12 more Crossword stores this fiscal

Crossword, a lifestyle bookstore, will be opening 12 more stores in tier II and III cities in the current fiscal. Of these planned outlets, six will be company-owned and the remaining will be franchisee-run. The brand currently runs 95 stores in 33 cities.

Speaking on brand’s business plan, Crossword CEO Kinjal Shah tells Franchise India, “Every year we are planning to add seven to eight stores in our total count. Currently, we have 95 stores in 33 cities and over the next two years we are planning to go to 40 cities. In the current fiscal, we will be opening 12 more stores in tier II and III cities. We are eyeing north and north-eastern states and are about to open a store in Bhubaneswar while planning Patna store soon.”

The company is also eyeing Rs 200 crore of revenue from all its stores including company-owned and franchise ones in the current fiscal. “Every year we are growing by 15 per cent and in this fiscal we are targeting of Rs 200 crore of revenue from all the stores including the company owned and franchise ones,” he adds.

The brand is also strengthening its online channel. “We already have our online site and which is always going to be an alternative channel where readers can browse for books and buy from brick-and-mortar stores or consumer can buy online through desktop or through mobile. Presently we are not planning of selling through online market places like Flipkart and Amazon. May be in future we can take a call accordingly,” shares Kinjal Shah.