Dabur unveils brand identity for health and beauty chain

H&B Stores plans to start 160 new-u outlets by 2010, with the first store expected to open by the end of January 2008 in New Delhi

Dabur India has revealed the brand name and identity for its speciality beauty, health and wellness retail business: H&B Stores. H&B Stores aims to establish its presence in the retail market in India with a chain of stores branded new-u. The business is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dabur India and has been set up with an initial investment of Rs 140 crore. H&B Stores marks Dabur India’s entry into the organised and speciality retail market.

Dabur has not hired an advertising agency for H&B Stores. The logo has been created in-house.

H&B Stores aims to open 160 stores by 2010, with the first store expected to open by the end of January 2008 in New Delhi. By the end of the 2007-08 fiscal, H&B Stores plans to open six new-u outlets in the Delhi NCR region. Another 50 stores will be added by fiscal 2008-09 in other metro and Tier 1 cities in the country.

Peter Baker, chief executive officer, H&B Stores, says, “The Indian consumer is maturing continuously with growing spending power. But the shopping experience in India has not kept pace with this change. Even though retail outlets have mushroomed across the country, most of them still do not offer Indian consumers the kind of shopping experience that people in the rest of the world are used to. new-u will aim to bring that world class shopping experience to India.”

According to Graeme Fraser, head, sourcing, buying and merchandising, H&B Stores, the brand name and design of new-u reflects the essence of brand proposition to cater to the requirements of a customer on the beauty and health platform. It also emphasises the brand’s customer focus, ‘About You’, and meeting emerging customer needs and expectations by offering engaging and innovative services.

The stores will house beauty and health experts who will offer advice to consumers on particular products that suit their specific needs. The stores will have around 20,000 products (SKUs) in different categories, including colour cosmetics, fragrances, skin and personal care, baby and family care, fashion accessories, general merchandise, and Ayurvedic, herbal and pharmaceutical products. The stores will carry a portfolio of Indian, international and private brands. The store sizes will vary from 1,200 sq. ft to 6,000 sq. ft.

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