Italian fashion house Valentino is looking to double its sales in three years by expanding in emerging markets, its Chief Executive, Michele Norsa, said on Wednesday.
Valentino plans to add 15 stores this year in Asian cities including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur - a region where sales have climbed more than 20 percent, Norsa said in an interview in Milan before Valentino's fall-winter 2006 men's wear runway show.
Some outlets will be directly owned and others will be operated under franchise agreements, he added.
Norsa further said that "we've had double digit growth for the past four years, but we still have the possibility to reach sales of between €400 and €500 million or $485 million to $606 million.”
He also said total sales rose about 22 percent last year at Valentino.
The Valentino Fashion Group plays a vital role in the world of fashion and luxury, with a rich and well-diversified portfolio of products which includes clothing, accessories, and footwear for men and women.
The Valentino Fashion Group operates in over 100 countries, with 1,298 single-brand boutiques and 127 directly-managed shops.
In 2004, the group's turnover reached approximately €1,550.6 million. More than 8,000 employees work in directly controlled companies and branches spread across 21 countries.