European fashion retailer C&A made its debut in China yesterday when it announced the opening of four stores in Shanghai this spring.

 

The company declined to set exact opening days for the stores, saying only that they are now under construction or decoration.

 

In preparation for its move into China "C&A established a wholly owned enterprise in Shanghai in 2005", said Sandra Dembeck, business development director of C&A China. "Since then we have brought global retail leadership and international expertise to China and built up our local organization as well as the necessary infrastructure."

 

"Our vision for China is to bring the latest in global fashion to increasingly affluent urban consumers, fashion-conscious young women and men," she said.

 

China's retail fashion market has shown significant growth and dynamism recently due to a growing number of international outlets and increased sophistication in local retailers.

 

"C&A's debut in China will certainly contribute to the growth of the market," said Dembeck. "We aim to establish ourselves as one of the top fashion retailers in the long term."

 

However, she refused to disclose further details on C&A's expansion plans in China.

 

With the intended opening of four stores, C&A will be the first international fashion retailer to operate four stores in high-traffic shopping locations in Shanghai.

 

The four stores will be located in Grand Gateway, Super Brand Mall, DaNing-LifeHub and Shanghai Wanda Shopping Mall, all high-traffic shopping locations in Shanghai, the country's most prosperous and populous fashion hub.

 

Established in 1841 in the Netherlands, C&A said that by the end of this year it will have more than 1,400 stores in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and in China. In its European home market, C&A attracts 2 million customers a day.

 

(China Daily March 1, 2007)