THE KASE takes the traditionally dull retail world of Smartphone and tablet accessories and turns it into an attractive, trendy and fashionable offer that will appeal equally to men and women. THE KASE enables travellers to express themselves and identify their belongings in just a few minutes using an easy to operate ‘customisation workshop’. With the help of a designated iPad application, customers can choose from thousands of different “I AM UNIK” designs – or upload their own via the store’s wifi– choose a support plate (eg iPhone, Samsung, iPad etc) and then print. Customisation is available for a wide range of cases, flip covers, anti-shock covers, Powerhouses etc in materials ranging from faux to real leather, wood to silicone with options for the majority of makes and models. Printing takes just 8 minutes and up to 6 Smartphones can be printed at the same time. In addition, customers can stock up on other accessories such as cables, head and in-ear phones, chargers, in-car attachments etc. It literally is a one-stop shop.
THE KASE is perfect for travel retail, offering flexible space options from customised shop-in-shops to 15sq m or 22sq m Pop Up shops to Boutiques between 30 and 60sq m with a look and feel inspired by the fashion industry. Says THE KASE co- founder Steve Rosenblum: “THE KASE offers travel retail a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on a market in constant expansion. It’s estimated that in 2016 one billion Smartphones and 400 million tablets will be sold – double that of 2012. In addition, the market for accessories is growing equally rapidly, up 80% in 2012 and expected to show 120% growth next year representing a massive US$50bn. Increasingly, covers for these items are being considered a fashion accessory in their own right. What THE KASE offers is the opportunity for travellers to express themselves and their identity through their Smartphones, iPads etc in a quick and easy to use format.”
This potential of THE KASE for travel retail has already been proven by the success of its first airport shop at NAIA Terminal 3. The 33 sq m store opened at the end of February 2015 and,
says Rosenblum: “The response has been phenomenal.”
Adds Joey Esteban, CHM Group of Companies: "The personalized printing concept of the Kase allows travellers to create products that fit their tastes and needs, giving it a variety of applications in travel retail, either as an impulse item, a gifting product, or as a personalized souvenir. This unique offering, coupled with an engaging customer experience has helped the Kase generate strong sales and customer traffic in our airport. "
THE KASE is now looking to take the concept into travel retail internationally and is already in discussion with a number of potential partners. “Apart from operating our own stores, The KASE has signed up master franchisees in Europe, the Middle East, Indonesia, Morocco and South Africa, so we already have the local partners in place to work with airports and retail operators to introduce the travel retail channel,” continues Rosenblum. “We are constantly adding to our franchise network whilst, at the same time, can also work directly with airports and retail groups when necessary.”
Part of the appeal of THE KASE its ability to keep the offer fresh and ‘UNIK’: “At any one time customers can choose from 93,000 plus designs that are regularly updated by 4,500 designers that we work with across 80 countries. Every month we introduce a new theme and up to 3,000 new designs, so whatever the nationality of the customer, there will be designs that appeal. There is no reason why we could not create designs that are exclusive to an airport based on the destination, region etc,” continues Rosenblum.
Alongside its own UNIK offer, THE KASE also offers a selection of designer brand items including Swarovski, Karl Lagerfeld, Ferrari, Guess and Paul & Joe.
“THE KASE presents a win-win opportunity for all partners,” says Rosenblum. “The first retail chain to create a true premium destination concept for Smartphone, tablets and accessories, THE KASE is rapidly becoming a globally recognised brand and the leader in its field. This opportunity is now available to travel retail its one that we are confident will quickly take off.”
The KASE HISTORY
• 5 stores in Paris and surrounds open in December 2012!
• Acquisition of 114 stores from The Phone House July 2013 (formerly Best Buy Europe) 65
stores opened by December 2013, 140 stores globally today
• Asia: Singapore first opening May 2013 (Ion Orchard), Hong-Kong first store November
2013.
• Germany: Dusseldorf September 2013, Belgium November 2013
• USA: Staten Island Mall NY, Westfield Connecticut Post CT, Providence Place Mall RI
Opening December 2013, Garden State Plaza NJ March 2014.
• First Franchise store opens November 2013 in Belgium. Today 20 franchise stores
operated worldwide in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Philippines, Indonesia, Dubai, Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, South Africa.
• First Airport shop opens February 2015 at Manila NAIA
Steve & Jean-Emile Rosenblum
In 2000 Jean Emile and Steve Rosenblum launched the e-commerce site Pixmania.com which in 2011 generated sales of over €900 million. 35% of the sales were in France and the rest of the business came from 25 European countries with 1400 employees and a monthly traffic of 30 million unique visitors. Originally created to sell photographic equipment, by 2012 the product range included such diversified sectors as consumer electronics to jewellery, to baby products. The two founders also developed a marketplace allowing thousands of business partners to have access to their customer base. With their subsidiary e-merchant, they became a major player in the delegated e-commerce sector. After selling Pixmania to Dixons Retail for 366M€ enterprise value, and leaving their operational roles in 2012, the 2 brothers founded The Kase to become a worldwide player in the fashion accessories retail business.
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