Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announced that it acquired all shares of Paul Stuart, Inc. (Headquarters: New York), developer of the Paul Stuart brand, on December 28, 2012.
The Paul Stuart brand is registered as a trademark in approximately 30 countries in Europe, the United States, and Asia. Through this acquisition, Mitsui & Co. has secured the brand's global trademark rights and will enter the full-scale global brand business.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Paul Stuart was founded in 1938 at 45 Madison Avenue in the heart of New York. It is known as the first brand to incorporate European fashion sensibilities into the American market, which was dominated by American traditional style at the time. Since then, it has established itself as one of America's leading luxury brands, beloved by Ivy League graduates, many of whom are key figures in American politics and business, as well as top executives and celebrities around the world. Mitsui & Co. began importing Paul Stuart products in 1975 and entered into a licensing agreement in 1991 to acquire exclusive production and sales rights for the brand in the Japanese market. With Sanyo Shokai Co., Ltd. as its core sublicensee, the company has expanded its business. Currently, a wide range of products are offered through 14 sublicensees, and the brand's market size in Japan has reached approximately 11.5 billion yen in retail sales (fiscal year ending March 2012). Through Sanyo Shokai, the brand is sold through two directly managed street stores in Aoyama and Ginza, approximately 100 department store shops, outlets, and e-commerce. Mitsui & Co. plans to further expand its licensing business and expand its business in the Japanese market to 20 billion yen by 2015. Additionally, Mitsui & Co. plans to aggressively expand its business in emerging markets, which it has identified as a key strategic region for its fashion business, in anticipation of growing demand.
The Paul Stuart brand is registered as a trademark in approximately 30 countries in Europe, the United States, and Asia. Through this acquisition, Mitsui & Co. has secured the brand's global trademark rights and will enter the full-scale global brand business.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, Paul Stuart was founded in 1938 at 45 Madison Avenue in the heart of New York. It is known as the first brand to incorporate European fashion sensibilities into the American market, which was dominated by American traditional style at the time. Since then, it has established itself as one of America's leading luxury brands, beloved by Ivy League graduates, many of whom are key figures in American politics and business, as well as top executives and celebrities around the world. Mitsui & Co. began importing Paul Stuart products in 1975 and entered into a licensing agreement in 1991 to acquire exclusive production and sales rights for the brand in the Japanese market. With Sanyo Shokai Co., Ltd. as its core sublicensee, the company has expanded its business. Currently, a wide range of products are offered through 14 sublicensees, and the brand's market size in Japan has reached approximately 11.5 billion yen in retail sales (fiscal year ending March 2012). Through Sanyo Shokai, the brand is sold through two directly managed street stores in Aoyama and Ginza, approximately 100 department store shops, outlets, and e-commerce. Mitsui & Co. plans to further expand its licensing business and expand its business in the Japanese market to 20 billion yen by 2015. Additionally, Mitsui & Co. plans to aggressively expand its business in emerging markets, which it has identified as a key strategic region for its fashion business, in anticipation of growing demand.
