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Historically, SB&T – a 100% Export Oriented Unit
has been manufacturing gem set jewellery and exporting to wholesalers overseas.
Since 2000, SB&T strategically changed its focus to retailing to leverage
on the cost effectiveness of the Indian manufacturing base while addressing the
retail and wholesale demand in the Middle East and UK since 2003.
In line with the strategy the
Company has ventured into the retail jewellery segment by successfully implementing
forward integration plans in the Middle East by acquiring Soft Touch Jewellers
LLC (“STJ”). Post-acquisition in 2000,
SB&T has increased the number of retail stores from two to ten . Nine of these are located in Carrefour a
leading hypermarket chain and a retail store
at the prestigious Gold &
Diamond Park in Dubai.
Present Activities
v
Manufacturing
Manufacturing of studded jewellery
is the main business of the Company.
The number of pieces manufactured has doubled during a period of last
five years. It exports its entire production to the USA, Europe and the Middle
East.
The Company has in house fully
integrated manufacturing facilities under one roof. The Company has a library
of over 30000 international designs catering to different tastes and
requirements of customers.
The Company also has an agreement
valid till July, 2012 with SB&T-US with assured buyback arrangement of upto
75% of its total production. However,
SB&T is currently exporting around 56% of its production to SB&T-US.
v
Retail Chain Stores
v
Soft Touch Jewellers LLC, - UAE
Foraying into retail jewellery
business is a new initiative for the Company.
As the first step towards this new initiative, in July 2000, SB&T,
through its subsidiary S. B. & T. Holding Limited, Mauritius, acquired Soft
Touch Jewellers LLC, a Company registered in Dubai, having one wholesale and
two retail jewellery outlets in the Middle East at the time of acquisition.
Since acquisition, SB&T has increased the number of retail outlets to
eleven in the Middle East, nine of which are located in the hypermarket of
Carrefour.
v
SB&T ( UK) Limited
Ø In July 2003 SB&T
(UK) Limited; (SB&T UK) a joint venture company has been formed alongwith
Gerald Ratner and Gary O’Brien to
undertake SB&T’s foray in UK markets.
Ø SB&T UK will
initially focus on marketing jewellery manufactured in India by SB&T
International Limited by way of wholesaling and distribution of jewellery and
retailing of jewellery through online business.
Ø The UK market for jewellery,
watches and fashion jewellery is estimated at £ 3.45 billion.
Ø Home shopping is a £ 26
billion market in UK constituting 8% of the total retail sales and growing at
the rate of 20% per annum.
Ø The
Management team of SB&T UK comprises two executive directors, Gerald Ratner
and Gary O’brien and three non-executive directors including Varij Sethi
(Chairman) and Sanjiv Chainani.
Ø Ratner
(Wholetime COO) and O’Brien (CFO) will focus on the online retail market &
the wholesale market in UK.
Ø Both
Ratner and O’Brien have extensive experience in the UK and USA jewellery
retailing markets, both commercially and financially.
Ø The
internet retail model of SB&T UK namely www.geraldonline.com
went live on 17th November 2003 and new website had nearly 1 million
hits in its first week of commencement.