Furniture and homewares retailer Oka is to expand internationally as it inks a global licensing deal with Li & Fung subsidiary LF Products.
The deal will enable Oka, of which David Cameron’s mother-in-law Annabel Astor is co-founder and chief executive, to expand in Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Europe.
Astor said: “We are delighted to be taking the Oka brand out to an international audience. When we set up the company in 1999 we never imagined that the mail order catalogue we created would grow into a global brand. Our resilience during the tough trading conditions of the past few years has enabled us to take this significant step forward.”
In countries where Oka is not available as a trading name the brand will be adapted to ‘Annabel Astor’. In the UK the brand name ‘Annabel Astor for Oka’ will be introduced, in addition to the existing Oka brand.
LF Products will manage the supply chain and support marketing and sales across the business.
To coincide with its global expansion, the retailer is looking to adapt its business model to offer seasonal collections and provide a personal shopper experience.
The homewares store recently launched Interior Design Service which will also be franchised internationally. The service offers shoppers a consultation with an expert in interior design working exclusively with Oka.
No comments yet