This past Friday London-based luxury leather goods company Ettinger opened their first-ever store in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo. Founded in 1934, Ettinger sees Tokyo as a prime market for expanding, branding and sales, as men in Japan more than in other countries are prolific buyers of high-quality accessories. Through their distribution partner Kandy Ltd., Ettinger has a presence in 200 locations throughout Japan including Beams and Tomorrowland and now have their first retail store in the world. The store is about 40sqm with around 30sqm in sales space. Upon entering the store I noticed the faint smell of leather permeating the air. The store, long and narrow boasts fine-brickwork imported from England as well as a collection of Ettinger fine-crafted bags and small leather goods including wallets, coin purses, business card holders, key cases and belts, among many others all in a variety of strong but subtle colors.
At the opening I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Ettinger, son of the founder Gerard Ettinger, who has been traveling to Japan for over twenty years; at first with a suitcase full of samples basically selling Ettinger door-to-door and now with their partner Kandy, Ettinger is a brand with strong awareness and huge potential to tap into in one of the few remaining unsaturated categories in Japan; high-quality men’s accessories.
To find the Ettinger store follow the smell of fine leather to Ginza 7 Chome 8-9 and once you are there it will be difficult too leave without one Ettinger`s popular wallets from their Royal collection.
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