Michael C. Christ, president of Tiffany & Co. Japan Inc., says the Sogo department store is located in Omiya's vibrant commercial area, an ideal retail setting for a boutique. The boutique will combine architectural details of Tiffany's famous New York store.

As of its latest quarter ended July 31, net sales were up 9% driven by increases in US and international comparable store sales. While US retail sales increased 8% to $288.6 million in the second quarter and 5% to $549.1 million in the first half, international sales increased 10% to $223.1 million in the second quarter and 12% to $438.32 million in the first half.

On a constant-exchange-rate basis, sales rose 12% in the quarter and 16% in the first half due to 6% and 11% total retail sales growth in Japan and solid growth in most other countries. On that same basis, comparable international store sales increased 10% in the quarter and 13% in the first half, due to growth of: 2% in the quarter and 7% in the half in Japan; 27% and 24% in the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan; and 17% and 20% in Europe.