French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier (JPG) wants to open his first boutique in New York City. This step is in line with JPG's strategy of internationalising the business, pursued since Hermès came in in July 1999. In doing so, JPG embarks upon the path of building an international distribution network. The designer is said to have signed a lease contract for a store on Madison Avenue. According to information provided by JPG, the boutique has 250 square metres and is supposed to open at the beginning of 2002. Additional stores will follow in bigger cities in Europe, North America and Asia. There is currently but one single Gaultier store in Paris by that name. All the other seven Gaultier boutiques world-wide, four of which are located in Japan, are operated by licensees.