Yes, Bata is everywhere. In Singapore and Indonesia, I also saw Bata establishments. The Bata quality is governed by strict quality control programmes.

Bata shoes are sold in their own shops, whereas Bata Sales Corporation (BSC) shoes are available in any shop selling other Brands of shoes. Here BSC competes for itself.

Bata has built up a strong customer good will, which has resulted in a very favourable Brand Image for itself all over the world. It is backed by research and development efforts in its own laboratory so that it produces state-of-the-art shoes for the fashion conscious world. It manufactures shoes for the young and old, men and women, and shoes for all seasons and all occasions. It makes suede shoes, which do not need any polish. It produces special shoes like snow boots up to the knee joints. In Bata shops, you get Vests, T-Shirts, Shocks, Boot Polish, Shoe Laces and Shoe Horns.

Bata Nagar, near Calcutta, manufactures shoes for the Indian market. The prestigious Brands named Ambassador, with leather upper of a superior quality and compressed rubber sole, are in the price bracket of Rs.1600.00 to Rs.1800.00 . They are very comfortable and long lasting shoes. I have been using Ambassador Shoes since long. The Ambassador has also shoes without the laces. They are for informal use. Whenever any one goes abroad, he or she goes in for the Ambassador.

Bata’s pricing is very interesting. The .99 after the whole number in the price label makes the customer to forget this suffix; but, it is a whole rupee. Packaging is modern. Only the other month Bata had organised a Quiz Competition, without tying it up with any purchase of Bata shoes. I do not know whether the result of the same has been announced.

There is a competitive Brand named Flex, whose shoes are made in Kanpur.In New Delhi’s Connaugt Place, there is one shop where you get good quality leather shoes, ladies’ hand bags, purses and the like.

Once during my visit to Agra, I went to the local shoe market to buy a pair of shoes, and was told that Bata buys shoes in bulk quantity from here and sells at a profit of 200 per cent , if not more. So, we are making Bata richer and richer by being duped by its snob value.

All said and done, I will always go in for Bata shoes.

Purchase Price (INR):

Rs.1600 - Rs.1800