US expansion for Paul & Shark gives new opportunities for travel retail

The Paul & Shark Las Vegas store opening in April

Paul & Shark is significantly expanding its investment into the US domestic market over the next year and is confident that this will reflect in new airport retail opportunities within the country.

The Italian luxury lifestyle brand is opening two new stores this year while two others are being renovated and expanded. Mid-April sees the opening of a new 1,500 sq ft boutique in the Forum Shops in Las Vegas, created by Milan based Takeda Katuya Design to reflect Paul & Shark’s new Milan showroom.  At the end of 2015, Paul & Shark will open a 1,900 sq ft boutique in the Houston Galleria.

In addition Paul & Shark will be extending its Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills store from 1,700 sq ft to 2,000sq ft on the main floor plus 700 sq ft on a mezzanine.  Completion is expected by September. Next March will see the brand’s Aventura, Florida store also expanded from 1,400 to 2,600 sq ft. Paul & Shark also has a mono-brand store in Madison Avenue, New York.

All the stores will feature new concept interiors and storefronts of blue undulating aluminium sheet patchwork intended to reflect waves of water – perfect for Paul & Shark’s yachting and sailing heritage

The stores are expected to attract visitors not only from the US but also China and the Middle East; it is the rapidly increasing levels of visitors from these high-spending nations that bode well for Paul & Shark’s travel retail development in America.

Says Worldwide Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli: “It is definitely the right time for Paul & Shark to focus on the US; currently it represents just 10% of our global business but we consider there is huge potential here for this ‘Made in Italy’ luxury lifestyle brand. On this basis we are now also exploring travel retail opportunities in the US, where we can find the right locations and space.  Americans are becoming more and more familiar with Paul & Shark and this, combined with the growing increase in Chinese, Middle Eastern and South American visitors to the States gives us a perfect travel retail opportunity.”