Famous for iconic designs like the Artichoke pendant, upscale Danish lighting firm Louis Poulsen opened its first directly operated store in Tokyo last week. Now that it has made its mark in the world’s third strongest nation by gross domestic product, the company said its focus is on China, South Korea and the U.S., where it will open a showroom in New York City next year.
“We continuously look at new opportunities, particularly in our focus markets such as the U.S., China and South Korea, however there are many elements to consider when making the decision to open a store, such as finding the right location and the business potential of the market,” chief sales officer Tommy Rothoff told WWD in an interview shortly after the opening. In addition to the Japan store, Louis Poulsen has showrooms in Copenhagen, Oslo, Dusseldorf and Singapore.
Rothoff said at the new store located in the Aoyama neighborhood of Tokyo, the focus is on introducing Japanese consumers to the brand, its heritage and design philosophy. Additionally, the new store will, along with e-commerce, be the point of sale for exclusive Louis Poulsen products.
Helped by a recovering economy, higher wages and consumer confidence, the appetite for luxury goods is on the rise in Japan.
In a study presented by Altagamma and Claudia D’Arpizio, senior partner at Bain & Company, on Tuesday in Milan, the Japanese market is “booming.” “Weak yen attracting tourist inflows — especially Chinese — throughout the year, with luxury products as one of the many spending items,” the report said.
Founded in 1874, Louis Poulsen is an integral part of the Design Holding galaxy of upscale design brands that includes B&B Italia, Flos, Lumens, Arclinea, Maxalto and Azucena. It also produces Fendi Casa through a joint venture with the Roman fashion house, and fellow Danish brand Audo Copenhagen.
Louis Poulsen Tokyo will offer visitors the possibility to book appointments to receive tailored advice on lighting design to suit different lifestyles. Exclusive Louis Poulsen products and special editions, such as the Pale Rose Collection, the 2023 Limited Edition and the PH 2/2 Luna are currently on display.
“There are many parallels between Japanese and Scandinavian design traditions, where the focus on quality and minimalism is highly valued, which aligns well with our design ethos and the quality of our products,” Rothoff said, remarking the success of Louis Poulsen’s collections in the area.
