Crate and Barrel, Marimekko Opening In-store Shops

February 7, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on February 8, 2011 Home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel has partnered with Finnish textile and design company Marimekko to roll out more than 20 in-store shops across the U.S. and Canada over the next three years.

The rollout will being this spring in Crate and Barrel stores with the four debut locations in New York on Madison Avenue, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition to the physical locations, a Marimekko e-commerce shop will be added to the Crate and Barrel Web site.

In the home specialty and department store chain category, Crate and Barrel will have exclusive rights to retail Marimekko interior decor products in the U.S. and Canada. These product offerings will include ceramics and glassware, pillows, placemats and by-the-yard fabric, joining Crate and Barrel's existing licensed Marimekko bedding and bath collections.

"We are pleased to have this opportunity to expand our relationship with a brand we deeply admire and with which we have such an important history," said Barbara Turf, Crate and Barrel CEO and presdient. "The Marimekko Shop at Soho has been well received and we look forward to introducing this vibrant, joyful collection to many more of our customers across the U.S. and Canada."

Crate and Barrel and Marimekko first collaborated in the early 1960s.

"The new contract with our long-time partner Crate and Barrel is a truly significant step for Marimekko," said Mika Ihamuotila, Marimekko president and CEO. "Crate and Barrel's stores are in the best locations in their cities and they are very well-known and successful, so in them Marimekko will have excellent opportunities to reach new audiences interested in original design."