Neeman’s targets 100 stores by 2027 with franchise-led expansion

The comfort-footwear brand plans to grow from 45 stores to 100 by 2027, using a calibrated franchise model to build its presence in North and East India. Nearly 80% of Neeman’s sales currently come through digital channels.

— Source publishedTue, 4 Aug, 2026, 11:44 IST·First seen Tue, 4 Aug, 2026, 11:45 IST·Source IMAGES Business of Fashion

What happened

Neeman's · Indian comfort-footwear D2C brand Neeman’s plans to expand from 45 to 100 stores by 2027 through a calibrated franchise-led strategy. The omnichannel

Key facts

  • 45 stores across India
  • target of 100 stores by 2027
  • annual business growth of 70–80%
  • West and South India account for nearly 70% of store network
  • products priced between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000
  • nearly 80% of sales come through digital channels
  • first exclusive store opened in 2023

Why this matters

Neeman’s North and East India expansion makes it a potential partnership target for mall operators, regional franchise groups and complementary lifestyle brands seeking access to a digitally proven comfort-footwear platform.

What to watch

  • Number of signed versus operational franchise stores and the pace of openings required to reach 100 stores by 2027.
  • Same-store sales, sales per square foot and store-level payback periods for early franchise cohorts.
  • Share of store customers who later transact digitally, and share of online returns or exchanges resolved in stores.
  • North and East India contribution to revenue, repeat rates and average order value after new-store launches.
  • Gross-margin trend, markdown levels and inventory turns as physical assortment expands.
  • Franchisee churn, store closures, partner concentration and reported disputes over inventory or discounting.
  • Competitor announcements involving footwear franchise programs, mall expansion or regional offline rollouts.
  • Prioritize franchise clusters around existing high-density digital-order pin codes to lower customer-acquisition costs and improve fulfillment economics.
  • Build standardized franchise playbooks for foot scanning, sizing, comfort consultations, staff training, inventory replenishment and customer-data capture.
  • Use stores as omnichannel service hubs for exchanges, click-and-collect, returns and assisted online ordering rather than treating them as standalone sales points.
  • Add region-specific assortment, sizing depth and weather-relevant product mixes before entering North and East Indian markets.
  • Tie franchise incentives to full-price sell-through, repeat purchases, customer satisfaction and omnichannel attribution, not only store revenue.
  • Secure regional warehousing and replenishment capacity to prevent stockouts as the network more than doubles.