Tag: Retail

Business

Lenskart Launches Meller in India, Announces Creative Eyewear Partnership with Popmart

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

Lenskart has announced a significant expansion of its global House of Eyewear Brands with the launch of Barcelona-born Meller in India and a new creative collaboration with international pop-culture leader Popmart. The move highlights Lenskart’s commitment to shaping a contemporary design ecosystem that resonates deeply with the next generation of trend-driven, culturally aware customers.

Meller, one of Europe’s fastest-growing youth-centric eyewear brands, is known for its bold silhouettes, street-style influences, and expressive aesthetic that has captured the attention of a large global community. With strong traction across Europe and the U.S., and more than 700,000 followers, the brand’s entry into India through Lenskart marks a meaningful moment in the evolution of youth-focused fashion eyewear. The brand will initially roll out across approximately 500 carefully selected Lenskart stores identified through GeoIQ intelligence to match high fashion-affinity neighbourhoods, ensuring customers experience the brand where it fits best culturally and stylistically.

Alongside this launch, Lenskart has revealed its creative partnership with Popmart, the global phenomenon behind collectible characters and the beloved Labubu universe. The Pop Mart x Lenskart eyewear collection debuts in the first week of December in Singapore through both online channels and select retail locations. With character-inspired, collectible-ready designs, the collaboration brings playful, expressive, and culturally resonant eyewear to consumers who increasingly see accessories as a form of identity and self-expression. This partnership extends Lenskart’s growing range of collaborations that includes Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Superman, and Batman—alliances that allow the brand to tap into powerful fandoms and emerging subcultures.

Through its premium portfolio, which includes brands like John Jacobs, Owndays, and now Meller, and through cultural collaborations with Popmart and others, Lenskart continues to build a thoughtful and future-forward multi-brand platform. Each brand represents a distinct design philosophy and serves a unique consumer segment, enabling Lenskart to offer individuality, high-quality craftsmanship, and elevated aesthetics to a global audience. CEO and Co-founder Peyush Bansal emphasized that customers seeking global design, authenticity, and self-expression inspire Lenskart’s choices, and the addition of Meller along with creative partnerships such as Popmart aligns perfectly with that vision. Supported by Lenskart’s strong distribution, full-stack supply chain, design ecosystem, and advanced technology infrastructure, partner brands gain the ability to reach wider audiences and scale internationally. As the eyewear industry evolves with strong multi-brand platforms shaping its future, Lenskart aims to play a defining role in empowering expressive, design-led eyewear brands and cultural collaborations around the world.

Business

Maharashtra Government Permits Shops and Establishments to Operate 24×7

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In a significant policy shift, the Maharashtra government has officially allowed shops and commercial establishments to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This landmark decision is aimed at strengthening the retail sector, boosting the state’s economy, and creating more opportunities for both entrepreneurs and workers. It also aligns Maharashtra with global cities that already embrace a 24×7 business culture.

According to the government, the move will:

  • Boost retail and service sector growth by enabling businesses to serve more customers.
  • Generate employment opportunities, especially in the hospitality, retail, and services industries.
  • Provide greater consumer convenience, particularly for professionals and night-shift workers.
  • Enhance tourism and nightlife, making Maharashtra more attractive to visitors.

While the decision has been widely welcomed by the business community, experts highlight the importance of ensuring safety measures, proper staffing, and labor rights as the state transitions into a 24×7 economy.

This progressive step is expected to transform Maharashtra’s economic and social landscape, offering a new era of flexibility and growth.

Business

Shein Opens Its China Manufacturing Network to Other Fashion Brands Amid Tariff Challenges

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Written by Intern Queeny George M.H, Team Allycaral

Shein, the fast-fashion giant, is making a bold shift by opening its China-based apparel manufacturing network to other fashion brands. However, there’s a condition — participating brands must also open stores on Shein’s marketplace.

This move aims to diversify revenue streams as the company navigates turbulent waters, including US tariffs, fluctuating sales, and IPO setbacks.

💡 Why this matters:

  • Shein’s southern China supply chain is considered one of the most efficient and hardest to replicate globally.
  • The new initiative could help the company monetize its logistics and manufacturing infrastructure by turning competitors into partners.
  • Despite reporting over $400 million in net income and nearly $10 billion in Q1 revenue, sales momentum has weakened in recent months.

