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Tag: Metro Shoes

  • Metro Brands reports steady performance in Q3 FY 2025

    Metro Brands reports steady performance in Q3 FY 2025

    MUMBAI:  Footwear retailer Metro Brands  announced its standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter ending 31 December 2024 which showcased robust growth, largely driven by the festive and wedding seasons.

    The company recorded a standalone revenue of Rs 688 crore, reflecting a year-on-year sales growth of 10 per cent. The EBITDA margin stood at 32.6 per cent  with a profit after tax (PAT) margin of 13.7  per cent. Notably, the PAT figure includes a one-time tax charge of Rs 25 crore resulting from the reconciliation and reassessment of tax liabilities, mainly related to the Fila business.

    During the quarter, Metro Brands expanded its retail presence with the launch of its first Foot Locker store and a new kiosk for New Era, catering to an increasingly diverse customer base. The company also enlisted celebrities Triptii Dimri and Vijay Varma for its Metro Shoes line, alongside Shanaya Kapoor and Vedang Raina for Mochi, which bolstered brand visibility and contributed to growth.

    Metro Brands liquidated its old Fila inventory during this period and is set to release a second drop of India-manufactured merchandise by mid-February 2025.

    Over the nine months ended  31 December 2024, the company opened 61 new stores while closing four bringing total net new openings below the initial guidance of 100 for the year. However, the company remains committed to its overall target of establishing 225 new stores by FY 2026.

    Said CEO Nissan Joseph: “The third quarter of FY 2025 reflects steady progress for Metro Brands as we build on the momentum of the festive season. With an 18 per cent increase in PBT and a 13 per cent  rise in EBITDA, our focus on operational rigor is yielding results. The successful launch of the Foot Locker store and New Era kiosk, along with our celebrity partnerships, have enhanced our brand visibility and customer engagement. We are optimistic about our initiatives and remain dedicated to delivering value for our customers and stakeholders as we approach the final quarter of the year.”

  • Metro Brands brings on board Nissan Joseph as CEO

    Metro Brands brings on board Nissan Joseph as CEO

    Mumbai: Homegrown fashion footwear retailer Metro Brands has announced the appoinment of Nissan Joseph as its chief executive officer, effective 1 July.

    The company will continue to be helmed by its founding members, managing director Farah Malik Bhanji, and chairman Rafique A. Malik, it said in a statement on Friday.

    Prior to joining Metro Brands, Joseph was associated with Philippines-based MAP Active & Planet Sports Inc, a lifestyle retailer in Southeast Asia, where he was the CEO since March 2020. During his 18 year-long experience in retail and brand management, he has held key roles for five years at Crocs, for which Metro Brands operates retail stores in India. He has also worked with Payless Shoes Pty Ltd and Hickory Brands, Inc.

    As of March 31, 2021, Metro Brands Ltd’s pan India network comprises 586 stores in over 130 cities with brands like Metro Shoes, Mochi, Walkway, and Crocs under its banner.

  • For the footwear industry, the other shoe has dropped

    For the footwear industry, the other shoe has dropped

    NEW DELHI: Covid2019 has severely impacted the economy at large, with every sector struggling with its own set of challenges. The footwear industry is no exception. In the past few months, shoe brands have witnessed a fall in sales as people have mostly stayed home and are hesitant to step out, thereby limiting their need for too many footwear options.

    According to Metro Brands Ltd VP marketing and e-commerce Alisha Malik, the pandemic has impacted consumers’ buying patterns. “Today, we see our customers opting for footwear which is high on comfort and can be easily sanitized. The open-toe category, especially slides, are in great demand. Essentials and feel good shopping are the new mantra among buyers.”

    But the overall volume of purchases has registered a significant drop, she averred. “While customers have started spending, these are more feel-good shopping therapy. Occasion wear and frequency of buying has reduced,” she explains.

    The other shoe has dropped for the footwear industry, and it will take some time before things return to normalcy. In the meantime, brands have adopted innovative ways to reach their target audience. Metro shoes has been working on different formats to connect with customers and offer them a safe shopping experience without compromising on hygiene.

