A world-class brand is born
The Bata Corporation was started in 1894 by Czech shoemaker Thomas Bata, his brother Anton and sister Anna. Later, under the leadership of Jan Anton, the company started mass production. The company moved to expand globally at affordable prices. Focusing on efficiency and quality, Bata reached out to factories and stores around the world. Even through challenging times like World War II, Bata has prospered. Bata’s commitment to local markets and social responsibility have enhanced the company’s reputation.
By the middle of the 20th century, Bata had become a major global footwear brand. Moreover, they have become the world’s leading shoe manufacturers known for their timeless innovation and functionality.
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Bata becomes an Indian
In the 1920s, Bata’s founder visited India and realized that there were people who were barefoot and wore torn shoes. He realized that India is a great market. Realizing the opportunity to provide quality and affordable footwear to Indians, he envisioned a new plan to tap the vast market potential.
In the 1930s, the Indian shoe market was dominated by imported Japanese shoes. A new history began in 1932 when Bata’s first production unit was established in a small village called Konnar near Kolkata. Bata gained acceptance in India in just two years. Production had to be doubled. Even today, Bata maintains the credibility of the tradition by providing affordable and quality footwear to Indians.
From school shoes to executive shoes
After entering the Indian market in 1931, the Bata Nagar production plant became an ISO 9001 certified company. Bata created a line of rubber slippers, sandals and flip-flops for Indians. Bata recognized back then that Indian consumers preferred products that were durable as well as stylish. In 1973, Bata became a public company under the name Bata India Limited. It has established itself as a trusted brand in the footwear market among the people of India.
Through a smart marketing strategy, Bata has seamlessly blended into the Indian culture and social context. From school shoes to executive shoes, people choose Bata to buy them. By 1939, approximately 3,500 pairs of shoes were consistently sold each week. More than 4000 employees were in Bata that day. One of the main reasons for this popularity was the design of bata sandals. Bata always paid attention to making sandals suitable for Indian feet.
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Business expansion
In recent years, Bata has undergone significant changes. Bata moved away from the traditional style of comfort wear by incorporating fashion forward and glamorous products into the brand’s product portfolio. The new change began in 2013-14 when the company introduced more modern designs. There are 30,000 dealers and 1375 stores in India alone. Today Bata is a huge company selling over 17 million pairs of shoes in over 90 countries. Today Batak has 5000 stores globally. Bata is still at the forefront of following trends in luxury and lifestyle footwear.
