• Launching 2 classy showrooms in Pune in December ‘06
• Launching 12 showrooms in ITES / BPO cities, including 4 in Pune by June 2007
• Looking at a tie-up with a global apparel brand in India
• May go in for an IPO in two-three years
  

Pune women professionals and executives are all set to become chic and stylish, thanks to the sudden boom in the IT and BPO sector. Today, we increasingly see top-level women proving their excellence in high-profile jobs. And with hectic schedules of attending company board and business meetings, women are extremely conscious about choosing the perfect business wear. Even though there is a growing trend of switching to western formals, it is still considered an enviable expensive attire.

But it won’t be so anymore. Keeping the astute woman in mind, who knows exactly what she wants, India’s leading apparel company, Sleepins Apparel Private Limited, with its distinctive presence in every metro and mini-metro, for its fashionable and comfortable nightwear, is now launching an exclusive and exciting stylish brand of Western formal wear, ‘BIA’, for the first time in India, in Pune. The ‘BIA’ label will literally change the fashion wardrobe, that will compliment every facet of her lifestyle - where working women can select a wide range of smart and elegant Western formal wear, consisting of tops, shirts, trousers and jackets exclusively designed for all kinds of corporate events and board meetings, leisure-wear as well as party-wear.

With Sleepins already having a strong presence all over the country, through their 18 exclsuive stores, launching ‘BIA’ will be a cakewalk. Says Kisshor Chhabria, MD, Sleepins Apparels, "We are happy and delighted that we have finally launched ‘BIA’ at our exclusive showrooms on East Street and our 2nd store shortly at Laxmi Road. Then we will be targeting 3-4 more stores in the Kalyani Nagar, Baner, Aundh, Kothrud areas Nowadays, working women and professionals have realized the need to look classy and elegant. With a multitude of IT companies and multinationals, women are constantly making an effort to add a fashion quotient to their personality. BIA will offer chic designs and high quality fabrics in appealing colours, at affordable prices, in comparison to the retail prices offered by other leading brands". Not only will the ‘BIA’ brand be available our exclusive showrooms, but also at leading malls and retail stores in the city.

"A smart elegant woman always exudes grace and confidence. This is exactly the image we want to portray through ‘BIA’. She should look like and feel like a million bucks ", smiles Neha Chabbria, Head-Designing, on whom lies the onus of designing the label’s line of clothing, and has 5 designers working round-the-clock to craft to perfection the most contemporary styling.

Announcing the business strategies of the company, Kisshor reveals, "By March 2007, we plan to set up a chain of 10-12 exclusive specialty ‘BIA’ outlets in ITES / BPO cities, including 4 in Pune. Our strategy is to aggressively market 'BIA' in other metro cities as well. By end of fiscal 2007-2008, we are confident of setting up 40-50 BIA stores all over the country, and ramp it up to 250 stores by 2010-2011. We hope to achieve a group turnover of Rs.30 crores by 2007-2008, and then grow at over 75% for the next three years through domestic sales, exports and trading channels". The company has plans to go public in the next two to three years.

Keeping in mind the challenges and opportunities the retail sector has to offer, Anurag Khurana, Vice-President (Sales & Marketing), says, "With big global retail names setting up their chain of showrooms in India, the company is also gearing to set up its company owned stores by entering into long term lease agreement with leading mall developers in India".

They are also considering the option of sourcing cost effective raw materials and fabrics from countries like China and Thailand. That’s not all – they are looking at the possibility of entering into a joint venture with a leading global apparel brand in India.

“Our company’s mission is to position ‘BIA” as the best value-for-money brand in the country”, sums up Nishant Chhabria, Director, Operations.

About Sleepins Apparels
Sleepins Apparels is India's leading apparel company. Started in 2003, the company caters to all kinds of men, women and kids nightwear. The company has its headquarters in Pune at Wagholi, spread over 17,500 sqft.

'Sleepins' brand is available in the best of the shopping malls like Shoppers Stop, Pyramids, Ebony and Straps etc. The company has tied up with 'Reliance Retail' to supply them the entire nightwear range for men, women and kids.

The company has over 18 exclusive business outlets across the country in places like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Bhopal, Chennai, Bangalooru, Kolkatta, Raipur and Surat. In another two years, it will be raised to 50 outlets.

For more details, please contact :

Mr. Anurag Khurana, VP (Sales & Mktg), Sleepins Apparel on 020-32504467 or 9823181118 or

Usha Karnani, Inspirations on 020- 27454376 or 9823140200