Cooptex opens modernised showroom

The Cooptex Thillayadi Vallimai Pattu Maligai showroom which was inaugurated in 1982 has been given a complete facelift and renovation at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Talking to DT Next, T N Venkatesh, MD, state-run Cooptex, said that the showroom has been made disabled friendly with ramps. “The showroom is our headquarters and has a footfall of more than one lakh customers every year. Apart from giving area wise categorisation for the different varieties, we have also attempted to give the customers an enjoyable shopping experience,” he said.

With a detailed display on the different weaves at the entrance, the outlet houses products across two floors, including a vast line for home furnishing. The ground floor has a wide range of sarees in cotton and silk varieties from across the state, like Kancheepuram, Arani, Salem, Dindugul, Coimbatore, etc. The first floor includes home furnishing products like mats, carpets, bed sheets, and towels, apart from dhoties. A large section of these is manufactured in Erode.

“We have more than 70 varieties of products available in this store. We wanted to have the store ready ahead of Deepavali season because we see a large section of customers flocking to this outlet during this season,” Venkatesh added.

The store sees a mix of customers, including foreigners who visit the city. Cooptex, which sees a turnover of more than Rs 315 crore annually, covers more than 800 weaver societies. Less than a 100 powerloom societies are also part of the pool. However, the undertaking is known for is distinct handloom varieties that presents the essence of the rich textile tradition of the state. As many as 75,000 weavers are part of the society and they are assisted in finding a market for their products not just in the state or India, but also from across the world through various initiatives.