    Trying on new outreach methods

    To this end, the brand has launched special initiatives like ‘Home Visit’ and pop-up stores. As part of the ‘Home Visit’ service, the customer can take a virtual tour of the store over WhatsApp, choose products, and ‘Try and Buy’ from the comfort of their home. ‘Drive Thru’ service allows clients to make a purchase from the comfort of their car. The shoe company has also opened up pop-up stores in select apartments and housing complexes while following safety protocols.

    Malik shared that the team tried to understand buyers’ sentiments by examining various modes, like effective customer relations, right communication and new ways of outreach. In particular, e-commerce has helped the brand survive in these trying times.

    However, even though lockdown has been lifted, risk continues to prevail, and customers are still worried about stepping out. “Therefore, we have implemented strict safety and hygiene standards that will continue to be followed in all our stores. Providing a safe shopping experience for customers at our offline stores is one of our top priorities. Our focus is to reach customers in the most convenient manner, whether through offline stores or online channels – that is their choice.”

    Going the e-retail way

    The company shared that the average growth of the e-commerce business in the last few months is over 80 per cent compared to last year. 

    “There is a significant shift in the online-offline sales ratio. The contribution of online sales to the overall top line has increased quite a bit. Store footfalls have impacted; however, the various other channels are helping to drive numbers,” Malik added.

    There has been a drastic shift in consumer behaviour since the pandemic has struck, and retailers need to adapt to these new changes. Due to the prevailing conditions, the brand has a higher focus on e-commerce, and it will remain a key strategy going forward.

    Festive cheer to kickstart sales

    The brand is quite optimistic that the festive season will bring a wave of positivity among people, and it will help them achieve sales. Metro has come up with a specially curated collection for the Dussehra-Diwali period.

    “We do expect people to shop during the festive season for self and gifting. We will continue to reach out to customers in different ways. Along with going omnichannel and focusing on our e-commerce business, and the other additional services offered by the brand will surely help us expand our reach during the festive season. We are quite hopeful that these festivities would bring some relief to the retail segment and everyone in general,” said Malik.

    Fleet-footed marketing

    In terms of marketing strategy, the brand is focusing on digital media, influencers and social media marketing extensively to engage and reach out to potential customers. “On digital platforms, performance marketing continues to be a key focus, and performance advertisements give the best ROI. We are also engaged with loyal customers through conversational channels such as WhatsApp and SMS,” she added.

    Two years ago, Metro roped in Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif as brand ambassadors, but due to various reasons, the company is no longer experimenting with any celebrity faces. Malik said the contract with the actors ended last year in August. When the celebrities were on board, their power was capitalised via many campaigns: instore, VM on digital and in other ways.

    She explained, "Last year, we took a conscious call not to renew the deals and get any celebrity on board. Consumer trends are changing, and customers want to associate with brands that are more real. We launched our new campaign ‘Wear what you are’ without celebrities and it gave us very good traction.”

    In fact, shared Malik, not having celebrities happens to give higher flexibility on content and budgets. In the age of social media virality, the brand is focusing on increasing the reach and engagement by investing in different ideas. “Today, customer ideals are changing. Celebrities are an ideal but influencer looks are achievable and attainable which fits in with today’s instant gratification customer,” she concluded.

    Confident of their connect with customers and armed with an optimistic outlook, it will be interesting to see how soon Metro Brands, and the footwear industry as a whole, is able to land on its feet and race to recovery.

  • Brands show human side amidst Covid2019 crisis

    Brands show human side amidst Covid2019 crisis

    NEW DELHI: While the Covid2019 pandemic came out as probably the most devastating blow to the business world as well as to the society, it also brought forth a number of heartening stories of human kindness and support. Be it the on-ground coverage that several news reporters are doing or the warm hospitality that the hospital staff and police personnel are showing, or the exceptional support that several social workers and famous personalities have extended to the underprivileged, we saw humanity raising its head high on many occasions. Indiantelevision.com had also covered how the pandemic even brought brands and agency partners  closer. 

