MOSCOW, May 17 (UPI) -- The Kalashnikov Group, maker of the iconic AK-47 rifle, is planning to open 60 shops across Russia that will feature a line of clothing and accessories it is developing.
The stores, slated to open by year's end, will feature items that align with the brand, in the way automotive giants Caterpillar and Ferrari have done, Marketing Director Vladimir Dmitriev told the Russian news agency Izvestiya earlier this month.
Dmitriev said he believes that the clothing and souvenir product bearing the Kalashnikov brand will be in demand from the public.
Sanctions against the group forced it to reconsider its marketing policies, resulting in renewed focus on the domestic market, he said.
Who will develop the lines for Kalashnikov remains unclear.
The company hopes to follow in the footsteps of Uralvagonzavod, or UVZ, an armored vehicle manufacturer that now sells clothing, caps and shoes, as well as smartphone cases and board games, according to Izvestiya.
