Joan Gunin
MEXICO CITY — The first store in Mexico dedicated to motion

upholstery from upscale, Norway-based producer Ekornes has opened in a new boutique shopping mall here.

The 1,600-square-foot store, called Comfort and Design Concept, is owned by business partners Laurent Chaffard and Olivier Bocquet.

Chaffard, a native of France, was familiar with Ekornes’ signature Stressless recliner, and tried to buy one in Mexico. When he couldn’t find a local dealer, he decided to open a store himself. Chaffard and Bocquet have worked together in Mexico with European pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis.

“We have been working on pushing into the Mexican market for some time, and we are thrilled to be working with Laurent and Olivier,” said Ekornes President Peter Bjerregaard. “This is the beginning of extending our brand to Mexico.”

The company is set to open Stressless Zone galleries in stores in Monterrey, Mexico, before the end of the year.

 Over 100 guests attended the grand opening of the dedicated store here, which featured a Norwegian look with an ice-sculpted bar and white trees lit with lights. Guests included members of the local business community and staff of the Norwegian Embassy.

Jim Diefenderfer, an Ekornes marketing representative, worked with the store owners for months preparing for the opening.

“While this is Chaffard and Bocquet’s first foray into the furniture business, they are no strangers to the art of international business,” Diefenderfer said. “We could not have asked for better partners for our first concept store in Mexico.”