Japan Duty Free Ginza adds high-end watch boutique to luxury line-up

JAPAN. Japan Duty Free Ginza, the downtown duty free store developed as a joint venture between Isetan-Mitsukoshi, Japan Airport Terminal Co (JATCo) and NAA Retailing, is to open a luxury watch boutique on 9 March. The store will trade under the TimeVallee Watch Boutique on the eighth floor of Mitsukoshi Ginza Store in Tokyo.

The partners said it would be “the first boutique of its kind in a Japanese duty free shop” and will feature the following brands: IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Zenith and Jaeger-Lecoultre.

TimeVallee Watch Boutique rounds out the luxury retail offer on the eighth floor of Mitsukoshi Ginza

Of the new boutique, Japan Duty Free Ginza said in a statement: “The luxurious gold tones of the store interior form the backdrop for an array of the world’s top watch brands. A hands-on area featuring the latest digital tools enables shoppers to learn more about the history, traditions, and technologies of the brands on display.”

As reported, the 3,300sq m Japan Duty Free Ginza store opened on 27 January, becoming Japan’s first airport-style duty-free shop in a city centre outside Okinawa. Customers can collect their purchases at pick-up counters at Narita or Haneda airports as they depart. More downtown duty free shops are opening under new regulations supporting the channel in Japan.

How the watch zone fits into the Japan Duty Free Ginza floor plan (above and below)

Japan Duty Free Ginza offers all products exempt from consumption tax, customs duties, and alcohol and tobacco duties.

Japan Duty Free Ginza merchandise lineup:
• Luxury boutiques: Nine brands including Tiffany, Boucheron, Jimmy Choo, Valentino, Gucci, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga;
• Fragrances & cosmetics: 18 brands including Jo Malone, Estée Lauder, Shu Uemura, Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, Clinique, Crème de la Mer, Origins, Bulgari, SK-II, Shiseido, L’Oréal Paris and Clé de Peau Beauté;
TimeVallee Watch Boutique (opening 9 March): Seven brands
• Liquor: Scotch/Cognac/Japanese whisky/Wine/Japanese sake
• Tobacco: JT/PM/BAT
• “The 800 Hands”: A destination concept said to evoke the hands of Japanese craftspeople. Items symbolizing the quality of products are set out in four sections: Tokyo By Hand, Good Design Award winners, traditional crafts and manufactured goods.

As reported, Japan Duty Free Fa-So-La Isetan Mitsukoshi was formed in July 2014. JATCo has the largest share at 45%, with Isetan-Mitsukoshi and Narita Airport’s NAA Retailing holding 27.5% each.

The new store opened on 27 January featuring large departments for luxury goods, fragrances & cosmetics, liquor & tobacco and destination goods; we’ll bring you a full on location report in coming weeks

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