Karen Millen lays cornerstone for China growth

By

Anaïs Lerévérend

Published
Oct 22, 2012

Karen Millen is furthering its international expansion and its Asian focus by getting a foothold in the must-have Chinese market. The British label just inaugurated its very first Beijing store a few days ago, a 300-square-meter flagship in the Parkview Green shopping center.

The brand had already announced that another Chinese opening would follow shortly, after which a new flagship store opening is slated for spring in the "other capital," Shanghai, the business capital. A Chinese version of the Karen Millen e-commerce site will also be launched concurrently.

The upscale brand expects to open 60 retail outlets in five years, both franchises and company-owned stores like the first two openings. Karen Millen arrived on the Asian continent in 2009 through Hong Kong and Indonesia. In addition to China, the company is expected to concentrate on Singapore and Vietnam.