    Not just that, many brands rose above their usual business and indulged in great deeds of public service too. Be it ACC Trust spending close to Rs five crore to help the migrant labours and villagers around ACC Cement’s factories or Relaxo and Metro Shoes donating footwear to the large exodus of migrant workers fleeing to home on feet, there have been ample examples of brands extending a helping hand in time of this unprecedented crisis. 

    Speaking about the varied initiatives that Metro Shoes has taken to support the community, VP–marketing and e-commerce Alisha Malik told Indiantelevision.com, “The pandemic brought the country and the economy to a staggering halt. While it impacted each one of us, the migrant workers were the most affected. Their struggle to meet their basic needs of food, shelter, financial security and reach their homeland was heart-wrenching. We felt that it was important for us to do our bit to support them in the time of crisis and that is how we came up with the Metro Cares Initiative.”

    Under the initiative, the brand provided ration kits to daily wagers with the help of Salaam Bombay Foundation and footwear to all those in need on their journey back home with the help of United Way of Mumbai and the Rotary Club. PPE kits to hospitals and masks to policemen were also provided with the help of United Way of Mumbai. 

    Sanitary napkin brand Pro-ease from the house of RSPL distributed over 10 lakh sanitary pads to frontline warriors managing the crisis. 

    RSPL director Rohit Gyanchandani shared, “We came across a few news reports and on-ground stories of how sanitary napkins were in short supply and women were facing difficulties due to that. Coupled with that we were also witnessing a phenomenal selfless service from corona warriors of both genders. When we put these two stories together, we as a team wanted to do our bit and came up with the idea of distributing 10 lac pads to women corona warriors free of cost as a small token of appreciation from Pro-ease.” 

    He added, “In times like these when the whole nation is going through a crisis, I think it’s imperative for everyone to do whatever little they can to help in whichever way possible. Whether you are a citizen or a brand, the fact remains that you ought to do the things you can, to make a difference for the better.”

    The brand also launched a powerful campaign #RoktiHoonRuktiNahin created by ADK Fortune to salute these female superheroes.

    ADK Fortune VP and ECD Nakul Sharma shared his experience of working on the campaign by saying, “The experience was first of all very humbling. Because the gravity of the fight put up by corona frontline warriors, especially women suddenly hit us in the face.” 

    Congratulating the brand on taking up this great initiative, he added, “Pro-ease had a solid proposition and decided to be a doer and not just a talker – which frankly makes all the difference in these times. These initiatives give clients a chance to show their human side as well. This epidemic is a time like no other and frankly keeping quiet is not an option. People want to know and hear from their brands and expect them to have a human point of view.” 

    Malik also highlighted that it is very important for brands to participate in supporting the community in difficult times as she said, “As important as CSR is for the community, it is equally valuable for a company. It is important for brands to stand up for causes that matter. In fact, in such times, it is important that each one of us takes a step towards helping all those in need. We are glad that we had access to resources that could help the migrant workers in their journey back home.” 

  • Metro Shoes provides relief to workers by donating footwear

    Metro Shoes provides relief to workers by donating footwear

    Migrant labourers are struggling to reach their hometown amidst the pandemic that has brought the country and its economy to a halt. Many of them have chosen to walk towards their homes. The long miles, blistering heat and inadequate food and water have made their struggle to reach home a lot harder. As a lot of migrant workers have been walking with broken footwear and some even barefoot, Metro shoes partnered with United Way of Mumbai and Rotary Club to donate footwear to migrant workers as a part of their ‘Metro Cares’ initiative.

    Since the pandemic, Metro Shoes has constantly been involved in measures to support the migrant workers affected by the pandemic. Previously they had distributed ration kits to the migrant labourers with the support of NGO’s like Salaam Bombay Foundation. Talking about this initiative, to support the migrant labourers who are walking, Jayant Shukla, CEO, United Way of Mumbai said, “For the fellow Indians leaving our city, the journey back home is long and arduous. Many of them are having to walk back hundreds of kilometres without adequate food, water, rest or even footwear. We are glad that the support of Metro Shoes will provide those who are walking with the basic footwear they need on their journey back home.”

    Aziz Fidai, Head CSR from Metro shoes added, “In this time of distress, we aim to enable migrant workers to return to their homes comfortably. Ration and footwear distribution are small endeavours towards the same. We hope to continue extending our support to them, however, big or small.”

