Monday, Jun 28, 2010
Luxury goods manufacturer plans new boutiques in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Dubai Luxury goods manufacturer Montblanc will be expanding its presence in the Gulf region, a regional executive told Gulf News.
Montblanc, which first entered the UAE market in 1994, inaugurated two new boutiques in Dubai this month. There are currently 28 Montblanc boutiques in the Gulf and Middle Eastern region. Half of those boutiques are in the UAE.
“We’ve opened boutiques in all the Gulf countries and we’re continuing to open in key locations,” said Joe Nahhas, Regional Brand Director.
“In the coming years we’ll see more boutiques in Qatar, Kuwait as well as Saudi Arabia.”
The number of new stores targeted hasn’t been set by Montblanc yet. Soenke Tornieporth, vice-president of sales, said that the company is anticipating growth from the region and investing accordingly. “We just watch the market development and make sure we keep up with it,” he said.
Nahhas said the expansion plans are part of a long term view that the company has for the region.
“We’ll continue to follow through with the plans we put in place even before the recession,” he said. “We’re also refurbishing and expanding our existing networks.”
Growth potential
“Saudi Arabia remains a key territory for us,” Nahhas said. “There is a lot of potential in Abu Dhabi since there’s a lot of growth there as well.”
The launch of their new boutique at Emirates Towers coincided with Montblanc’s unveiling of the new Meisterstück Montblanc Diamond.
The new writing instrument features a diamond in the shape of the Montblanc star on the top, the brand’s symbol which represents the snowy peak of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc.
“We look back with pride on the last 100 years, but we also look forward to be strong in the next 100 years,” Tornieporth said.
“We’d rather look at the future development to make sure the brand stays on top.”
PANKAJ SHARMA/Gulf News
Showtime
Soenke Tornieporth, vice-president of sales, shows a Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec watch at the Montblanc boutique in Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
expansion
history
through the years
German pen manufacturer Montblanc was founded by the stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, the banker Alfred Nehemias and the engineer August Eberstein in 1906 in Hamburg, Germany.
Their first model was the “Rouge Et Noir” in 1909 followed in 1910 by the pen that was later to give the company its new name, the “Montblanc”. The first pen (a fountain pen) known as the “Meisterstück” (“Masterpiece”) was produced in 1925.
Today the Montblanc brand is on other goods besides pens, for instance watches. The company was acquired by luxury goods manufacturer Dunhill in 1977, after which the brand was used on a wide range of luxury goods other than pens.
By Samia Badih?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
