Reliance Launches Yousta To Compete With Tata’s Zudio

As India’s fashion landscape evolves, a surge of brands championing affordability is reshaping the way people dress up. They’re effortlessly blending fashion-forward designs with budget-friendly options. One of them is Yousta! This led to the anticipated battle of Yousta vs Zudio.

Why? You may wonder.

Because both fashion brands offer clothes at affordable prices. Moreover, Reliance launched its retail outlet called “Yousta” to directly compete with Zudio, Max, Pantaloons, etc.

Can it really compete with Tata’s Zudio? What are the features of Yousta? How is it different from its contemporary brands?

Your mind may be full of such queries. So, in this article, we will delve into the features of Yousta and its competition with other contemporary brands.

Yousta: Youth Focussed Affordable Clothing Brand

Do you know the secret recipe to make your brand successful in the Indian market? It is “Quality + Affordability.” Yes, you need to offer good quality products at affordable prices! The same mantra goes for fashion too. Affordable clothing plays a pivotal role in democratizing fashion, making stylish choices accessible to a wider audience. That’s why Reliance launched Yousta!

Recently, Reliance Retail launched its affordable clothing brand called “Yousta.” It is a youth-focused brick-and-mortar retail format. 

Where the first store of Yousta was opened?

In Hyderabad’s Sarath City Mall. It was launched in a tech-enabled store layout format.

Here, the price of apparel is going to be less than Rs.999 and most of them will be below Rs.499.

Sounds fantastic!

Isn’t it?

But a question to ponder is- Did Reliance launch Yousta just to provide affordable clothing? Yes, but that’s not the sole purpose of Yousta. Its other main objectives were to compete with brands like Tata Trent’s Zudio, Max, Pantaloons, etc.

Before diving deep into the competition of Yousta vs. Zudio, let’s look at the alluring features of Yousta given in the next section.

What’s special about Yousta?

Yousta is filled with numerous alluring features that make Yousta special in the market-

1. Youth-focused fashion retail format

The term “Yousta” is derived from the concept of offering fashion to youngsters or youths of the country. The youth-focused fashion is a vibrant, trend-setting style aimed at capturing the energy and uniqueness of young individuals. It blends bold colors, edgy designs, and playful patterns to create looks that resonate with the dynamic spirit of youth. 

Yousta is going to offer alluring collections by embracing innovative cuts and eco-friendly materials.

Why is youth-focused fashion dominating the market? You may wonder.

Because this fashion genre mirrors the ever-evolving tastes of the younger generation. It often embraces pop culture influences, reflecting the interests and attitudes of young people. Youth-focused fashion empowers individuals to express themselves boldly, reflecting their identity while staying on the cutting edge of the latest trends.

That’s why Reliance Retail launched Yousta to explore this segment. Not only will it attract youth but also reflect its capability to upgrade to the latest fashion trends.

2. Affordable Pricing

This is the most alluring feature of Yousta that makes it competent enough in the battle of Yousta vs Zudio. Affordable pricing on fashion lures youths by making stylish trends accessible without breaking the bank. Budget-friendly options allow experimentation, helping express individuality.

When fashion is affordable, you can stay in sync with ever-changing trends and cultivate a versatile wardrobe. Cost-conscious shopping lets you explore various styles, embracing diverse looks without financial strain. 

This approach of Yousta caters to the dynamic preferences of youths. It enables them to curate outfits for different occasions. Affordable fashion encourages a sense of empowerment, allowing youths to redefine themselves without compromising their financial stability.

3. “Starring Now” Collection

Now here comes the kingpin of Yousta. It will drop the brand new looks of the apparel every week in its collection that will be called “Starring Now.”  The “Starring Now” collection will offer the latest fashionable outfits and matching accessories. You will get clothes from the latest fashion trends every week.

Do you know, this is the biggest strength of “Yousta”? Since the apparel will be highly affordable i.e. below Rs.999 and especially below Rs.499. Therefore, you can buy clothes almost every week.

The President and CEO of Fashion and Lifestyle in Reliance Retail said during the launch- “Every day will be ‘Day One’ in terms of freshness and relevance. Yousta will not only give a voice to the youth but also give them the freedom to express themselves. Because, for us, they are absolute stars.”

4. Tech-enabled store layout

The youth-focused Yousta retail stores are going to boast the latest technologies. Such as-

• QR-enables screens for information sharing.
• Self-checkout counters
• Complimentary Wi-Fi, and charging stations

5. Commitment to Sustainability (Growth of local economies and reduce its ecological footprint)

The brand is committed to sustainability. How? It majorly focuses on featuring locally sourced and manufactured products. This approach allows Yousta to offer unique items while contributing to the growth of local economies. Also, it helps to reduce the ecological footprint of Yousta.

It also partnered with numerous non-profit organizations where customers can donate their old clothes in the stores. Those old clothes can be used for community programs. Thus, Yousta works on an eco-friendly business model.

You can access Yousta through online platforms of Reliance. Such as- Ajio and JioMart.

Will Yousta replace Ajio?