    Mr. Rajendra Ruia, from Rotary Club said, “We distributed basic and comfortable footwear range by Metro shoes in Thane – Majiwada and Fountain area, under our Jeevan Rath Platform. The on-ground implementation was done by MAHA C19 PECONet- an alliance of development partners with technical support of UNICEF, Mumbai. This initiative by Metro Shoes is praiseworthy as it ensured that migrant labourers did not have to walk barefoot.”

  • METRO SHOES URGES YOU TO GO LOCAL

    METRO SHOES URGES YOU TO GO LOCAL

    The COVID 19 Pandemic has made countries across the globe realize the importance of being self-reliant. While most may fathom the impact of COVID 19, it also gives us an opportunity to step up and showcase our capabilities to the world. Today, it has become more important than ever to support ‘Make in India’. Keeping this sentiment in mind, Metro Shoes , the contemporary Indian fashion footwear and accessories brand, released a digital campaign urging customers to get vocal about going local!

    Make in India initiative by Metro Shoes echoes the sentiments of every Indian- to produce locally, and to wear what is local so that more and more Indians get jobs at the grass-root level. Started in the year of liberation, 1947, Metro Shoes, opened its doors to the public in Colaba, Mumbai. Since then, it has catered to the diverse footwear needs of India and become a household name with over 218 stores across 115 cities. In its latest digital campaign, Metro Shoes, thanks the Indian artisans for being a part of its Swadeshi journey and urges customers to support local homegrown Indian brands during these trying times

    Over the past seven decades, the company and the brand have become synonymous with unmatched quality, skilled craftsmanship, and high-fashion products in the footwear industry. As a brand that was established in the post-independence era, Metro holds the Swadeshi movement very close to its core. Speaking about going local, Alisha Malik, Vice-President-Marketing and E-commerce, Metro Shoes said, “We at Metro Shoes are very proud of our Indian heritage. We have always believed in the beauty of Indian art and the skills of our karigars. Today, it is important for all of us to support each other to come out strong from the pandemic and going local is a crucial step in being sustainable, equitable, and scalable. We request our customers to walk along with us and support us in our journey ahead.”

    On the retail front, the safety of customers and employees remains the top priority for Metro Shoes. They have set up special health helplines that are monitored on a real
    time basis. All the warehouses, stores, office premises, and even footwear are being sanitized. They have also set up special teams to train front-end and back-end staff on adopting all necessary safety measures and made provisions for sanitizers, masks, and gloves for all employees at the retail stores. The brand has also taken similar measures for all the e-commerce driven sales as well.

  • Metro Shoes celebrates Women’s Day through their unique campaign #ChangeTheWord

    Metro Shoes celebrates Women’s Day through their unique campaign #ChangeTheWord

    MUMBAI: Ahead of International Women’s Day, Metro shoes has launched a unique campaign with a new take on the patriarchy and stereotyping. Conceptualised and executed by Makani Creatives, the thought-provoking video is live across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

    The video showcases women performing various roles and undertaking tasks which are associated with men and doing them par excellence. It therefore challenges the term ‘It’s a man’s world’ and urges the viewers to relook at biases that are deep-rooted in the society and reflect through our words and phrases in daily life. The video then concludes by communicating that to ‘change the world, we need to first #ChangeTheWord’. The 45 second video gives a powerful and impactful message without being preachy or prudish.

    Speaking about the campaign Metro Shoes VP marketing and ecommerce Alisha Malik said, “Despite significant change in society’s outlook towards women, some stereotypes and ideas of patriarchy are too deep-rooted. This International Women’s Day we thought it would be apt to communicate this through a brand campaign. Makani Creatives has done a good job of bringing this message alive effectively.”

    Talking about the thought behind the campaign, Makani Creatives, Co-Founder and Managing Director Sameer Makani said, “In our daily life, we don’t realize biases that we create on the basis of language. Phrases promoting masculinity, showcasing the roles only men played in yesteryears has proved on how language has been one of the major catalysts in reinforcing the bias. Observing this, the idea was to show today's women in a few handpicked common phrases that emphasize on men to put out a thought that says "Change the Word to Change The World.”

