French fashion brand Carven opens its first flagship store in Shanghai in May

Carven, a French fashion house founded by Carmen de Tommaso in 1944, joined Gudesigner Henry as design director in 2009 and has since regained popularity. During the fiscal year ended in August 2012, Carven’s revenue totaled 22.8 million euros, a year-on-year increase of 50%.

In order to maintain its rapid business growth, Carven decided to prioritize its retail network, with a focus on Asia where growth potential is good.

Carven's partner in Asia is the Blue Bell Group. This year, Blue Bell will bring Carven to mainland China. In May, the country’s first flagship store will open in Shanghai and will enter Beijing in autumn and winter and return to Shanghai to open a second store next year. As for Hong Kong, Carven has three branches in Harbour City, Landmark and Moon Street in Wan Chai.

Japan’s first Carven welcomes guests in Tokyo’s Omotesando in April. In the Middle East, the number of brand stores in department stores will also increase.

Carven’s largest market in France is still the brand's development focus. The brand opened a new flagship store on the left bank of Paris during Fashion Week. The shop has an area of ​​1,300 square feet, which is more than twice that of the old shop opened in 2011. Men’s independent stores are also scheduled to open this summer, bringing the total number of stores in Paris (individual stores and department store stores) to six.

The second largest market, the US retail network, is also being rolled out in an orderly manner. The first store in New York will open this year, and the plans to enter high-end department stores Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue are also in the negotiation process. Henri Sebaoun, CEO of Carven and his parent company Société Béranger, wants to increase the brand's selling point in the US from 100 to 250 to 300, and plans to open 15 independent stores in the next 5 years.

The online store run by Carven was already on the line and sold branded men's and women's clothing and women's accessories, but only accepted orders from Europe and Japan. Henri Sebaoun expects online stores to be profitable within 24 months.

With the above retail outlets in operation, it is expected that Carven will increase its sales by 30% in 2013.