Coach Rolls Out in Japan

NEW YORK CITY-Coach Inc., a purveyor of accoutrements for the carriage trade, has unveiled plans for yet another “flagship” store—the term the retailer uses for its standalone operations—in Japan, its seventh in that country, and the first in the major Pacific coast city of Nagoya, between Tokyo and Osaka. The new store will also represent another flagship outside of the Tokyo area, all of which have been opened since the middle of 2004.

“Nagoya is expected to be one of the highest-volume Coach locations in Japan, and will represent our fourth flagship location outside of the Tokyo area, following locations we will have opened in Sapporo, Osaka and Sendai during the last six months,” says Ian Bickley, president and CEO of Coach Japan Inc. “Our sales and market share gains in Japan have been dramatic, as our business has grown rapidly during the last few years.”

Though generally regarded as difficult to crack, especially in light of the decade-long sluggishness in the economy that’s only now abating, Japan is nevertheless a highly coveted market for luxury goods, since brand loyalty is often fierce among the Japanese. Until recently, most of Coach’s business in Japan has been at boutique locations within established department stores.