Six new Babyshop stores to open; 200-mark in sight

Vinod Talreja, Ruban Shanmugarajah and Emirates Co-op general manager Farid Al Shamandi Ali at the Press conference in Dubai on Tuesday. — Supplied photo

Babyshop’s stores will cross the 200 mark next month in the Middle East and North Africa with the opening of six new outlets, chief executive officer Vinod Talreja told Khaleej Times after a news conference on Tuesday.

The company has planned to invest Dh150 million in the UAE for 15 new stores in the next three years. Part of the Landmark Group, the concept store for kids already has 40 outlets across the country.

Babyshop’s children’s collection includes a range of exclusive designs from key licence-holders such as Disney, Barbie, Hello Kitty, Lee Cooper and Maui & Sons, as well as popular home-grown brands Juniors and Giggles. The brand also retails popular international brands such as Graco, Fisher Price, Avent, Quinny and Ferrari.

Talreja mentioned that every year the company is adding new brands into its portfolio to fulfill the needs of more than four million loyal customers.

Babyshop’s recent studies on consumer behaviour trends highlight the brand’s popularity with the Emirati and Arab expat communities within the UAE, with 50 per cent of its loyal member base belongs to these nationalities. Customer footfall in Babyshop outlets across the UAE crossed the 4.8 million mark during the past year. The expansion plan will ensure the retail giant’s customer reach into secondary towns in the country through forging alliances with cooperatives and community malls.

Babyshop’s latest entrants into the UAE include new outlets at the World Trade Centre Mall, Deerfields Town Centre and the recently-opened Ruwais Mall in Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai Outlet Mall. Plans are also underway for renovating the brand’s store in Sharjah’s Qassimia Street to unveil a new proposition that substantially enhances the shopping experience for parents and children alike. Babyshop has additionally entered into a partnership with Emirates Co-operative, with the first store due to open in Hatta.

Ruban Shanmugarajah, general manager of Babyshop-UAE, said: “With our widening customer base, we are keen to make the Babyshop experience an enjoyable one for our loyal customers — and this translates into making our presence even more accessible and comprehensive.”

As the UAE’s first kids’ omni-channel retailer, Babyshop has made an equally successful online debut registering over 25,800 hits in January 2014 alone and nearly 60 per cent of the online transactions benefitting from the cash-on-delivery facility offered.

Talreja said that nearly 90 per cent of the produce line is available on online store and the company ensures delivery within 24 hours across the country.

• abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com