more stores in the coming financial year,” Bhopatkar said.

The brand is looking at cities like Aizawl and Agartala to expand its reach in the North East, he added.

When asked about sales revenue, Bhopatkar said the brand is looking at a jump of 10-12 per cent in 2012-13 over its turnover of Rs 800 crore in last fiscal.

“In the next fiscal, we are aiming for higher growth. We are hoping for a rise of 16-18 per cent in our revenue in 2013-14,” he added.

Elaborating on its retail expansion, Bhopatkar said Van Heusen will launch exclusive outlets for accessories in next fiscal, besides expanding the standalone stores for women’s wear and youth party wear.

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