  • Metro Shoes unveils ‘Cloud 9’, an exclusive collection designed for ‘Stylish Comfort’

    Metro Shoes unveils ‘Cloud 9’, an exclusive collection designed for ‘Stylish Comfort’

    MUMBAI: Coming from the house of the veteran contemporary Indian fashion footwear brand and accessories,  Metro Shoes launches its especially curated collection named ‘Cloud 9’ for men and women, who want stylish footwear without compromising on their comfort. Cloud 9 collection by Metro Shoes,  offers a range of stunning styles and designs for your outings with friends and board meetings alike, giving your feet comfort all day

    The ‘Cloud 9‘ collection by Metro Shos is targeted to those who seek comfort along with style. This collection has foowear with extra cushion, that gives you extra comfort. Cloud 9 Collection comprises of comfortable Sandals, Slip-ons,formal shoes for men and sandals, heels, flats ballerinas in casuals and workwear

    Realized in fashionable shades of colors designed for optimum utility, the range of shoes is perfect for fast-paced individuals who can wear the same pair of shoes all day without having to deal with foot aches or other discomforts. The styles are classic yet trendy. The men’s wear is simple and utility-minded whereas the women, who have an astute taste, offers a unique designs that will stand out.

    The Cloud 9 collection is available in all Metro Shoes stores.   

  • iProspect India to handle SEO duties of Godrej Interio

    iProspect India to handle SEO duties of Godrej Interio

    MUMBAI: iProspect India, the digital performance agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has bagged the digital media duties for the online business of one of India’s largest furniture brands, Godrej Interio. The account was won after a multi-agency pitch.

    As part of the mandate, the agency will provide SEO services to the brand and will service the account from its Mumbai office. Godrej Interio is building its online business, wherein now one can order furniture online and get it delivered to their doorstep, as it plans to expand its business footprint across the country.

    Commenting on the win, iProspect India CEO Rubeena Singh said, “Godrej Interio is a leading name in furniture business. And as it plans to strengthen its online footprint across the country, we look forward to support the brand in its omnichannel expansion plans. We are excited to provide Godrej Inerio opportunities to enhance their business performance that will help the brand reach out to the right customers in its next phase of growth.”

    Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd head- ecommerce Ashish Jain said, “Godrej Interio is leveraging technology to create an omnichannel experience for its customers across India. The brand will soon launch its e-commerce website and introduce other digital touch points to deliver superior customer experience across all channels. iProspect joins us at a crucial junction, as we strengthen our online presence.”

    The agency services e-commerce players like Pepperfry, Metro Shoes, Kalki Fashion, Nykaa, and Grofers as its client across its offices.

  • Metro Shoes launches digital campaign for end of season sale

    Metro Shoes launches digital campaign for end of season sale

    MUMBAI: In a bid to give its customers a unique experience, Metro Shoes has launched ‘A Night Market Sale’ digital campaign, which will give customers an exclusive access to shop for Metro Shoes’ end of season sale (EOSS) products before it goes offline (in stores).

     

    To create a buzz on social media, Metro Shoes collaborated with top five bloggers to give them an access for a secret sale where they had a chance to view the collection before the sale went live for consumers.

     

    Metro Shoes is planning to execute the 360 degree EOSS campaign by reaching out to all important touch points like print, outdoor and digital media along with outdoor advertising and in-store experiences. The campaign, first unveiled on digital media, synced across all Metro Shoes digital media platforms and extended to their offline stores as well.

     

    Metro Shoes vice president, digital Alisha Malik said, “Metro’s Online Night Market Sale is an exciting proposition and we at Metro Shoes are happy to be the torch-bearers of this initiative. This would also mark Metro’s first concerted 360 degree campaign for its EOSS both online and offline. The campaign has been splashed across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. It is heartening to see that this activity has captured the interest of customers and influencers alike. This is our kick-off campaign and we’ll keep going with other activities throughout the year.”

     

    The sale will begin on 27 July from 10 pm – 10 am at www.metroshoes.net.