Swarovski to open Osaka Kansai boutique

Nicole Mezzasalma

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The company finalised in Cannes a deal to open its first airport boutique in Japan at Osaka Kansai airport

Crystal jewellery supplier Swarovski is set to expand its network of airport stores in the Asia/Pacific region next year, with new openings planned for Japan and Australia in the first half of 2010.

Swarovski vice-president travel-retail Peter Zottl said: “One of the most exciting that we have finalised in [the TFWA World Exhibition in] Cannes will be the Swarovski boutique at Osaka Kansai airport, set for March 2010. This will be the first Swarovski boutique at a Japanese airport. Also in early 2010 we shall open a fabulous Swarovski boutique at Sydney International airport.”

Zottl added that the company’s travel-retail sales have improved in the third quarter of 2009, with the final quarter of the year set to overtake last year’s performance in the channel.

“In duty-free the first half of the year was very difficult, with a big decrease [in sales], but we already notice a clear market improvement for the third quarter and definitely for the last quarter of the year,” he explained.” I think that the fourth quarter of 2009, when compared with the last quarter of last year—which was already quite affected by the economic situation—will be definitely better. The order intake and the first sales for October indicate that.”