GURGAON: With a high-profile marketing and distribution deal with Apple Inc in its bag, Reliance Retail is in negotiations to seal similar deals in the current year. The retail major is in talks with three to four global players for exclusive tie ups in speciality retail space.

Speaking to ET on the eve of Reliance Retail’s second TimeOut store in Gurgaon, Reliance Retail president & chief executive, lifestyle, Bijou Kurien said: “The tie-ups for speciality retail will be in non-food, non-FMCG categories such as apparel, footwear, consumer electronics, home and interiors and furniture among others.”

While declining to mention specific names of players Reliance Retail was in talks with, Mr Kurien said: “We are hopeful that the speciality retail ventures will be rolled out in the current calendar year.” The company proposes to set up stand-alone stores for speciality retail once the deals are formalised.

Reliance Retail is learnt to be in talks with US-based multi-brand home improvement player Lowe. Its first speciality retail store in partnership with Apple Inc, iStore by Reliance Digital, recently started operations in Bangalore.

Elaborating on plans for its books, music, stationery and toys stores under the Reliance TimeOut umbrella, Mr Kurien said: “The plan is to set up 45 TimeOut stores over the next three years.” The company, however, has not firmed up specific investments for TimeOut stores for the three-year period.

It is currently testing the TimeOut format with three pilot stores — one each in Bangalore and Guragon and a third upcoming one in Kochi. While the Gurgaon store has been set up with an investment of Rs 20 crore, Reliance Retail invested Rs 12 crore in the Bangalore store. 

Source: Ratna Bhushan, TNN, 25 Jan, 2008