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Francfranc opens first flagship store in China

By Chen Qide (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-12-03 13:04

SHANGHAI - Francfranc, a premium Japanese home furnishing brand, opened its first flagship store in China at the city's Xintiandi Style Friday as part of its expansion strategy at the China market.

The store, with space of more than 400 square meters, will usher in its "casual stylish" concept for local consumers, said Fumio Takashima, founder and president of Francfranc.

Insiders said Francfranc has been favored by Asian consumers in the past decade due to its "design creates value" concept, and its delicate and elegant design style.

Since its first store opened for business at Tennozu Isle in 1992, Francfranc has set up 135 outlets in Japan, South Korea and China's Hong Kong and Taiwan, said Takashima.

"Our first flagship store in China presents an extensive lineup of furniture and accessories," he said, adding that they include ingeniously designed ornaments, original tableware, sparkling lamps, cozy sofas and uniquely colored storage bags.

"It will help Chinese homemakers experience an Asian-influence stylish home life in Shanghai," he said.

Yasumichi Morita, the most popular interior designer in Japan, said Francfranc's flagship stores normally present extraordinary shopping space crafted by top-notch designers in different fields, and thereby become vogue landmarks in the business districts in which they operate.

The flagship store in Shanghai, another artistic works Morita designed, delivers a memorable shopping experience to Chinese customers with two huge crystal chandeliers custom-made in Japan descending from the ceiling to perfectly combine space and light and present a surreal visual effect.

Francfranc launched its new autumn and winter collection themed "glamorous hunter" to celebrate the opening of its flagship store, which has also attracted many celebrity fans, Takashima said.

Qin Lan, a famous film star, said she fell in love with the brand the first time she shopped at a Francfranc store, adding that the store's internal design gave her a sharp visual impact.

"I am besotted with the design concept of the brand and also keen on many other items in the store," she said. "I plan to buy them to add even more style to my daily life."

Takashima said Francfranc has ensured plentiful supplies of its bestselling animal accessories range to satisfy the keen expectations of its Chinese fans.

"We hope the store can bring the avant-garde style of home living to Chinese customers so as to make their lives more fun," he said.