Last week, Milan-based Kartell announced an intense schedule of single-brand store openings including 50 flagship stores over 5 years in the biggest centers of the Chinese market.
The first city to see the partnership take form was Beijing, where the Kartell flagship store and showroom opened on Thursday, May 30, in the Sanlitun Village. Summer openings are planned for Shanghai at the APM department store and at the Kerry Center, and in Chengdu at the ICF Mall.
Kartell flagship showroom in Beijing
"China, because of its size, importance and the complexity as a market required a targeted and wide-ranging plan,” said Claudio Luti, president and managing director for Kartell. “That is why we decided to join forces with a Chinese company, a leader in the luxury sector, Gold Bond Enterprises, with a 10-year agreement which will allow us to enter this market with the best approach. The GB Kart Ltd. is the joint venture and will represent our brand and distribute Kartell products. We are confident that through these synergies we will achieve concrete results in both the residential and the contract areas."
The Beijing flagship store is the first to have a new luxury look designed by Ferruccio Laviani exclusively for Kartell. The design was created specifically to emphasize the quality, high design content, richness of materials, and glamour associated with the brand. Architects, clients and contractors will also be able to see the entire collection in the nearby 400 square-meter showroom.
According to Luti, thanks to President of Gold Bond Enterprises Linda Hong Lin's extensive experience in distribution and her continuous design research, the joint venture is an important step in introducing Kartell's iconic and glamour design to the Chinese market. And, it will offer a unique experience to Chinese consumers who are always on the lookout for the latest in Italian excellence.
Kartell was founded by Giulio Castelli in Milan in 1949, and today has a sales network with 120 single brand stores, 200 shops-in-shop and more than 2,500 retailers throughout the world.