Both Yousta and Ajio are fashion and lifestyle brands of the parent company “Reliance.” Now you may wonder- Will Yousta replace Ajio?

The answer is “No.” Yousta will not replace Ajio. Because the former is a brick-and-mortar store and the latter is an e-commerce website.

Yousta is a new youth fashion retail brand launched by Reliance Retail. Whereas Ajio is an existing online platform owned by Reliance Retail. As you have read above, you can access Yousta through the online platforms of Reliance. 

It means that Yousta products can be accessed online through the Ajio platform, along with the JioMart platform. Yousta aims to cater to the young and dynamic audience, offering a collection of products priced below Rs.999. 

Therefore, both Yousta and Ajio will continue to coexist as separate entities, providing different options for customers.

Why did Reliance launch Yousta?

Reliance Retail launched Yousta to accomplish the following objectives-

1. To target youths

Yousta is targeting youths in India due to the country’s young and growing population, with a significant portion under 35. This demographic is more attuned to global trends, eager to experiment with new styles, and influenced by social media. Their increasing disposable income and changing lifestyles make them a lucrative market. 

By establishing a strong brand connection early, Reliance can build lasting customer loyalty. Moreover, India’s cultural diversity allows brands to cater to various preferences, providing a fertile ground for experimentation and expansion. Consequently, focusing on the youth segment will offer Yousta a chance to tap into India’s dynamic and evolving fashion landscape.

2. To provide affordable and trending fashion

Offering affordable and trending fashion to the public will be profitable and beneficial for Reliance. How? Well, in several ways. 

Firstly, by catering to a wider demographic with budget-friendly options, Reliance will attract a larger customer base. Eventually, it will boost sales and revenue. 

Secondly, tapping into current trends can create a sense of relevance, driving customer loyalty and repeat purchases. Moreover, positive customer experiences due to accessible pricing and fashionable choices can lead to word-of-mouth marketing, enhancing the brand’s reputation.

Lastly, economies of scale and efficient supply chain management for popular items can optimize costs. Thus, it will further increase profitability while delivering value to fashion-conscious consumers.

3. Boost the retail presence

Boosting retail presence will greatly benefit Reliance, a famous Indian conglomerate. It will help to expand its reach and tap into new markets and demographics. Increased physical stores will enhance brand visibility and create convenient touch points for customers, driving higher footfall and sales. 

A broader retail network will also facilitate the distribution of Reliance’s diverse products and services. Such as retail, telecom, and digital offerings. This synergistic approach can lead to cross-selling opportunities, boosting revenue across multiple business segments. Furthermore, a strong retail presence builds customer trust and loyalty. Thus, the retail presence will contribute to Reliance’s overall market dominance and competitiveness in the rapidly evolving Indian market.

4. To win the competition

Several brands have established their presence in the affordable fashion segment. Some of the notable ones are-

Seeing the success of the brands listed above, Reliance also felt the need to gain a strong foothold in the affordable market segment. Offering good quality products at affordable prices will help Reliance to win the competition.

Out of all the competitors, Tata’s Zudio emerged as a major and toughest competitor of Yousta.  And you know the reason very well. Both of them have a similar business model.

Note: We have thoroughly explained the “Zudio Business Model.” You can look into the article for detailed information.

Yousta vs Zudio

Here comes the most awaited part of this write-up i.e. Yousta vs Zudio. As soon as Reliance launched Yousta, the news flooded with headlines mentioning the competition between them. It is worth noting that both Yousta and Zudio emphasize affordability and cater to the fashion needs of cost-conscious consumers.

How does Yousta compare with Zudio?

Reliance Retail, led by Isha Ambani, has recently launched a new affordable clothing brand called Yousta. The prime reason was to compete with Tata’s Zudio. Yousta is positioned as a value apparel format, targeting the youth demographic. It aims to offer trendy and fashionable clothing at affordable prices, with all products priced below Rs.999. The first Yousta store was opened in Hyderabad’s Sarath City mall.

On the other hand, Zudio is a value-focused clothing brand by Tata Group. It offers a wide range of clothing options for men, women, and children. Zudio is known for its affordable pricing and trendy fashion choices. Similar to Yousta, Zudio aims to cater to the mass market segment with its budget-friendly clothing options.

Final Words: Who will win in the battle of Yousta vs Zudio?

Both Yousta and Zudio are competing in the affordable clothing space, targeting value-conscious consumers. They offer trendy fashion choices at affordable prices, allowing customers to stay stylish without breaking the bank. However, as Yousta is a new brand. It would be interesting to see how it distinguishes itself and competes with Zudio. The competition is going to be massive in terms of product offerings, pricing strategies, and target audience.

Another notable point is, the competition of Yousta is not only with Zudio, Max, InTune, and Pantaloons. It will face intense competition from the unorganized sector too! When it comes to affordable fashion, regional value fashion retailers dominate the market. Some of them are-

• One Family Mart
• Kolkata Bazaar
• V-Mart Retail Ltd
• D-Mart (Avenue Supermarts Ltd.)

All of them have over 200 retail stores across India. That’s why the performance of Yousta will determine its success in the Indian market!