Press Releases
Bulgari strengthens its presence in Japan - new Osaka store opens, the company’s biggest in the country and second largest in the world
November 4th, 2004 - Bvlgari, the contemporary Italian jeweller, opened today in Osaka, Japan its 30th and largest store in the country.
The store boasts three floors for a total of 850 square metres. Designed by in-house architects for the Italian luxury brand, 200 people worked with 12 tonnes of Rosa Asiago marble and 6 tonnes of botticino marble imported from Italy as well as the interior display counters and fixtures handcrafted by Italian artisans and sent by sea freight.
The main façade in bush hammered botticino and Rosa Asiago marble features three giant show windows and an entrance door in modern polished steel. A five-metre tower in marble featuring a Swiss-made Bvlgari clock serves as an icon on the corner of the street.
The high-ceilinged interior space is characterized by its large, open space. Attention has been given to facilitating the customers’ orientation and enjoyment of their exploration of the store while the focal element of the architectural composition is the large staircase that has two flights of stairs connecting the three levels. The staircase is done in bush hammered Rosa Asiago with modern parquet flooring.
A second entrance, leading from the shopping complex through a brightly lit gallery into the Bvlgari store at the mezzanine level, introduces clients to the Bvlgari experience through a series of video walls, and showcases featuring special products from the collection. A stylish bar for clients has also been created on the lower floor.
Francesco Trapani, Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgari Group, commented: "I am particularly pleased to celebrate this store opening in Japan, which remains the number one luxury market in the world and where we opened our first store almost twenty years ago. The beautiful new Bulgari store in Osaka - our 30th and biggest in the country - further strengthens our presence and reinforces our strong commitment to the business and the brand in Japan, which represented 22% of Group’s total revenues in 2003”.
Bulgari is one of the global players on the luxury market. In 2003 the Group posted a turnover of 759 million Euro, a net profit of 92 million Euro. With a market cap of 2.5 billion Euro (as of 06.10.2004), the company relies on 190 mono-brand stores in the most exclusive shopping areas in the world and on a selected distribution network. Bulgari has a product portfolio that ranges from jewels and watches to accessories and fragrances. The Group is controlled by the Bulgari family, holding 54% of shares. The remaining 46% is floating on the Milan Stock Exchange.