Spanish fashion retailer Mango has set its sights on the US and plans to open its first American store in New York as early as 2005.
Mango has expanded aggressively across the globe over the past 10 years and now has a presence in 69 countries with 660 shops.
The retailer is eyeing a possible flagship site on New York's famous Fifth Avenue to create maximum impact, given its strategy of opening wholly-owned stores followed by franchise outlets.
Mango has already spoken to US property specialists Cushman & Wakefield to discuss possibilities. International franchise director Isak Halfon said the search for a location will begin in earnest 'next year'.
He said: 'We will be looking to open at least one (wholly-owned) store, possibly two, in New York.' The other area under consideration in New York is Greenwich Village.
Halfon said that World Trade Organisation tariff restrictions would make expansion in the US difficult before 2005. Mango sources much of its product from China and would face difficulties importing significant amounts of product into the market before China joins the WTO at the beginning of 2005. 'It would be like having a car with five gears and only being able to drive it in first gear,' Halfon said.
Mango is likely to concentrate its US efforts at first on finding main street outlets, rather than mall stores, to allow greater control over the look of shops.
Elsewhere, planned openings include Estonia, Kazakhstan and Honduras.
Mango already has stores in China and Russia as well as most European countries.
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