Baltic cruise and ferry operator AS Tallink Grupp has acquired the rights to operate international fashion brand Esprit’s franchise stores in Estonia.

In a move to strengthen the Hong-Kong stock exchange-listed label’s presence in the country, Tallink will operate a total of three domestic units: two in Tallin at the Ülemiste Shopping Centre and Rocca Al Mare Shopping Centre, and one in Tartu in the Kvartal Shopping Centre.

A Tallink spokesperson told TRBusiness that there are no plans at present to open specific franchised stores onboard its vessels.

LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP

Tallink has already been selling Esprit’s products for a number of years, with its increased sales coinciding with a rise in the proportion of fashion and accessory category items sold onboard.

“Esprit is a well known brand which is loved across the globe and their products are also popular among our customers,“ commented Aimar Pärna, Head of Tallink Duty Free.

“Becoming the brand’s official representatives here in Estonia is a positive development of our existing partnership and will further enhance our cooperation.“

In considering the acquisition of the franchise, Tallink says it carefully weighed up the ‘strength and characteristics’ of the brand with the customer base of onboard customers.

“The three new brand shops provide us with a great opportunity to further develop our retail expertise,” continued Pärna.

“In addition, the new shops will enable us to get more insights into the buying preferences and habits of the Estonian consumers, all of which we can use to successfully develop our retail activities both onboard and on shore.

Tallink Grupp owns 14 vessels and operates under its Tallink and Silja Line brands on six different routes.

Last year, it carried more than 9.7m passengers on its ferries.