Japan’s new downtown duty free retail business will receive an important boost tomorrow when Lotte Duty Free’s Ginza downtown duty free store opens in Tokyo’s premier Ginza shopping and entertainment district.

The new store will be located on the entire 8th and 9th floors, totalling approximately 4,200sq m within the new eleventh floor retail, commercial and entertainment complex which has been developed by Tokyu Land Corporation on a main street in Ginza 5-chome.

The Tokyu Land Corporation building which houses the new Lotte store on the 8th and 9th floors. (Photo Source: Tokyu Land).

International cosmetics will be displayed on the 9th floor and luxury boutiques on the 8th floor of the store. More than 10 luxury brand boutiques are due to be ready for the downtown store opening while negotiations continue with other brands.

‘COOPERATION FROM BIG BRANDS…’

“We are new to Japan,” a senior Lotte Duty Free source told TRBusiness. “The Japanese market already is built up, but we have cooperation from big brands, so we can open on time.”

“This is an important moment for Lotte Duty Free as Japan is a huge travel retail market in terms of Chinese tourists. We will create a new paradigm for duty free in Japan as we have done in South Korea.”

Luxury brand boutiques that the retailer says will be ready for the store opening include Gucci, Coach, Hugo Boss, Zegna, Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen and MCM.

STRONG BEAUTY SECTION

“For perfume and cosmetics we have brands including Estée Lauder, Lancôme, SK-II, Shiseido and LG’s The History of Whoo,” said the source. “Also, we have luxury watch brands that include Omega, Blancpain, Franck Mueller and Panerai.”

The dual-floor downtown store will feature a bright international style interior design, with major boutiques occupying about 100sq m, while others will occupy up to 60sq m in area.

“The shop has a very impressive interior,” the source said. “We also have a Japanese souvenir section. We are more focused on Japanese goods in Japan.”

Lotte Duty Free has been strongly promoting its new Ginza opening, scheduled for tomorrow (31.03.16).

LOTTE OSAKA STORE IS NEXT

Meanwhile, in western Japan, interior design planning has recently has started on Lotte Duty Free’s Osaka downtown duty free store which will be located in the Bic Camera Building in the city’s downtown Namba shopping and entertainment district.

The duty free shop will occupy around 4,400sq m over two floors in the building, which also houses the Bic Camera tax free store.

The interior design plan is expected to be completed by October, allowing construction work and the shop fit out to be completed in time for an April 2017 opening.

In this location, Lotte Duty Free has formed a joint venture company with both Vic Camera and Kansai International Airport Corporation to operate this store, which will focus mainly on serving Chinese group tours visiting the city.

For all the background to Lotte’s entry into the Japanese downtown duty free market, see TRBusiness’ exclusive reports as they were reported at the time. Click here: http://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/asia-pacific/lotte-reconfirms-tax-free-tokyo-ginza-store/99925