USPL to enhance its retail presence

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar-backed celebrity fashion and memorabilia company Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd (USPL) is looking forward to increase its store count via company-owned and a new franchise model. USPL’s portfolio brands include Wrogn, Imara and Collectabillia.

The company is planning to take the store count to over 75 stores for Imara and from 38 stores to 70 stores for Wrogn. It has got Rs 46 crore (USD 7.5 million) funding from its existing investor Accel Partners and will be used to accelerate growth plans. "The second round of funding follows the initial investment by Accel Partners of Rs 17.25 crore in July 2012," stated a company statement.

As reported by PTI, USPL Founder Anjana Reddy said: "The additional capital will accelerate our expansion plans of foraying into new markets and newer segments consolidating our pole position in the celebrity fashion line industry."

USPL runs two fashion lines Wrogn, inspired by Virat Kohli, and Imara, inspired by Shraddha Kapoor. The company also offers opportunities to fans to own memorabilia personally autographed by their icons, and assists celebrities with extending their brand connects beyond endorsements. Incorporated in 2011, celebrity-commerce company, Collectabillia launched its auction platform during the 2012 season of the IPL partnering with master blaster Sachin Tendulkar exclusively to auction limited edition merchandise post his historical ‘hundredth, hundred’. The organisation aims to bridge the gap between celebrities and their ardent fans by offering a sense of pride and possession.