Knockout Stores wins 'IMAGES MOST ADMIRED CONCEPT STORE OF THE YEAR' at INDIA FASHION FORUM 2026
VMPL
New Delhi [India], February 5: Knockout Stores has been awarded the "IMAGES Most Admired Concept Store of the Year" at the India Fashion Forum (IFF), recognizing a retail format that has consistently demonstrated clarity of purpose, strong consumer relevance, and disciplined execution across markets. The award, presented at India's most credible retail forum organized by IMAGES Group, acknowledges concepts that go beyond transactional discounting to build long-term value-led retail ecosystems.
Knockout Stores operates as North India's First Value-Based Multi-Brand Outlet (MBO), led by Darpan Kapoor, a retail pioneer with over 36 years of experience under his belt, offering international fashion brands at all-season discounts, while maintaining structured merchandising, planned store zoning, and a calm, discovery-led shopping experience. Unlike temporary discount formats or clearance-driven outlet stores, Knockout is built as a permanent value retail destination.
Across its network, Knockout brings together 50+ international brands, U.S. Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Gap, Only, Vero Moda, Kazo, Jack & Jones, Gap Kids, USPA Kids, Puma Kids, Ruff, and more, spanning men's, women's, and kids' apparel under one roof. The model is designed to give customers choice, consistency, and confidence, allowing families to shop multiple categories, age groups, and brands in a single visit, without navigating multiple mono-brand outlets.
At the core of Knockout's concept is a data-led approach to retail design and assortment planning. Store formats are not replicated blindly across cities. Instead, Knockout studies:
- Live store sales data
- Category contribution by market
- Customer feedback and repeat behavior
- Local family shopping patterns
These insights inform store size, category mix, brand zoning, and layout decisions, allowing each store to respond to its local context while staying true to the Knockout value proposition.
The Knockout model is particularly relevant in North India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where aspirational customers seek international brands, but also value convenience, price transparency, and family-friendly shopping environment
The concept presented at IFF and recognized by the jury, used Knockout's women's and kids' format in Barnala as a case study to demonstrate how the Knockout system works in practice.
In Barnala, internal data revealed that women's and kids' categories accounted for nearly 60% of demand, significantly higher than network averages. Rather than expanding an existing men's store, Knockout re-architected the format by introducing a dedicated women's and kids' store within the same compound. The decision reflected Knockout's willingness to rethink formats based on insight, not inertia.
The store was designed around family shopping behavior:
- Women-led entry zones to support calm discovery and decision-making
- A contained kids zone that attracts children without disrupting the store flow
- Value-led multi-brand curation featuring international brands with all-season discounts
The store's performance, strong launch-day footfall, consistent post-launch growth, and high repeat ratios validated the broader Knockout approach to value retailing. 
In an Indian fashion retail landscape crowded with mono-brand discount stores and outlet clusters, Knockout demonstrates the continued relevance of well-curated multi-brand outlets. Its model proves that customers still value:
- The ability to compare brands side by side
- One-stop family shopping
- Predictable value without the chaos of clearance-led retail
"As we continue to strengthen Knockout's presence in Punjab this year, with upcoming stores planned in cities like Zirakpur, Ludhiana, and Patiala, our focus remains on delivering value-led, thoughtfully designed retail experiences that work for families," said Darpan Kapoor.
The recognition at IFF highlights Knockout's ability to balance choice, value, and structure, especially in emerging cities where retail success depends on understanding local demand rather than importing metro-centric formats.
For Knockout Stores, winning the IMAGES Most Admired Concept Store of the Year is not just an award; it is national recognition for a retail philosophy rooted in listening closely to customers and designing formats that reflect how India actually shops. It reinforces Knockout's position as a thoughtful, scalable value-based MBO, and a reminder that some of the most relevant retail innovation in India is coming from beyond the metros.
Explore Knockout Stores Follow Knockout at IFF
About Knockout:
KNOCKOUT is a fast-growing multi-brand retail outlet designed to bridge the gap in customers' needs and provide the best value proposition on all the national and international brands. Starting small in 2017 with only a single operational store in Mohali, the sister alliance of Kapsons Retail is now ruling in 9 cities of Punjab. Knockout Barnala was the first-of-its-kind fashion arcade curated for the ever-diversified shopaholics of Punjab, soon followed by Faridkot, Kharar, Jalandhar, Kullu, Moga, and Amritsar. Keeping the user's experience at the forefront, the goal is to imprint a strong impression on the customers with a sublime, hassle-free shopping experience.
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