Porsche Design plans store in Mumbai

NEW DELHI - After receiving an encouraging response at its first Indian store in the capital, Germany-based luxury product company Porsche Design is looking for a perfect space in Mumbai for expansion.

We launched in India almost a year ago and we have received overwhelming response from people, so now it’s a matter of finding a right place in Mumbai to open a store, Ankur Bhatia, executive director of Bird Group, the franchise partner of Porsche Design, told IANS.

There is an exclusivity where we place our products, positioning is very important. As we like to call ourselves the sellers of engineered luxury, so it’s important to be at the right place at the right time, he added.

The 44 square metre store at the high-end Emporio Mall in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj has everything from luggage and eyewear to fashion, watches, jewellery, apparel and writing tools.

Now very soon, the firm will be launching its 2011 product line and, according to Bhatia, the key to their success is in pricing.

People often come with this idea that Porsche is expensive, but we have been doing great because we have managed to make our products quite affordable. A person can pick up a wallet or a belt for as less as Rs.3,000-Rs.5000, he said.

As high-end luxury products often advertise through luxury magazines and are very selective, Bhatia said Porsche was trying newer ways to get visibility in the market.

If a celebrity is wearing your product, you get the attention. Also we are planning to launch the 2011 line with our Bird Group calendar, so we try to promote in a new way and reach out to more people, said Bhatia.

India always had a market for luxury, ever since Maharaja (erstwhile rulers’) days, even though it’s a niche market, it is growing, he added.

The Bird Group also plans to introduce two-three more luxury products in the country and is in talks with the high-end luxury brands.