NEW YORK, USA (AVING) -- <Visual News> Home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel and Finnish textile and design company Marimekko have announced the planned rollout of more than 20 shop-in-shops in Crate and Barrel stores across the U.S. and Canada over the next three years. The launch kicks off this spring with four new shop-in-shop locations: New York (Madison Avenue), Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition, a Marimekko ecommerce 'shop' will be added to the Crate and Barrel website later this season (www.crateandbarrel.com).

In the home specialty and department store chain category, Crate and Barrel will have exclusive rights to retail Marimekko interior decor products in the U.S. and Canada. These product offerings will include ceramics and glassware, pillows, placemats and fabric-by-the-yard, joining Crate and Barrel's existing licensed Marimekko bedding and bath collections.

Crate and Barrel and Marimekko first collaborated in the early 60s, sharing a common goal of bringing beautiful, useful products into their customers' everyday lives. With the shop-in-shops, the two companies take that inspiration to a new level, adding fresh excitement to the Crate and Barrel shopping experience while introducing Marimekko's bold, colorful designs to a broader audience.

"We are pleased to have this opportunity to expand our relationship with a brand we deeply admire and with which we have such an important history," states Barbara Turf, Crate and Barrel CEO and President. "The Marimekko Shop at Soho has been well received and we look forward to introducing this vibrant, joyful collection to many more of our customers across the U.S. and Canada."

Adds Marimekko President and CEO Mika Ihamuotila, "The new contract with our long-time partner Crate and Barrel is a truly significant step for Marimekko. Crate and Barrel's stores are in the best locations in their cities and they are very well-known and successful, so in them Marimekko will have excellent opportunities to reach new audiences interested in original design."