Marimekko strengthens its presence in international markets

In accordance with its internationalisation strategy, Marimekko is going to take the following significant steps to strengthen its presence in international markets by the end of 2010.

In the United States, which has been one of the key market areas for Marimekko since the 1960s, a new subsidiary will be founded to manage and develop the local operations in collaboration with the brand management firm C2Group. A showroom will be opened in Manhattan, New York, in August 2010. In the long run, Marimekko's objective is to expand the distribution of its products in the United States through highend department and specialty stores as well as by increasing the number of Marimekko stores. The company's current retailers include Marimekko concept stores in New York, Cambridge and Miami.

In mid-October, a 1,775 square foot Marimekko shopinshop will be opened in home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel's store in Soho, New York. Marimekko and Crate and Barrel are also exploring further opportunities for collaboration, including additional US shopinshops and ecommerce. The valued relationship between Marimekko and Crate and Barrel has spanned over 40 years.

The network of Marimekko's own retail shops abroad will be expanded by the end of 2010 with the opening of new stores in Malmö, Sweden, and Berlin, Germany. Marimekko currently has its own retail shops in London (UK), Stockholm (Sweden) and Frankfurt (Germany) in addition to twentytwo shops in Finland.

South Korea's first Marimekko concept store will be opened in Seoul in October 2010 by I.D. Look Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Marimekko's Japanese distributor Look Inc., who has successfully opened as many as twenty Marimekko concept stores in Japan since 2006.

Multichannel home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel was founded in Chicago in 1962 by retailing pioneers Gordon and Carole Segal. Working directly with European ateliers and factories to import their products, Crate and Barrel was among the first to make contemporary tabletop and kitchenwares designs affordable to American consumers. Today, Crate and Barrel is an industry leader, known for exclusive housewares and furniture designs, excellent value and superb customer service. In addition to a thriving direct marketing division, the company operates stores in most major North American markets, including Toronto and Calgary. Currently under the leadership of CEO and President Barbara A. Turf, the Crate and Barrel family of brands now includes its more modern offshoot, CB2, and childrens' home furnishings retailer, The Land of Nod. Crateand Barrel is a privately held company owned by the Otto Group of Hamburg, Germany. http://www.crateandbarrel.com