FASHION & ACCESSORIES: FURLA Furla continues in quest for global expansion
Ninety year-old Italian fashion accessories brand, Furla, has evolved from a family business into a truly global fashion and lifestyle brand, known for combining Italian elegance with a modern twist. Charlotte Turner catches up with GTR Director, Gerry Munday, as the company celebrates another string of duty free & travel retail store openings.
F
urla describes itself as the original inclusive luxury brand that defined the category
over 90 years ago and says that it ‘stands for quality, creativity and an optimistic yet confident personality’. It’s well-respected Italian
heritage speaks both to young and old consumers through its comprehensive range of styles and colourways which appear to appeal to all. “Since 1927 Furla is dedicated to
creating luxury-standard accessories which are accessible to a broad audience of consumers,” says Furla. It is therefore no surprise that
this brand has enjoyed great success in duty free & travel retail; a market in which a wide appeal to many different types of customer is essential. In the last year alone, the brand
has opened new stores at Singapore Changi, Sharjah, Moscow, Brussels, Sheremetyevo, Nha Trang, Hong Kong, Auckland and Cairns airports. It also opened stores with more
generous footprints in downtown stores in Penghu (Taiwan) with Ever Rich; Bangkok with King Power International; Naga World underground shopping centre in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and the Angkor Duty Free store in Siem Reap, (also in Cambodia), both in partnership with China Duty Free Group. “Aldo Furlanetto was a staunch
believer in the possibility for success of a company deeply committed to
excellence,” says Furla “In the 1970s, when his sons Paolo
and Carlo and daughter Giovanna took over the family business, a new era began for the company; the era of exponential growth.” Giovanna Furlanetto and her
brothers’ strategy was clear; they pictured a sprawling network of Italian stores, all of which would be owned by the company. To bring this vision to life and to guarantee the family’s strict control of the retail structure was said to be ‘revolutionary’; especially for Italy.
Furla: Fully committed to TR In the 1980s, Furla moved beyond Italy’s borders, entering Paris, New York and Tokyo. Today, the company is present
in 100 countries with 467 mono- brand stores situated on the most prestigious international shopping streets; a distribution network with over a thousand official points of sale and a growing presence in travel retail and e-commerce. A critical element of the brand’s
Shilla opened this Furla space at HKIA recently.
OCTOBER 2018
strategy, to continue growing in DF&TR in particular, involves exhibiting at the TFWA World Exhibition in October. Global Travel Retail Director, Gerry Munday tells
TRBusiness why. “Any brand with aspirations to
increase its travel retail distribution has the opportunity to meet and network with potential customers and/or potential distributors/agents. “[Exhibitors] can also reap the
benefits of the knowledge and experience of other exhibitors, both in their own and other categories through the many social gatherings. “For anyone serious about global
travel retail, TFWA WE is a week that simply can’t be overlooked.” Munday says that the TFWA
World Exhibition is the perfect opportunity to catch up with all the company’s existing clients and any potential clients. “It is the global showcase for travel
retail brands – it’s simply a must- do for a brand as committed to the business as Furla is.” «
Giovanna Furlanetto and her brothers’ strategy was clear; they pictured a sprawling network of Italian stores, all of which would be owned by the company. To bring this vision to life and to guarantee the family’s strict control of the retail structure was said to be ‘revolutionary’; especially for Italy.
TRBusiness TRBUSINESS 131
Above: Furla has a generous footprint at the Ever Rich DFS store in Penghu, Taiwan.
Below: Furla’s Global Travel Retail Director, Gerry Munday.
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