"BRUNELLO CUCINELLI" Italy
The 2nd branch in Milan, opened last month
Woollen Co., Ltd., which imports and markets the Italian high class casual brand "BRUNELLO CUCINELLI", will open their first flagship store in Asia at the end of August in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo. The shop will occupy three floors, with a combined area of approximately 300m2. Floor B1 will house the Men's Department, with general goods on the 1st floor and the Ladies' Department on the 2nd. Sales for 2008 rose 20% on a like-for-like basis, by 3 billion yen (retail base). Sales at the Isetan Men's shop doubled from last year. Woollen Co., Ltd. said "The consumers of Japan appreciated our business technique as a brand that strives for high quality craftsmanship, against the backdrop of our company's history, beginning as a cashmere factory." Meanwhile, the head office in Italy reported a 20% increase in worldwide sales in 2008. This year, they estimate a 10% increase. Company stores were opened in locations such as Athens, Hamburg, and Cannes last year, and the opening of their second street side shop in London put their number of street side shops at 40 worldwide. This April, their second street side shop in Milan was established, with a second branch in New York set to open this summer, along with their first Miami branch opening next year. A second street side shop in Paris is also planned for 2011.