Swedish fashion retail chain H&M has entered the Indian market. Its first store opened in the Select Citywalk Mall at the posh Saket area in New Delhi. The company got a rousing welcome from around 2,500 people who had queued up to be among the first few to enter the store and witness the launch.
H&M had not only rolled out a red carpet to welcome its customers but promised attractive gifts for the first 1,000 customers, ranging from an H&M goodie bag to Rs 15,000 gift card. The store management divided the queues in three parts in the morning. While the first queue was set right at the entrance of the mall, volunteers chaperoned the crowds to the atrium of the mall and then the main red-carpeted final queue to the store. By mid-afternoon, the crowds had become so overwhelming that it required bouncers to keep them from storming the store.
Janne Einola, H&M India Chief Executive said, “By early morning, there were more than 1,000 people lined up. Not only the footfalls, but sales have been great as well. We are extremely happy and believe the whole weekend would be like this.”
H&M Chief Executive Karl-Johan Persson, who came down from Stockholm for the event, is excited about the enormous potential India offers. In an interview to ET, Persson said that the Swedish firm is in India for the long run.
The company has also advertised for openings in India at Delhi and Bengaluru on its website. The openings are for garment technician, quality controller, department managers, store sales advisor, store manager and the like. The company operates in many markets around the world and its strong expansion can bring many opportunities for international assignments. The company offers a conducive work environment, employee discounts on shopping, rewards on profits and career growth.