INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - APRIL 2007
The Month that was ...

BCCL BUYS STAKE IN EYANTRA

Bennett, Coleman & Company (BCCL) has acquired a stake in Hyderabad-based eYantra Industries, a corporate brand merchandising company with single largest source of all merchandising products, one-stop-shop for ideation, designing and execution.

eYantra has entered into long term exclusive merchandising contracts with several industry majors like Tech Mahindra, TCS, Accenture, Sasken, HCL, Genpact and ING Vysya Life Insurance Company.

More than 15 corporates have partnered with eYantra for their online brand stores within three months of launch, and eYantra is expecting to host 100 online brand stores by end of this year. eYantra has catered to more than 1,000 corporates across the globe, and offers a range of 5,000 products across 150 categories. Headquartered in Hyderabad, eYantra has a pan India presence with various offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.

Started in 2001 by ex-PwC consultants, eYantra has grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 73%, eYantra has now forayed into internet- and intranet-based customized online brand stores. Named 'eTail', this new SBU will synchronize and energize its online brand store vertical across the globe. Technology being the core differentiator, eYantra has invested and developed in-house proprietary technologies which enable it to deliver a significant value advantage to its clients both in terms of cost and service experience.

"The concept of corporate merchandising has undergone a paradigm shift and is now considered as a high potential brand awareness vehicle. The need for employee accessibility, international reach and innovative merchandise are some of the necessities of the corporates to reach out to all their stakeholders. eYantra expects to play a pivotal role in the offline and online retailing business in the country," said Phani Raj, MD, eYantra Industries.