Trent Ltd.’s Misbu: A New Tata Enterprise Entering the Fashion World

Contributing 10% to India’s GDP, the retail sector has been a significant addition to the economy. Many players, big and small, have a major role in satisfying the massive demand in the market. Amidst them, Tata Group has been a significant name ever since the 1980s with the launch of Titan watches.

Multiple sectors comprise the retail industry, of which food and grocery take up most of the space (over 60%). However, the fashion, beauty, and apparel section is rapidly growing in size.

On that note, we will learn about one of the less-known and relatively new brands under Tata Group that many of you might not have heard of. It is Misbu from Tata Trent Ltd.

Without further ado, let’s begin!

About Misbu: The Cost-Effective Fashion Brand

Misbu is part of Tata Enterprises' Trent Ltd. subsidiary, established in 1998. Misbu is a new addition to the line of popular brands under the umbrella of Trent Ltd., namely Westside, Zudio, etc.

What makes Misbu different from the brands mentioned above is the line of beauty products, essentials, and accessories that focus on a more distinctive style. As per the official website of Misbu, fashion items, along with home decor standing on the store's shelves, are designated to help a girl create her own style. It’s totally giving a Gen Z vibe, going with the waves rocking at present. 😉

Per Misbu's product line, consumers can quickly discover their preferred fashion style with chic items at amazingly discounted prices. The brand could even give its sibling Zudio a run for its money, as the minimum price range is just ₹49.

Misbu stores are present in tier 1 cities like Pune, Mumbai, Gurugram, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad. The store at Gurgugram was opened recently, allowing the brand to enter North India.

Misbu caters to all the basic necessities for fashion as it has handbags, makeup, beauty products, beauty essentials, accessories, and even dried flowers in its collection.

This brand seems like a wonderful and smart initiative of Tata Group, seeing the rapid change in people's fashion sense and taste—keeping up with the changing times, so to speak!

Industry Overview

As of 2023, the retail sector employed 8% of the population (around 35 million people), and the number is expected to increase by 25 million by 2030. According to IBEF, the nation's retail sector attracted $4.56 billion (around ₹47,848 crore) of FDIs between April 2000 and September 2023.

The retail sector is further divided into multiple sectors, such as food and grocery, footwear, apparel, and home decor. If you look at the category-wise breakup of the overall retail market, the food and grocery section has the highest share of over 63%.

On the other hand, the sector of our interest today, beauty & fashion, contains over 20% market share and is divided into multiple sections. The pie chart above presents the exact market share as of 2023. 👆

Interestingly, this section's market share has been increasing steadily over the years as people's lifestyles keep evolving. With new trends coming and going every day, there is a huge demand for new ideas and even new startups. Misbu, being a new brand under other Trent Ltd. labels, is a testimony of that.

Financials & Investor Insights

Tata Trent Ltd. is a listed company in the stock market which has shown profound growth in the last 3-5 years. If you look at the company's price chart, you will find a whopping 76.2% CAGR return in 3 years.

As Trent plans to expand its current footprint of 6.2 million sq.ft., its growth prospects seem promising. Another significant factor about this company is its ability to cater to multiple customer segments & excel in value positioning, hence catching the eyes of the onlookers.

As of the 2023 annual report, Trent's oldest horse, Westside, contributed the most to the company's revenue of ₹8,213 crore. It also showcased the company's best EBITDA and EBIT margins ever, allowing further room for growth. Similar data about Misbu are currently unavailable due to the brand being quite newly launched.

As you can see from the infographic above, Trent Ltd. showcased positive fundamentals for FY23. This boosts investor confidence and shows an optimistic outlook for the upcoming years.

So far, Trent has over 4600 stores, including all its brands. With the growing popularity of its signature brands like Westside and increasing attention to its new labels like Misbu, Tata’s Trent Ltd. plans to explore many fashionista ideologies with on-trend exclusive fashion and an efficient supply chain.

The Bottom Line

If you were asked to name a company within 5 seconds, which one would come to your mind? For many people, it would be either Tata or Reliance, particularly for the millennials and Gen-X out there. The reason behind this is that companies like Tata have been in the industry for a long time and have a strong presence in multiple sectors, giving them a dominant position.

Tata Group began its long-lasting legacy when in 1869 Jamshedji Tata bought a shutting down oil mill & converted it into a cotton mill. Its retail business started way later in 1998 with Titan watches bringing a major transformation to the market.

Now, Tata has many well-known brands like Westside, Tata Cliq, Tata Starbucks, Croma, BigBasket, etc. Being present in the nation’s dominating market and thriving for the past many decades showcases their ability to keep up with the flow.

Misbu’s establishment and expansion are examples in themselves. This also gives the consumers an opportunity to shop for their choice and experiment with their styles as they are in trend.

I haven't shopped at Misbu stores yet. Have you? If so, please share your experience in the comments below.

Read about other Tata Group related stories & know of the many companies' financials by clicking on this link.

*Disclaimer: The stocks and companies discussed above aren't a recommendation from Finology Insider and shall not be construed as a replacement for professional advice. Consult a professional or conduct the necessary research before making investment decisions.