Date:22/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022203420800.htm

Back Titan Industries launches Xylys watches, plans more brands

Our Bureau

Actor and brand ambassador of Titan Rahul Bose with a model at the launch of Xylys watches in the Capital on Tuesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Feb. 21

TITAN Industries Ltd today said it was in talks with two foreign fashion watch brands for distribution in India even as it is rolling out its own Swiss made premium watches brand `Xylys'.

"Talks are currently on with two fashion luxury watches brands from abroad and after April we should be able to name them. It could be a marketing or licensing arrangement," the COO of Titan Industries Ltd, Mr Bijou Kurien, said today on the sidelines of a press conference announcing the launch of the company's premium brand Xylys.

On the company's new brand Xylys, he said the watches were assembled in Switzerland and would be priced in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 33,000. The components were sourced from different parts of the world

"With the new brand we are aiming to capture about 15 per cent of the Rs 250-crore premium watches market in India this year," he said, adding the company would launch three exclusive outlets for Xylys in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The initial focus markets would be Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, after which the company would concentrate on other cities such as Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune, he added.

Xylys would be competing with premium international brands including Tissot and Rado.

Titan has roped in actor Rahul Bose, supermodel Saira Mohan and international tennis player Carlos Moya of Spain as its brand ambassadors.