Page 28 - Images Retail January 2018

EXCLUSIVE

‘ETHNIC WEAR

RETAILER SOCH TO GO

INTERNATIONAL, CREDITS

GROWTH TO SHARP

UNDERSTANDING OF

THE CONSUMER’

– By Surabhi Khosla

PROFILE:
MANOHAR CHATLANI
Manohar Chatlani– one of the
pioneers of the ethnic fast
fashion category revolution in
the organised retail market of
India – is credited with growing
the brand Soch from just an 800
sq. ft . store to the enormous
chain that it is today.
Aside from his success story at
Soch, Chatlani is a man of many
firsts– he was the first to launch
a department store in Bengaluru
catering to the full family, first to
conceptualise a ‘Half Price Sale’
in India and first to manufacture
Fibre Glass Mannequins in India.
He has successfully expanded
Soch from Bengaluru’s high
street to a pan India presence.
He spends a great deal of
his personal time doing
philanthropic work, sponsoring
over 150 heart surgeries a month
for children.

Today, Soch has n an age where brick-and-mortar retailers are wrestling with issues of creating
established itself across lasting value and relevance, there are some homegrown retailers who are aiming for
India as a key player in a pan India presence by off ering the best to their customers.
women’s retail with more One such regional retailer is Soch. From a humble start in 2003, when MD &
than 100 stores, and CEO, Manohar Chatlani’s family business of multi-brand clothing retail had just fi ve
now has plans to expand I stores in its repertoire, the brand is today 100-store strong.
into the South East Today, Soch has established itself across India as a key player in women’s retail with more
Asian markets. Soch than 100 stores, and now has plans to expand into the South East Asian markets. Th e brand
plans to open their first plans to open their fi rst international outlet by end of FY 2018.
Soch owes its growing presence to Chatlani’s continuous eff orts to understand and
international outlet by decode the ever-changing consumer’s behaviour and needs. Today, astute business
the end of FY 2018… decisions and a sharp understanding of the consumer have led to Soch reaping rich rewards.

28 | IMAGES RETAIL | JANUARY 2018