Italian clothing brand OVS will open stores in Russia

The Italian chain of clothing stores OVS will open its first family format sales point in Russia with an area of ​​780 sq. m. in November 2023. m in the Vegas Crocus City shopping center. About it reports Kommersant with reference to Crocus Group, which owns the property.

The company clarified that in 2023 OVS plans to launch seven stores, and by the end of 2025 – up to 50 points throughout Russia. The brand is being developed in the country by the distributor Smart Casual Group (SCG). The publication notes that the company is now actively recruiting staff for stores. SCG and OVS did not respond to the newspaper’s request.

In December 2022, Kommersant, citing a source among large fashion operators wrotethat OVS Kids children’s clothing stores may appear in Russia. It was assumed that it would also be developed by SCG. The newspaper concluded that the company had revised the concept, adding men’s and women’s clothing.

As Kommersant notes, this is not the first attempt by OVS to enter the Russian market. The brand was present in the country from 2010 to 2014, its development was carried out by Maratex Fashion Retail Company, part of the Polish EM&F. However, the company had to close all stores due to the instability of the ruble exchange rate in 2014.

Against the backdrop of the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, major international brands suspended work in the country, including the Inditex group (Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, etc.), H&M, Uniqlo, Mango, Nike, etc. According to estimates from the consulting company Nikoliers, over the past year and a half 27 new clothing brands have appeared in Russia, 78% of them from friendly countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, and Belarus. A total of 32 international retailers out of 140 have ceased operations in the country, while another 52 brands have resumed operations following changes in the ownership structure of local businesses.