India Retail News.

Wills Lifestyle, the retailing arm of ITC Ltd. The parent company has decided to leverage on another group company's business - ITC Hotel by setting up Wills Lifestyle Stores inside hotel premises.

Mr Atul Chand, of ITC Lifestyle Retailing said,

We have set up a store in ITC Maurya, New Delhi. ITC hotels will train its employees in customer service. We may look at replicating the model in other properties if the pilot project takes off.

ITC owns 14 Hotels in the 5-star category. Wills Lifestyle plans to add 10 more stores this year and reach 100 by 2012 from the present count of 55. Wills Signature brand, the private label contributes 15% of its top line while womens wear contribute 35% of the top line and is expected to go up. Wills has collaborated with international design studios from Italy - Ricardo Rami Studio for womens fashion wear and Alessandra Macchi Studio for flat knits.