Metro Brands Limited is of the largest Indian footwear speciality retailers, and are among the aspirational Indian brands in the footwear category. We opened our first store under the Metro brand in Mumbai in 1955, and have since evolved into a one-stop shop for all footwear needs, by retailing a wide range of branded products for the entire family including men, women, unisex and kids, and for every occasion including casual and formal events. As of March 31, 2021, our Company operated 586 Stores across 134 cities spread across 29 states and union territories in India.
Our Company has one subsidiary, being Metmill Footwear Private Limited and one joint venture, being M.V. Shoe Care Private Limited.
We operate on an asset light model with third-party manufacturing through long-standing vendor relationships, optimum store size and layout, and long-term lease arrangements. We introduce new designs frequently through our vendor engagements based on our combined understanding of prevailing trends and regional sensitivity.
As of March 31, 2021, we marketed our products through two websites and dedicated pages in seven major Indian e-commerce marketplaces; and catered to our online orders through a designated operations area at our warehouse. Like our stores, we also own and operate our e-commerce operations, and have invested in an e-commerce specific warehouse management system that integrates our store network with our online platform. The integrated system streamlines order management, product picking, packaging and shipment, to offer a seamless omni-channel experience to our customers. Our integrated supply chain is also enabled by the successful implementation of enterprise resource planning at our head office and warehouse.
Our retail operations are carried out through our stores and distributors as well as through online channels. We primarily follow the “company owned and company operated” (“COCO”) model of retailing through our own Multi Brand Outlets (“MBOs”) and Exclusive Brand Outlets (“EBOs”), to better manage customer experience at our stores. We operate Metro, Mochi and Walkway branded MBOs and Crocs™ branded EBOs. Our Company and our Subsidiary Metmill also operate shop-in-shops (“SIS”) in major departmental stores across India. We also distribute products of third-party brands through MetMill and retail products through franchisees. MBOs, EBOs, SIS, and franchisees, operated by our Company together referred to in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus as “Stores”. In addition to our physical Stores, we provide an omni-channel experience to customers through our websites, various online marketplaces, as well as, social media platforms. All our brands are listed and are sold across various leading marketplaces for B2C and B2B operations.
As of March 31, 2021, we had 2,691 permanent employees. We further work with 1,235 selling agents, their staff, and contract workers.