24 April,2013 05:48 AM IST | | Ruchika Kher
Odel, a brand synonymous with Western and traditional Sri Lankan fashion in Colombo, has decided to take the plunge in the Indian retail market. However, they aren't simply putting all their eggs into one basket. The company is first looking at taking over the e-commerce space and will then make their presence physically felt in the country.
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"A lot of trade takes place between India and Sri Lanka, and we see a lot of potential in the Indian market. While we do not have a physical presence in the Indian market, we decided to reach out to the Indian audience through our website.
This would give us a fair idea of the response our brand would have in India," says Otara Gunewardene, CEO, Odel over an email chat. She adds that the online platform gives them a chance to test the waters in the Indian market before taking big decisions and toiling with the idea of opening retail outlets in India.
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Odel was launched in 1990 by Gunewardene and apart from retailing a few international brands, they own in-house brands for clothing and accessories as well such as Backstage, Delight, Embark and the Odel brand. "The two brands that are very popular at Odel are Embark and Luv SL, which mainly retail traditional Sri Lankan garments with a contemporary twist," informs Gunewardene.
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She also stresses that the company revolves around a simple philosophy - a relentless search for the highest quality products and services at affordable prices, together with superior customer service. The brand offers products for men and women. From dresses to tees and bags, the brand presents a wearable, eclectic mix. The price range starts at Rs 107 and shipping charges vary depending on the weight of the product.
