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Hellgrundweg 100, Hamburg, Germany Founded in 1906, Montblanc has been a byword for luxury writing instruments for nearly a century. Well known for its tradition of fine European craftsmanship, the Maison is recognised today for manufacturing timeless luxury symbols. The Meisterstück - the classic fountain pen first produced in 1924 - remains the icon of the Montblanc brand, creating a solid platform on which the company has built successful ranges of watches, fine leather goods and jewellery accessories. Overcoming the previous financial year's challenges of SARS and the Iraq war, Montblanc saw another good year of growth in its writing instruments business, with an exceptional contribution from the newly introduced metal and rubber model in the StarWalker range. Montblanc added a Jewels line to the popular Bohème range, targeting a female audience. A particular highlight was the launch of the Salvador Dalí fountain pen, exclusively limited to 100 pieces and sold out before delivery. Montblanc has gained a strong foothold in the leather goods and watch markets. The recently launched leather collection NightFlight - a fabric mix made of silk and cotton, combined with soft black calf skin - is generating high demand from younger lifestyle-oriented customers, particularly in Asia. Montblanc extended its strong TimeWalker range of chronograph watches to include a Chronograph Automatic, which has quickly proven to be a best seller. Catering for female customers has delivered remarkable success, with up to 50 per cent of selected watch ranges being sold to women. The year saw the launch of an international charity campaign in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), featuring the actors Johnny Depp and Julianne Moore. In the United States, this generated significant publicity and high brand impact at points of sale, especially in the jewellery trade. The initiative was subsequently extended to Japan, China and South Korea. Other important communication initiatives included Montblanc's co-operation with the UNICEF campaign against illiteracy, the 2004 China Friendship Tour of the Montblanc-sponsored 'Philharmonia of the Nations', and the annual 'Young Director's Project' in Salzburg. In addition, major events like the 'Women's World Award', hosted by Mikhail Gorbachev, have further enhanced the brand's position as a cultural leader. Montblanc has continued to expand its worldwide retail network to 247 outlets. Flagship stores like New York City's Madison Avenue boutique display the entire range of Montblanc products and embody the brand philosophy. Regional expansion has led to significant growth in Asia, South America and the Middle East. In China, Montblanc has increased its network to over 100 shop-in-shop installations, equipped with Montblanc furnishings. Financially, the year recorded steady growth, building a solid foundation for the company's future strategy.
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