Shoppers Stop, one of the leading retailers of fashion and lifestyle products in India, is adopting a new store design concept for its department stores across the country. A German architecture and design, store branding and communication firm, Schwitzke, has worked on the new concept and the first store has been opened a couple of weeks ago in Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

The new design concept is restricted to the retailers' department store format as all its other outlets are brand stores and come with their own concept. The new format is meant for all the new department stores that will be opened going forward. The group opens between 5 and 7 department stores every year. Seven existing stores will also get renovated annually to upgrade the shopping experience.

Shoppers Stop has earmarked a capex of between Rs 140 crore and Rs 150 crore for the current fiscal year (€18m). A third of this will go in setting up new stores and almost a similar amount for upgrading and renovation of existing stores. The balance will be for IT systems and other expenses.