📉 External Challenges:

  • The end of the de minimis tariff exemption by the US has pressured Shein’s sales.
  • While June showed a brief recovery, recent weeks have seen another dip.
  • Regulatory scrutiny continues, especially regarding labor practices and supply chain transparency.

📊 IPO Roadblocks:

  • Shein abandoned its US IPO plans amid intense scrutiny.
  • It later explored London but has since filed a confidential draft prospectus in Hong Kong.

Industry experts note that Shein’s supply chain efficiency could be a game-changer if leveraged as a service to peers, but questions remain about execution and sustainability in a volatile trade environment.

For now, Shein’s bet on its manufacturing edge could reshape the fashion industry’s supply chain dynamics while also providing a new growth pathway beyond direct consumer sales.

📖 For the full analysis and updates, visit allycaral.com

Entertainment

Pop Mart’s Labubu Craze Fuels Global Expansion as Brand Eyes $2.78B Revenue

Tanisha Cardozo

Pop Mart, the Beijing-based collectibles powerhouse known for its blind-box toys, is making bold moves to transform itself from a retail sensation into a full-fledged global cultural brand. At the heart of this transformation is Labubu, a mischievous and toothy character from artist Kasing Lung’s The Monsters series, which has taken the world by storm and captured the attention of fans and celebrities alike—including Rihanna and David Beckham.

At a recent investor briefing, CEO Wang Ning told analysts that Pop Mart is on track to generate 20 billion yuan ($2.78 billion) in revenue by 2025, confidently suggesting that 30 billion yuan this year “should be quite easy” following a blockbuster first half. The company reported an extraordinary near-400% surge in net profit, driven largely by robust international demand where margins tend to be higher than in China.

With over 40 stores already in the United States, Pop Mart is doubling down with plans to open 10 more by the end of the year. But the expansion doesn’t stop there. Company executives pointed to promising markets across the Middle East, Central Europe, and Latin America, adding that sales from North America and Asia-Pacific could match China’s by as early as 2024.

The company’s signature product remains the blind box: a sealed toy package priced between $10–$20, beloved by collectors for the thrill of the unknown. But Pop Mart is now evolving its intellectual properties beyond the toy aisle. Labubu, its flagship character, is being adapted into new formats, including a mini phone charm launching this week—part of a strategy to extend the character’s influence across everyday consumer culture.

The bigger vision? Entertainment. Wang revealed the company is investing in animated films, theme parks, and other storytelling mediums that could make Pop Mart’s characters fixtures in global pop culture. While these moves may not yield immediate revenue, they are central to Pop Mart’s ambition to become “Asia’s answer to Disney or Sanrio”—companies that have turned beloved characters into multi-generational global franchises.

From humble beginnings in retail to ambitious IP-driven growth, Pop Mart’s trajectory signals the rising global influence of Asian consumer brands. With strong creative assets and a growing fanbase, its transformation could reshape the global entertainment and merchandising landscape—and Labubu might just be the face that leads the charge.

Events in Goa

Mall De Goa Celebrates 9 Years of Retail Excellence in Goa

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Mall De Goa, the largest shopping mall in Goa, has marked a significant milestone – completing 9 years of its existence in the state. Since its inception on 27th February 2016, Mall De Goa has been a premier retail destination, offering an unparalleled shopping experience to the residents and tourists of Goa.


Located in Porvorim, Mall De Goa boasts an impressive array of national and international brands, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. The mall features a range of dining options, entertainment zones, and recreational activities, making it a popular hub for socializing and relaxation.


Mall De Goa is a proud initiative of the Jai Bhuvan Group, a renowned name in the real estate and retail sectors. The group’s vision to create a world-class shopping destination in Goa has been successfully realized, with Mall De Goa emerging as a landmark in the state’s retail landscape.


As Mall De Goa celebrates its 9th anniversary, Damu Naik, the President of BJP Goa, added prestige to the 9-year anniversary celebration of Mall De Goa as the chief guest. As the president of the Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Naik has been instrumental in shaping the party’s vision and strategy in the state . His presence at the event underscored the significance of Mall De Goa as a premier retail destination in Goa. Visitors can expect a range of surprises, from exclusive discounts and giveaways to thrilling entertainment programs.

Join the celebration and make some unforgettable memories at Mall De Goa!