Bibi opens franchise in Guarapuava, bringing its Paraná network to 12 stores

Footwear brand Calçados Bibi has opened a franchise in Guarapuava, bringing its network in the Brazilian state of Paraná to 12 stores. The opening expands the brand’s presence in the state and marks dentist Gisella Pires de Albuquerque’s debut as a franchisee. The new store arrives at a time of growth in both revenue and outlet numbers across Paraná’s fashion franchise sector.

A new franchisee’s first store

The Guarapuava store will be run by 25-year-old Gisella, who is entering the franchise sector with her first outlet. FashionNetwork reported the opening on 30 October 2026.

The move brings together two aspects of network expansion: a stronger regional presence and a new entrepreneur joining the business. For Bibi, the store brings its Paraná network to 12 locations. For Gisella, it marks the start of her journey as a franchisee of the children’s footwear brand.

Her background in dentistry also distinguishes the new store’s operator. However, this does not establish that she has left the profession to focus exclusively on retail. What is confirmed is the opening of her first franchise, as part of the Bibi network in Guarapuava.

Fashion outpaces overall franchise growth in Paraná

The opening comes against a backdrop of growth in the state’s franchise sector. According to figures from the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF) cited in the report, franchises in Paraná generated R$5.56 billion in revenue in the second quarter of 2026. This represents an increase of 9.1% compared with the same period a year earlier.

In the fashion segment, which includes footwear retail, revenue reached R$494.2 million, up 14.3%. Revenue growth in this category therefore exceeded that of Paraná’s franchise sector as a whole.

Growth was not limited to revenue. The number of fashion franchise outlets rose by 6.3%, reaching 1,467 across the state. These figures show expansion in both revenue and the store base, albeit at different rates.

These figures help place Bibi’s opening in the context of the Paraná market, but an important distinction is needed: they are aggregate results for fashion, not figures specific to children’s footwear or Bibi itself. They also refer to the second quarter, rather than the performance of the newly opened Guarapuava store.

Network combines physical stores and digital channels

Bibi reports a franchise network of more than 150 outlets in Brazil. Alongside its physical presence, the brand sells products online and through an app. The Guarapuava store therefore joins a network operating across several sales channels.

The coexistence of these channels matters to anyone assessing a retail business. When evaluating a franchise, it is worth understanding how in-store service connects with digital sales and which responsibilities fall to the local outlet.

The opening confirms Bibi’s growing physical presence in Paraná. It should not, however, be taken in isolation as an indication of a future store-opening target. The confirmed milestone is that the network now has 12 outlets in the state.

Advertised investment starts at R$400,000

Bibi states that the initial investment in its franchise model starts at R$400,000. The company also quotes an estimated average monthly profit margin of between 12% and 15%, with a payback period of 36 months.

These are figures published by the company for its business model, not results already achieved by the Guarapuava store. Nor should the advertised starting investment be confused with the amount actually invested by the new franchisee.

For prospective investors, the practical takeaway is to distinguish between three elements: state-level indicators, the franchisor’s estimates and the budget for the proposed outlet. Before making a decision, it is worth checking the projected costs in the Circular de Oferta de Franquia, Brazil’s franchise disclosure document, assessing working capital requirements and testing the payback period against your own sales and expense forecasts.