ome December 2006, and Mumbai will have a new mall with a difference. The Royal Palms Golf and Country Club in Goregaon East will unveil its new venture - the Royal Palms Factory Outlet Mall - a first for Mumbai. So, what�s one more mall in an already crowded mall scenario? Explains Dilawar Nensey, joint managing director, Royal Palms, "The Royal Palms Discount Mall offers brand owners the opportunity to consolidate under a single roof, allowing easy control of their brand value."

The 120,000-sq feet expanse will house over 300 outlets. The concept of factory outlet malls has been a hit in the US. Cities such as Connecticut, Florida and New York have taken to it in a big way. It has also been a success in places like Hong Kong. Will a factory outlet eat into the retail sales of the same brands? "Internationally," points out Nensey, "factory outlet malls are located away from retail stores and Royal Palms follows this norm. That reduces cannibalisation." At the same time, the mall is located within reasonable limits of the city so that access is not too difficult.... more