Paragon Footwear, one of India’s most established rubber footwear brands, is preparing to introduce a new generation of exclusive brand stores as it marks 50 years in the domestic market. The company will debut the updated retail format with its first outlet in Ramamurthy Nagar, Bengaluru, as part of a broader push to strengthen its direct engagement with consumers and sharpen its brand positioning.
The redesigned stores will span about 1,000 square feet and are aimed at improving in store experience, encouraging longer customer visits and appealing to younger, urban shoppers. According to company executives, the shift reflects Paragon’s gradual move away from a trade heavy distribution model towards a more brand led retail strategy.
Founded in 1975, Paragon manufactures a wide range of footwear, including sandals, flip flops, slippers and shoes. The company operates with an in house production capacity of nearly 400,000 pairs a day and has built a strong presence across multi brand outlets and online channels nationwide.
The rollout of the new format will begin in mid December 2025 and forms part of Paragon’s premiumisation roadmap. The company expects the format to support higher per store revenues while strengthening brand recall among Gen Z and young working consumers.
The stores are being positioned as experience driven spaces rather than purely transactional outlets. By bringing multiple product categories and sub brands under one roof, the layout allows customers to explore footwear for daily wear, work, leisure and special occasions in a single visit. Clear category zoning and a contemporary store design aim to make browsing easier and decision making more informed.
Alongside Paragon’s core range, the stores will feature its sub brands Eeken, Stimulus and Carmicci. Stimulus currently contributes 28 percent of retail sales, followed by Eeken at 22 percent and Carmicci at 12 percent.
Expansion of the new format will be led largely through a franchise model, supported by shared investments and operational backing. Paragon plans to open stores across metros and Tier 1 cities initially, followed by a calibrated push into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company currently operates over 100 exclusive outlets and is targeting a network of 250 stores by FY28.
