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Korean-inspired lifestyle brand Uni Seoul has announced a strategic partnership with Bengaluru-based LiteStore, aiming to scale its offline retail footprint rapidly across India. As part of the collaboration, the brand plans to open 25 new stores within the next 12 months, with a long-term target of reaching 500 stores over the next five years.
Uni Seoul, known for its curated range of home & living, personal care, gifting, and accessories products, will leverage LiteStore’s end-to-end retail enablement platform to design, build, and launch its offline stores. The initial expansion will focus on key metro cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, prioritizing high-footfall locations like premium malls and high streets.
“In a market where most new-age brands adopt an online-first model, we’ve stayed committed to offline retail from day one,” said Gaurav Karmani, Co-founder of Uni Seoul. “This partnership with LiteStore allows us to de-risk store launches and scale at speed while delivering a consistent and premium customer experience.”
LiteStore, which offers a full-stack ‘retail-as-a-service’ model, will also assist Uni Seoul in optimizing store design to enhance consumer engagement and drive in-store conversions. The platform has previously helped several D2C brands establish a strong physical presence.
“Uni Seoul’s founders bring a hands-on approach, from market strategy to store design and storytelling,” said Hitesh Mishra, Head of Brand Acquisitions at LiteStore. “Our role is to translate that vision into scalable execution while maintaining brand integrity.”
Currently operating eight stores across five cities, including Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Nashik, and Mumbai, Uni Seoul has already demonstrated strong unit-level profitability and high performance from the first month of store launch. Its flagship location at Phoenix Market City, Pune, opened in April 2023, continues to see robust traction.
Backed by Sauce VC and Panthera Peak Ventures in a 2025 funding round, Uni Seoul is using the capital to fuel its retail expansion, invest in product innovation, and streamline operations. The brand currently offers over 1,200 SKUs, blending minimalist Korean design with functional everyday products tailored for India’s design-conscious, value-driven consumers.
LiteStore, supported by investors including Accel, Sorin, Brigade, and Huddle, provides D2C brands with a turnkey solution to scale offline. Its offerings span exclusive brand outlets (EBOs), multi-brand formats like FLXY, and premium outlet concepts under The Stretch.
This partnership signals growing momentum in India’s offline retail resurgence, particularly as digitally native brands seek deeper engagement through physical stores.
