Abacus Lifestyle Brands Ltd. has emerged as a leading multi-brand retail powerhouse with a diversified presence across fashion, footwear, jewellery, and home furnishings. The company began its journey in 2004 as an offline retail solutions provider for Spykar, managing B2C and B2B operations, including inventory, marketing, and exclusive brand outlets. By 2007, Abacus had already launched 25 exclusive retail stores, generating significant wholesale traction through strategic partnerships.
Over the years, the company expanded its portfolio to include a robust mix of iconic national and international brands such as Flying Machine, US Polo Association, United Colors of Benetton, Calvin Klein, French Connection, and Pepe Jeans— achieving remarkable scale and reach across India. Diversification has been key to Abacus’ success, with successful entries into footwear (Skechers), home furnishings (D’Décor), jewelry (Tanishq), and e-commerce retail (Myntra).
With operations spanning across the country, Abacus Lifestyle Brands Ltd. is currently associated with 20 leading brands and operates across multiple verticals—apparel, footwear, jewelry, and furnishings. With ambitious plans to expand to 200 stores, Abacus is poised to further strengthen its footprint and redefine lifestyle retailing in India.
Key Drivers Behind Success
For Abacus, the cornerstone of their success lies in the strength of the product. Equally important is their operational capability, which enables them to deliver consistent value and performance across their brand portfolio.
Onboarding & Setup Process: For Abacus Lifestyle Brands Ltd., the onboarding and setup process is generally smooth and not considered a major challenge. With years of experience in retail operations, the company has developed internal efficiencies and capabilities that streamline this phase effectively.
Operational & Marketing Support from Brands: Given Abacus’s core strength in retail operations, the company typically does not rely heavily on brands for operational support. They bring significant expertise to the table in this area. However, when it comes to marketing, the level of support varies from brand to brand, depending on individual strategies and market positioning.
Training, Investment Alignment & Building Trust: One of the biggest challenges Abacus faces is in the area of investment alignment. “There remains a general lack of awareness around the franchise business model, especially in terms of capital requirements. Since most stores operate on leased premises, and every brand requires a unique store design and fit-outs—followed by stock procurement—the upfront investment is significant,” said Sunit Mishra, Director, Abacus Lifestyle Brands Ltd.
“However, banks do not typically treat leased retail space as collateral, adding to the complexity. Abacus believes that long-term partnerships thrive on mutual trust and transparency, which remains a cornerstone of all successful brand relationships. Fortunately, the company does not encounter any major regulatory or infrastructural issues specific to its business model,” he adds further.
Understanding Customers, Strengthening Partnerships
Abacus Lifestyle has observed a clear shift in customer preferences, with affordable fashion emerging as a dominant trend across its stores. Consumers today are seeking value-driven options that balance style and price, reflecting changing priorities in the retail landscape. In terms of strengthening brand-franchisee relationships, the team at Abacus believes that transparency remains the most critical factor. Maintaining open, honest communication builds confidence and trust, laying the foundation for long-term, collaborative success between brands and their franchise partners.
Expansion & Alignment
Abacus Lifestyle Brands Ltd. maintains daily communication with brand teams, ensuring continuous alignment on operations, updates, and support. Following the pandemic, the company has entered an aggressive expansion phase across multiple categories, actively exploring opportunities to grow with both existing and new fashion brands.
“When it comes to handling competition in the market, Abacus believes in staying focused on consistent, high-quality execution—dedicating themselves fully to their role and allowing results to follow naturally,” concluded Mishra.
