Iittala store network in Japan expands to Kansai area
Fiskars Corporation Press release April 26, 2013
Fiskars has expanded the Iittala shop network in Japan into the Kansai area, the second most populated area of the country. The first Iittala flagship store outside the Tokyo area was opened today in Osaka, following a recent opening in Kobe which is also in the Kansai area.
The new, nearly 100m2 Iittala flagship store in Osaka is located in Grand Front Osaka, a new multi-purpose business and entertainment complex in connection with the Umeda subway station which hosts 2.5 million commuters per day in one of the most popular business and commercial districts in Osaka.
Fiskars celebrated in 2012 five successful years of Iittala branded retail in Japan, and in addition to the two new Iittala shops in the Kansai area, there are already 19 Iittala shops and shop-in-shops in the Tokyo area.
“Iittala’s popularity in Japan remains high, and we are very proud to widen the brand’s footprint. Our strategy of building a strong regional presence in Tokyo has been very successful, and we can now build on this success when expanding into other regions in Japan,” says Jakob Hägerström, President of Fiskars Sales Region North.
The expansion of the Iittala-branded retail network in Japan is part of Fiskars’ strategy to grow outside the Nordic markets and become a globally leading consumer goods company for Scandinavian design. Fiskars’ footprint in Japan was significantly strengthened by the acquisition of Royal Copenhagen in January 2013. Royal Copenhagen ranks among the leading brands selling premium dining products in Japan, and there are more than 50 Royal Copenhagen shops and shop-in-shops across Japan.
Further information:
Jakob Hägerström, President, Sales Region North, tel. +358 20 439 5452
Anu Ilvonen, Director, Corporate Communications, tel. +358 20 439 5446
Fiskars is a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden, and outdoors. The group has a strong portfolio of respected international brands, including Fiskars, Iittala, and Gerber. Founded in 1649 and listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Fiskars is Finland’s oldest company. Fiskars recorded net sales of EUR 748 million in 2012, and employs some 4,100 people in over 20 countries. www.fiskarsgroup.com.