Here is an interesting retail “field trip” report from Lisa Slauson, our intrepid global marathon runner and Exclusive Brands manager. She was recently in Japan where she caught a glimpse of the first STABILO store in the world, located in Osaka. According to Lisa, “The store was located in the most elegant and most high-end mall I have ever been to in Japan. STABILO was in there right along with Gucci, Coach, Tiffany’s, and Louis Vuitton to name a few.”
The STABILO store-within-a-store is in the very front of the greater store. The greater store featured high-end stationery and household items offered by the Japanese distributor, Etranger di Costarica. Check out the flat screen TV used for high-tech merchandising punch!
Who says there’s no adventure in retail sleuthing? Says Lisa, “I asked the sales person managing the STABILO section if I could take pictures and he told me no. So I then re-introduced myself as the US Brand Manager for STABILO, and told him that I had come all the way to Osaka just to see the store. After a visit with his manager and a few phone calls, I finally got permission. Sorry for the bad quality pictures, but I was in a hurry as the sales person was still watching me somewhat nervously!”
