In technological Innovation is based on scientific studies, 40 years experience of good craftsmanship and by working with the best suppliers. Only this way we can continuously enhance the ECCO brand, and remain the leading company within world-class comfort footwear I put "working in close association" with vendors as the major strategy for our further growth in India.

IFCOMA: With your long association with Indian footwear market, what's your perception and how do you think your venture has come along?

FB: Initially when ECCO started its operation in India, we had only two parametric concerns: Quality and Lead-time To sustain as the top brand leader, we had to maintain our standards of quality and to deliver the goods in time. While I do appreciate few Indian Suppliers as they were part of our growth. I would also like to reiterate the lack of sources and distributed production bases as the major hindrance in the timely supply of the raw material Furthermore, we would like Indian market as not only for procurement, but also to add this in our marketing area for the ECCO's products.

IFCOMA: Which are the countries from where you are sourcing shoes at present? What Percentage of sourcing are you planning from India?

FB: The main source for our shoe manufacturing is at Guangzhou district in China is being recently developed and Portugal, Slovakia, Indonesia and Thailand. We have developed the production centers in these countries, over years. We have created a good production center for shoes and all components necessary for fabrication of shoes under one roof.

We are increasing our output from Indian footwear manufacturer and we do anticipate a growth in our procurement The problem that binders our growth in expanding our procurement is the lack of quality vendors. Though the quality has improved from the time when we started our operation decades ago, still the footwear components manufacturer has a long way to go.

IFCOMA: Would you be retailing shoes in India also? Do you think you can find a big market in India?

FB: We have a substantially small presence in retail marketing of our branded footwear in India. We do explore the opportunities and seek out for the market that is not so price sensitive Our Golf (priced at Rs. 15,000) footwear can be found in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The Indian footwear retailing is quite price sensitive and our shoes are up-market to cater the upper middle class segment We would not compromise on quality standards that ECCO has set for the international market.

IFCOMA: Will you concentrate to some extent on developing the footwear components available indigenously in India or would you opt for importing the same.

FB: Three decades ago when we started our base in India, we used to have problem in developing the components.



The physical samples were brought in which was copied here in India. We were to again rework and get the approval from the head offices before moving into the commercial production.

Things have changed now. The Indian footwear component manufacturers are technology driven They understand our requirement and are much conversant in reading drawings. Though we lack the supplier base in India, we would like to improvise on production processes, help them in importing right machines and technologies for quality production of the footwear components.

IFCOMA: Are you able to procure necessary quality components from India? How is the pricing of the components as compared to the rest of the World?

FB: Yes, Indian market is very potential in all sources

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