Mid-range UK brands lure Indonesia's big spenders<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Even with a wide variety of quality Indonesian apparel, it seems
\nthe nation's upper market is still fascinated by imported brands,
\nmaking middle class British labels among their options.<\/p>\n
Predominantly brought to the country by retailer PT Mitra Adi
\nPerkasa (MAP), several established apparel lines from the United
\nKingdom occupy anchor spaces at exclusive malls.<\/p>\n
They include Marks and Spencer, NEXT, department store
\nDebenhams, as well as sports brand Reebok and most recently
\npersonal healthcare outlet Boots.<\/p>\n
With these lines, MAP succeeds in luring those seeking
\nclothing, with probably an added higher self-confidence as a
\nbonus.<\/p>\n
Along with some 45 other brands and concept stores, the total
\ncombined sales of imported labels contributed Rp 2.3 trillion
\n($2.3 billion) to MAP's 2004 total sales, an increase of almost
\n10 percent from the previous year.<\/p>\n
\"We selected brands which have long been established and have
\nhigh reputation in the global market,\" said MAP investor
\nrelations head Ratih D. Gianda.<\/p>\n
\"Our first fashion brand was NEXT. We opened an outlet in
\nPlaza Senayan in 1995,\" Ratih added.<\/p>\n
The first NEXT women's wear store was opened in the UK in 1982
\nand it developed as a retail chain. J. Hepworth and Son, a
\ncompany established in 1864, developed the store after acquiring
\nthe chain of Kendalls rainwear shops. Lately, NEXT's collection
\nhas grown to include men's wear, children's wear and interiors.<\/p>\n
According to its website, the label receives its products from
\nfactories in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India as
\nwell as Indonesia, aside from having some of their products made
\nin the UK and Belgium.<\/p>\n
In Indonesian cities, mostly in Jakarta, MAP has opened 11
\nNEXT outlets that adds to the label's 380 stores in UK and around
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
Another apparel label, Marks and Spencer, was established at
\nIndonesia's Plaza Senayan in July 2000. Since then it has
\nexpanded to 14 stores adding to its 400 stores in UK and 150
\nothers around the globe.<\/p>\n
The history of the brand dates back to 1884 when Michael Marks
\nand Tom Spencer formed a partnership that later became a chain of
\nretail stores offering a variety of products ranging from apparel
\nto packaged food and beverages.<\/p>\n
MAP's latest UK partners are department store Debenhams and
\npersonal healthcare chain shop Boots, both opened in Jakarta this
\nyear in Plaza Indonesia and Pondok Indah Mall 2 respectively.<\/p>\n
Debenhams features mostly UK fashion brands such as Red
\nHerring, Casual Club and Maine, but in Indonesia, MAP has taken
\nits other non-UK brands inside.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Boots, which started as a herbalist shop in
\nNottingham, has opened two outlets in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indulging cosmopolitan living and providing the \"ultimate
\nshopping experience\" would not be complete without adding sports
\nitems to the basket. MAP has taken the initiative of importing
\nReebok shoes and sports apparel since 1990.<\/p>\n
Known as the world's oldest shoe brand, born in 1895, Reebok
\npenetrates the Indonesian market with 13 concept stores
\nnationwide.<\/p>\n
\"We are committed in making these brands as well as other
\nbrands grow through our company,\" said Ratih.<\/p>\n
But not all British outlets find their way here through MAP.
\nThe Body Shop is among them. This shows that British products
\nhave found a strong market here.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mid-range-uk-brands-lure-indonesias-big-spenders-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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