TAKE a deep bow at the achievements of The Japanese Shop in York, which has just sold 100 kimonos to a company promoting a national tour of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.

The shop, which won the 2004 Evening Press Business Of The Year title and was also named Small Business of the Year and Retailer of the Year, has signed a £4,000 deal to supply the traditional Japanese dresses to Opera And Ballet International.

Some of the ornate kimonos will be used for prizes to promote the production which comes to the Grand Opera House in York on February 20, and stars Korean soprano Rosalie Thomas. Others will be worn by members of the chorus.

The opera company panicked when it was let down by a Japanese supplier which was unable to deliver kimonos on time. But Sonya Golubeva, of its marketing department, scoured the internet to find a British supplier and quickly homed in on The Japanese Shop's website. Within hours, Kerry Mahoney, manager of the shop in Coppergate, organised a delivery to London.

Sonya said: "The kimonos are gorgeous - pale pink, blue and black. We are so happy that they arrived on time for the opening of the show."

Jez Willard, managing director of The Japanese Shop which also has outlets in Harrogate and Chester, said: "It was fortunate that they contacted us. I know of no one else who would have so many authentic kimonos in stock."

He said he was delighted to help. "I've a soft spot for Madama Butterfly. It's all about a Japanese woman who marries an American sailor who fatally abandons her. My wife, Hiromi, also from Japan, married an occidental too, only we have had a much happier ending."

Sales through The Japanese Shop website have increased by 375 per cent in a year. Now Jez has committed himself to a £35,000 investment over the next three years to cope with the deluge.

He has opened a dedicated 2,000 sq ft warehouse and office in Beech Avenue, Harrogate, about a mile from his HQ, to process website and mail order requests.

The investment also includes replacing old cash tills with a computer-based fact-gathering EPOS system which goes live in April.

Updated: 10:06 Thursday, February 03, 2005