August 22: There is hardly any person who hasn’t heard about Hattichhap slippers and Goldstar shoes, which are used synonymously in the domestic market of Nepal.

Goldstar, known as the shoes of Nepali lifestyle, is now not limited to the choice of the old generation, but is also accepted as a fashionable brand by urban youth. Goldstar is now so popular that counterfeit brands using its logo are rampant in the market.

During a conversation with New Business Age on Sunday, Amir Pratap Rana, chairman and managing director of Kiran Shoes Manufactures, the company that produces Hattichhap slippers and Goldstar shoes, said that even though counterfeit shoes have hit the market in the guise of Goldstar brand, the company's business is not affected that much. Rana says that the company did not have to spend much on branding because the brand is being promoted by of those who put the Goldstar stamp on the shoes brought from abroad.

Noor Pratap Rana of Palpa started this business from Hetauda, which is now handled by his son Amir Pratap and daughter-in-law Vidushi. The production of Hattichap slippers started in 1970. Due to political changes and labor strikes, the industry was brought from Hetauda to Kathmandu in 1985. Since the Hattichap slipper factory was set up in Ring Road, the entire stretch of two kilometers area from Narayan Gopal Showk in Maharajganj towards Chabahill is known as slipper factory (Chappal Karkhana). According to Rana, after moving the industry from Hetauda to Kathmandu, Kiran Shoes Manufacturers started producing shoes.

Goldstar is one of the latest items to be exported from Nepal. According to Rana, after Goldstar got a good market, some traders and shoe manufacturers started selling counterfeit Goldstar shoes to destroy the reputation of the company. Despite repeated attempts to tarnish the company's brand, original Goldstar's market remains good.

He says that many fake shoes have come in the market lately and the customers are being cheated. According to Rana, foreign brand shoes are also sold with fake stickers. The company is currently producing 100 million pairs of slippers and Goldstar shoes daily. In Bhairahawa, seven bighas of land have been bought and a production plant is being set up. The plant will be operational shortly after. While expanding the business, the company opened showrooms and outlets in different districts and franchises in America and Australia.

The company's products are exported to India, Qatar, Bahrain, Japan, Malaysia and other countries. The company provides direct employment to 2700 people, among whom 65 percent are women.

After Covid-19, the company also started producing leather shoes. Rana said that the company's goal is to increase production and export to all countries of the world by 2025, despite the decline in production due to problems in importing raw materials during the earthquake and Covid-19. Indians are also excited about the Goldstar brand for the past few years. Currently, the company exports about 75 percent of its total production to India besides other countries.

Rana sees the need for industry-friendly policies and laws to run industries and businesses in the country. He suggested that the government should cooperate with the private sector. Rana, who is also the chairman of Kumari Bank, said that he is moving ahead in a planned manner, seeing the good future of attractive, durable, affordable footwear in Nepal and abroad.

He said that since long-term thinking and investment are necessary to run industries and businesses, he is also considering the issue of initial public offering (IPO).