New Delhi, December, 2009: 99labels a pioneering innovative concept, brought to India for the first time, launched its services on December 3, 2009 with its first sale of Satya Paul sarees. Partnering national and international brands, Brands on sale will include luxury as well as premium brands meeting the needs of a variety of users. The site will present Indian designer wear brands in the first month followed by international brands.

99labels has developed an error-proof sizing system with a ‘how-to-measure-yourself’ guide and size charts specific to individual brands.

After the inaugural sale of Satya Paul merchandise, 99labels will have sales of Indian Designerwear brands such as Ashish Soni, Payal Jain and Rocky S and high-street brands such as Van Heusen and Louis Philippe in the coming weeks. These will be followed with a series of name brand sales that include international name watches to French kids wear brand to an Italian couture brand. Consumers are always on the look out for fashionable merchandise at the right price.

We aim is to cultivate and maintain customer loyalty by providing superior quality pressure sensitive labels, unsurpassed customer service, and a lead-time that will exceed customer expectations through integrity, flexibility, innovation, and employee dedication.

Team99 is at work to ensure that, your 99labels shopping experience is one that leaves you happy, satisfied, and ready for more! Our smorgasbord of offerings is such that “there’s sure to be something for every taste and every budget”, so step in for an impulse little buy or go for the killer designer splurge! With 99labels you’re right on the button.

In an interview with Ishita Swarup, founder member of 99Labels VM got to know about the inside story of the brand.

1) What is the concept behind formation of 99labels.com?

The concept behind 99 labels is to build an exclusive online platform which organizes private, online event based sales of well-established luxury & premium brands, for members only and membership is strictly by invitation. The concept behind the 99Labels is to create a space  or platform for brands to liquidate their previous season’s excess stock in a closed controlled web environment to their target audience without any brand identity dilution.

2)            50% OFF, 50+45% OFF,70% OFF. Do you want to hit the same iron when it is hot by putting 70 % off? As per my knowledge, this has become the industry trend of putting OFF certain % on every item during sale period. Please comment on them.

99Labels  is not a another discounting platform; the idea behind is to provide brands a space within which they can exhibit their leftover superior quality selected merchandise from previous season’s  to a closed user group and realize sales. It doesn’t work on a principle where first merchandise pricing is inflated and later the same is put on sale. Here we are talking deep discounts on great brands, which would benefit the customer.

3)  70% OFF! Sounds great. Normally the cost of each garment is 5 times in case of these brands like zara, mango and Walmart as per my knowledge. I served export industry for 8 years for many brands, which include above said brand also. Is it the same business strategy used in 99labels.com?

Your question while valid concerns the pricing strategy employed by brands which is not something we can not comment on. Our promise is that we will offer deep discounts on great merchandise across categories.

4) If I am not wrong, sometimes stock or previous season collection is showcased in sale time? Any comments please specify.

Answered in the above question

5)  Designer’s garments are still acceptable. But how come brand like Van Heusen and designer’s garments are breathing under one roof?

That’s the beauty of the time linked event sales concept where every brand would be off the shelf in 5-7 days and chances of any collision of business interest for any brand is negligible. Versatility across product and brand offering will really help us to establish 99Labels as a smart shopping platform from consumers across a broad spectrum.

6)            What do you think about shopping via credit card or through online banking? Would you like to comment on safety and security measures that you have taken in order to ensure the customer’s reliability?

We are using a third party reliable and certified payment gateway through which all the transaction are being facilitated. We and Payment Gateway do not capture any card information but take the user to the concerned banks server and process the transaction. In order to take care of certain reservations in buying online using credit/ debit/ online banking methods, we are also offering a COD (Cash on delivery) option to our members.

7)  What is the annual sale target for this financial year?

This is something, which we can’t disclose as of now. We would like to add that we have a very aggressive approach to sales and would like to emerge as a leader in the Event based Sale Model in India.

8)  What do you think about the sale offline (store)? How does it make difference to you while selling online?

We are not trying to replace store selling but adding to it by offering another channel which has the added advantages of being accessible by a huge audience not bound by geography as well as convenience of use from anywhere and anytime.

We have tried our best to provide a real time experience by building in many features into the site such as a  flexible return policy, extra zoom options, size charts, size measuring guides, easy payment options including ‘cash on deliver’, quick and efficient delivery systems. We have sections for Customer feedback and an unparalleled customer support system, which in the long run will help us win customer loyalty.

9)  Would you like to comment on internet selling awareness in India? How does it affect your business?

Indian online audience has evolved phenomenally over the last 5 years and as a result, people are more open & confident to swipe their cards online than ever before.  The ever increasing number of online transactions is a clear indication to the fact that ecommerce is arguably the future of business in India.

10)  You have talked about size chart in your press release. India is such a diverse country which does not have any figure size. Which tools/measures have you taken in order to combat with this diverse size in Indian perspective?

99labels has developed an error-proof sizing system with a ‘how-to-measure-yourself’ guide and size charts specific to individual brands to help people find their size in that brand. We have also provided the corresponding US / UK sizes for each brand.

11)          Off course, there would be an issue of measurement, which can be minimized only via alteration. Is there any facility of alteration for your customer? If yes, is this chargeable or free? Please specify

Currently we have no facility for alteration. In any case sizing issues would only be applicable for apparel which makes up less than 50% of the merchandise on offer. 99 labels also have a flexible & easy return policy across most products in case the customer is not satisfied with the merchandise.

12)          At last what is your USP: Unique Selling Point?

USP – 99Labels.com is a members only smarts shoppers club, where Great Brands are available at Great Prices.

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