French fashion franchise foray

SYDNEY: Comme Ci Comme Ca is to launch a franchising drive this month with the aim of expanding its business.

Stocking exclusive French designer labels targeted at inner city professionals aged over 24, the womenswear retailer currently operates four outlets. Its suite of labels includes Sinequanone, Rayure (for which Comme Ci Commme Ca holds exclusive rights) and Patrick Gerard.
 
According to analysis in Inside Retailing magazine on January 8, Comme Ci Comme Ca founders Olivia and Michel Gordon plan to grow the business to a 10 to 15-store national chain over the next three to five years.

Hailing from South Africa the husband and wife team opened their first Comme Ci Comme Ca store in Cape Town in 1996, moving to Sydney three years later.

This month they begin advertising for franchisees.

While franchising was not a model frequently applied to the fashion apparel sector, Comme Ci Comme Ca advisor Philip Odouard, a consultant with business development specialist The Quantum Organisation, said the concept was viable.

"Olivia has done this for 10 years or so – lots of mistakes have been made, lots of soul searching has been done to deliver what she has delivered. This hard work and this slow learning process can be transmitted to a franchisee in a few hours."