US RETAIL GIANT TARGETS EUROPEAN EXPANSION

9th September | international | Furniture firm Ethan Allen plans to expand its retail arm into Europe and has hired one of the continent’s top home furnishings execs to spearhead the launch.

Gregor Noelle, formerly of Huelsta and Musterring International, will host a beauty pageant for prospective retail partners as the 295-store chain looks to crack the European furniture market.

It is understood the vertically integrated firm is looking to install concessions in larger stores, or convert smaller shops to Ethan Allen Interior Design Centres. It is not yet known if the UK is part of the European expansion.

Besides its North American store portfolio, Ethan Allen  has a handful of outlets in China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Egypt, Thailand, Kuwait, Bangladesh and the Philippines.