Inc.5, a homegrown footwear brand, is planning a big expansion, focusing on both physical stores and online sales. This move shows how the D2C business is changing in India.By April, Inc.5 aims to have 100 of its own stores. They want to reach 120 stores by the end of next year. This shows they want to be a top D2C brand in fashion and lifestyle.
Inc.5 was started to offer stylish, comfy, and modern shoes. Now, they are investing more in stores and building a system that combines tech, digital know-how, customer info, and new ways to sell both online and in stores. Indian D2C customers want smooth shopping experiences online and offline, so Inc.5 is putting money into tech, AI planning, sales tracking, and improvements to its supply chain.
Right now, Inc.5 has 92 stores in about 47 Indian cities. They own and run all these stores themselves. This lets them keep a close eye on their brand image and customer experience. In the past three years, they’ve opened about 37 stores. They plan to grow in big cities, smaller cities, and new markets like Indore, Udaipur, Surat, and Goa, and expand in Ahmedabad and Surat. Most Inc.5 stores are in malls because they get more customers and become profitable faster than stores on the street.
Besides physical stores, Inc.5 sells its products in shops within Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle, and Central. They have about 241 of these shop-in-shop locations and add about 15 new ones each year. This mix of online and offline sales matches the current D2C trend in India, where brands combine product discovery, ease, and availability.
Inc.5 makes 80% of its money from offline sales and 20% from online sales through their website and other online marketplaces. They sell about 3,250 different products online and about 1,150 in stores. Women’s shoes make up 75% of their sales, with men’s shoes and other brands making up the rest.
Even with changes in the economy, Inc.5 has grown by 16% each year. This year, they expect to grow by about 12% because they are moving to a bigger warehouse. Last year, Inc.5 made Rs 240 crore in revenue and expects to reach Rs 270 crore soon.
Inc.5 is interesting because it doesn’t need a lot of money to run. They work with Indian manufacturers to make their products, which helps them control quality and save time. With a store costing about Rs 1.2 crore to set up, Inc.5 can grow without hurting its profits or the brand experience.
As people talk about D2C IPOs and expansion plans, Inc.5 is a good example of a company that has grown without relying too much on outside money. Instead, they focus on good operations and a deep understanding of Indian shoe buyers. Inc.5 is not just participating in India’s D2C retail change—it is helping to shape it.
