Date:25/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/25/stories/2005032502460200.htm

Back Lladro hopes to rake in Rs 50 cr in India

Ambar Singh Roy

Ms Angelique O'Brien, Country Manager, Lladro, launching the Lord Krishna and Radha figurine in Kolkata. — Parth Sanyal

Kolkata , March 24

SPANISH figurines major Lladro hopes to generate a turnover of Rs 50 crore from the Indian market in the calendar year 2005. In 2004, the company, through its sole distributor for India, Spa Agencies (India) Pvt Ltd, generated a turnover of Rs 20 crore.

The expected turnover in 2005 is expected to be driven by sales of the recently-introduced, India special limited edition of Radha & Krishna and the open edition of Kanhaiya and cow.

Speaking to Business Line, the Country Manager of Lladro in India, Ms Angelique O' Brien, said the 2005 Lladro Humanitas Collection has also been launched in India. The limited edition of Radha & Krishna has been priced at Rs 2,35,000 per piece. A total of 3,000 pieces of the Radha & Krishna version would be available globally. Of this, around 1,000 pieces was expected to be sold in India.

Ms O Brien said Lladro was also hopeful of selling 3,000 pieces of the Kanhaiya and cow in the Indian market. Earlier, Lladro had introduced the Indian market special Ganesha in 2002. The company has a retail presence in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

According to her, Lladro figurines were available in India in the price range of around Rs 2,500 and above. "We have no mass market product but only those for the luxury segment. Our target clientele comprises the wealthy and those who have taste and style," Ms O Brien said, and added that Lladro has earmarked about $500,000 for branding and promotional expenses in India in the current calendar year. Among the events planned in course of the year are "Lladro raas lilas" that would be organised in major cities across the country," she said.