"Franchisee's growth is our growth"

She is a fashion designer not by course but by passion. It is her rich experience and in-depth field knowledge that Shalini Jain, Director and Head Fashion Designer of Shalini’s Indian Fashion, is leading a team which is creating unique and attractive designs to leave an everlasting impression. In an interview with Sandeep Rana she shares her journey.

Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey so far.

We have been exporting our dresses to the foreign countries, including the US and Australia since 2002 but we formally started our business operations in the apparel industry in the year 2011 in India. While, we started franchising in 2012 to expand our business further.

We are a one stop shop to experience the essence of the latest collection of Indian fashion dress material that is designed by expert fashion designers. We cater to fashion tastes for every occasion including religious festivals, birthdays,weddings or for any kind of parties. We offer designer suits, designer sarees, designer wedding sarees, designer blouses, lehangas, kurtis, sherwani, jutes/turban and many others. We have also been regularly organising fashion shows.   

What is the USP of your brand?

The USP of our brand is to provide world class designing products at affordable prices. Our range starts from Rs 1500 only. Our competitors are targeting only the high class while we are targeting lower middle class, middle class and upper middle class.

What training and support do you offer to your franchisees?

Franchising is a very effective way to expand and it makes it easy to manage your venture. While, we get the owner who take cares of the business and in turn we provide all the assistance, including basic training, latest design and products. At the end of the day, if a franchisee grows, then we will grow. Their success is our success. We are seeking good people for our franchises and are looking for long term relationship.

Where do you see your brand five years down the line?

We aim to have 500 franchise showrooms in the next five years. We also wish to set up our business operations abroad as we started our venture with exports. So, we have experience and we can connect to it.

What is your business strategy?

Focusing on the middle class and providing attractive schemes is our strategy. We want to keep the prices very low and want to increase the volume of production.

Franchise facts:

Area:      400 sq ft to 1000 sq ft 

Investment: Rs 20 lakh to 40 lakh

Present outlets:  three outlets (two franchisees)

Expansion plans: 25 showrooms by FY 2014-15