Bathed in luxury

GESSI is investing big in Singapore with its first flagship store in Asia located here, costing between three million euros (S$4.3 million) and 3.5 million euros just to renovate and fit out. Currently, the luxury Italian bathroom and kitchen fittings and furnishings manufacturer's Asia business contributes about 15 per cent to its annual turnover, which in 2014 hit 130 million euros, but this looks set to grow if Gessi president Gian Luca Gessi has his way.

In Singapore in March to attend the opening of its latest flagship store, located in a 614 sq m Victorian conservation building on Penang Road, Mr Gessi says Singapore is the perfect location for its business in Asia because of its proximity to countries such as Indonesia, although he jokes that "rents here are very high". Still, Gessi expects to recoup its investment in three years.

While the company could easily have found a cheaper location, Mr Gessi explains that he wanted to be close to Orchard Road. It is not a coincidence that the big Italian fashion labels found on Orchard Road like Gucci and Prada are nearby. "We have always positioned our Gessi brand alongside Italian fashion because it's the best in the world and it represents Italy," says Mr Gessi, who also happens to be dapperly dressed in a cerulean blue suit of impeccable cut. Fashionistas too will probably recognise Gessi's Milan flagship store address - Via Manzoni - conveniently located in the heart of the fashion capital for its collaborations with brands such as Versace and Armani.