GASSAN opens in Rotterdam

To reduce its dependence on Asian tourists, GASSAN is expanding beyond Amsterdam and Schiphol. The festive opening of its newest branch in Rotterdam takes place tomorrow. A new branch will follow in Eindhoven in April.

According to CEO Benno Leeser, the choice for Rotterdam was not only logical because of his love for Feyenoord: “It is of course the second city after Amsterdam.” The store on Meent, with a range of various brands, mainly focuses on the residents of Rotterdam. It also attracts customers from foreign cruise ships that dock in Rotterdam. Although the branch opened in March, a lot of work has been done on it in recent months. The store was recently officially recognized as a Rolex sales point, which will be celebrated during the official opening tomorrow.

The opening of a branch in Eindhoven, on Rechtestraat, is planned for April next year. GASSAN already has strong ties with football club PSV and sees opportunities in the innovative companies in the region, such as ASML: “And we hope that we can attract many Belgians to Eindhoven, especially at the weekend.” GASSAN opts for a diverse offering and wants to welcome everyone as a customer.

Increase in customers from Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong

New initiatives and the opening of a new branch are desperately needed, because the number of tourists in stores is still lower than before the pandemic. Last year there were 93.000 and this year it will not exceed 125.000. 

The number of Chinese tourists remains limited. According to the chief executive, the Chinese government prefers that tourists stay at home. In addition, the limited flight options and high ticket prices also play a role. GASSAN has noticed an increase in customers from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. However, Benno Leeser is convinced that the number of 400.000 tourists will no longer be reached, partly as a result of municipal measures. Amsterdam will ban heavy coaches from the city center from 2024.

The number of stores is not only growing in the Netherlands, GASSAN is also expanding beyond the borders. At Singapore airport, for example, the number increased from six to eight. 

The new branchvan GASSAN is located at: Meent 102, 3011 JR Rotterdam. Would you like to admire the entire collection online? Visit the website here.