| Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL) has | | | | marketing the brands to commence retail operations," |
| acquired a stake in G J Free Fashions (GJFFL), a | | | | said Karthik Reddy, Vice President, Times Private |
| subsidiary of Gini and Jony Limited- one of India’s | | | | Treaties. The Times Private Treaties business model |
| leading garment manufacturers, retailers & | | | | is designed to share risk, accelerate growth and |
| distributors of premium lifestyle kidswear. | | | | create value for the brand in the long term. |
| The investment is the result of the efforts by Times | | | | Times Private Treaties expects the children's wear |
| Private Treaties, the innovative venture from the | | | | segment to grow dramatically. Branded |
| Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (BCCL) Group, | | | | children’s apparel has been undergoing huge |
| which already has investments in more than 200 | | | | transformation with children demonstrating distinct |
| companies across various sectors. | | | | brand preferences, exercising influence on buying |
| The Times Private Treaties business model eases the | | | | decisions with greater exposure to global brands and |
| cash flow of a company so that resources set aside | | | | being specifically addressed by television channels |
| for brand development activities can be used toward | | | | that are purely focused on catering to children. |
| business growth & expansion. | | | | The market has evolved from parents’ buying |
| “Gini & Jony” business activities primarily | | | | generic apparel for kids to children making choices as |
| includes designing, manufacturing, branding and | | | | a result of exposure to global and Indian brands. |
| distribution of garments and lifestyle accessories for | | | | Estimates of kidswear market size in India put the |
| kids, under various brands through exclusive brand | | | | children’s branded segment in excess of Rs |
| outlets, large format stores, dealer distributor | | | | 3,000 crore, out of a total market size of Rs 13,000 |
| network and factory sale outlets. | | | | crore. With increasing brand awareness and modern |
| Brand “Gini & Jony” is one of the leading | | | | retail formats such as Gini and Jony, the branded kids |
| kidswear brands in the country. Prakash Lakhani, | | | | wear segment has come into its own and likely to |
| CMD, GJFFL said, “The association with BCCL is a | | | | see strong growth in the near future. |
| strong step forward in creating the best foothold. | | | | This is particularly manifest in the sheer range of |
| We look forward to carve a space for Gini & | | | | clothes, designs, styles in kids’ apparel ranging |
| Jony among the best retailers for kids apparel | | | | from the classical shorts, shirts and skirts to a whole |
| shopping in the country”. | | | | medley of designs and styles to rival clothes for |
| The Lakhani Brothers owned Gini & Jony | | | | adults. The market, however, continues to operate |
| Freedom Fashions is a lifestyle store that retails not | | | | on the classical formats for buying children’s |
| only its own brand but about ten more brand in the | | | | clothes: reasonably priced if fashionable given that |
| kids wear category. The store retails other kids | | | | kids outgrow their clothes very rapidly. |
| brands like Levis Sykes Junior, Gini and Jony, United | | | | According to Mr. Reddy, “The challenge of |
| Colors of Benetton, GJ Jeans, Ben 10, Crocs and | | | | addressing the untapped potential of children’s |
| Portico. | | | | apparel is manifold but GLFFL has shown that its |
| "GLFFL understands the entire value chain, starting | | | | experience and insight makes for a strong growth |
| off as manufacturers of premium lifestyle kidswear | | | | story. |
| and, thereafter, building on their appreciation of | | | | |