Mallikarjuna Reddy Yarabolu, Managing Director, Forevermark India, outlined a disciplined growth strategy that blends rapid retail expansion with sharper execution and omni-channel integration. He shared these insights at a closed-door roundtable in Mumbai on 15 April 2026.
The brand has scaled to eight stores within a year of launch in September 2025, spanning Delhi, Noida, Mangalore, Mumbai (Khar & Borivali), Patna and Chandigarh. Its Mumbai flagship in Khar, at 3,400 sq ft, is the largest Forevermark store globally and signals a stronger India focus.
India is central to the brand’s ambitions, with the natural diamond market projected to touch ₹1.5 trillion by 2030, supported by 12-15% CAGR and rising digital influence.
Yarabolu emphasised a structured retail model built on two standardised store formats (800 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft), data-led inventory planning and faster replenishment cycles. The approach aims to balance availability with cost efficiency, while tailoring assortments to local preferences across regions.
Expansion will be driven through a strong franchise-led partner ecosystem aligned to brand standards, ensuring consistency in experience regardless of store ownership. The company is targeting 20 stores by December 2026, with a clear push into Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets alongside metros.
Omni-channel remains a core pillar. The brand is investing in social-first discovery across platforms, immersive digital tools such as virtual try-ons and 3D configurators, and seamless integration across touchpoints including in-store, website and CRM-led engagement. The “endless aisle” concept allows extended assortment access through digital interfaces within stores, bridging physical and online retail.
Operationally, the focus is on tighter alignment between retail, marketing and merchandising functions, supported by POS, CRM and AI-led inventory systems to drive consistency and efficiency at scale.
On the demand side, Forevermark is aligning its strategy to cultural buying triggers. Akshaya Tritiya, weddings and festive seasons remain key, but the brand is sharpening its focus on occasion-led collections and targeted campaigns to drive higher-value purchases.
Yarabolu pointed to a clear consumer shift towards intent-led buying, with natural diamonds gaining preference for their emotional and enduring value. Transparency, authenticity and trust are emerging as baseline expectations rather than differentiators.
The brand is also investing in frontline teams, positioning store staff as “sales ambassadors” trained to deliver personalised styling and advisory-led experiences, reinforcing the shift from transactional selling to relationship-driven retail.
With a long-term roadmap structured in five-year phases, Forevermark is positioning India as a priority growth market, combining retail scale, digital depth and experience-led differentiation to build sustained demand.