Chopa

What Chopa does

Chopa, now operating as KimonoShop.com, is a US-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer specializing in authentic Japanese kimono and yukata robes. Founded in 1994 and headquartered with its fulfillment operation in Northwest Florida, the company is employee-owned and has served over 35,000-37,000 customers worldwide (shipping limited to the USA). The core technology is a standard e-commerce storefront at chopa.com, complemented by an extensive content marketing blog on kimono culture, sizing guides, and care instructions that supports organic SEO. The product catalog spans roughly 100 patterns across men's, women's, and children's categories, with notable depth in plus-size, big-and-tall, tall, and petite options that the company cites as an early-mover differentiator.

The business model is straightforward one-time retail: unit-priced DTC sales of imported kimono and yukata, plus accessories (footwear, mala beads, Zen jewelry) and clearance inventory. Pricing is per-item with free shipping on orders over $75 within the USA, and most orders ship within one business day with 2-4 day transit. Revenue derives from a single channel (own website), a single geography (USA), and a single core category (kimono/yukata) following the 2021 discontinuation of a 27-year-old home decor line. Customer acquisition relies on content marketing, organic search, and a low-cadence newsletter (5-6 emails/year). In July 2026 the company rebranded to KimonoShop.com to sharpen category identity.

Name

Chopa

Legal name

Chopa

Website

https://chopa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chopa (now KimonoShop.com) is an employee-owned, US-based e-commerce retailer founded in 1994 that imports and sells authentic Japanese kimono and yukata robes directly to consumers within the USA, offering 100+ styles across men, women, and children including extended sizing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Kimono and Yukata: One-time retail sales of Japanese kimono and yukata robes directly to consumers through the company's e-commerce website. Products include full-length kimonos, yukatas (cotton summer robes), and Happi Coats in various sizes for men, women, and children. Additional revenue from clearance/open-bag discounted items and gift certificates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chopa is an employee-owned online retailer that imports and sells authentic Japanese kimono and yukata robes, along with related traditional apparel and accessories such as happi coats, geta and zori footwear, tabi socks, Buddhist mala beads, and Zen jewelry. The company operates a U.S.-only direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront, fulfilling orders from its Northwest Florida warehouse to individual consumers and entertainment-industry buyers across the country.

Product overview

Chopa (now transitioning to KimonoShop.com) is an employee-owned online kimono company and direct importer of quality cotton and silk robes from Japan. The product portfolio centers on authentic Japanese Kimono and Yukata robes for men, women, and children across all sizes including plus size, big and tall, tall, and petite options. Complementary offerings include short-length Happi Coats, traditional Japanese footwear, Buddhist Mala Beads, Zen Jewelry, and clearance items. The company ships from Northwest Florida with free shipping on orders over $75 within the USA. Nearly 100 different patterns and styles are available, with most orders shipping within one business day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Women's Kimono & Yukata Authentic imported Japanese kimono and yukata robes sold online to U.S. individual female consumers for personal wear, cultural events, weddings, and themed occasions.
• Men's Kimono & Yukata Authentic imported Japanese kimono and yukata robes sold online to U.S. individual male consumers for personal wear, cultural events, and themed occasions.
• Children's Kimono & Yukata Imported Japanese kimono and yukata robes sized for children, sold online to U.S. parents and gift buyers for family events and cultural occasions.
• Plus Size Kimono & Yukata Authentic imported Japanese kimono and yukata robes offered in extended/plus sizes for U.S. individual consumers who require larger sizing than typical Asian-market garments provide.
• Happi Coats Traditional Japanese happi coats sold online to U.S. consumers for festivals, events, and theatrical or costume use.
• Japanese Footwear (Geta, Zori, Tabi Socks) Traditional Japanese footwear—geta sandals, zori sandals, and split-toe tabi socks—sold online to U.S. consumers to pair with kimono and yukata.
• Buddhist Mala Beads Buddhist mala prayer beads sold online to U.S. consumers for spiritual practice, meditation, and as Japanese-themed accessories.
• Zen Jewelry Zen-inspired jewelry pieces sold online to U.S. consumers as complementary accessories to kimono and as standalone Japanese-themed jewelry.
• Gift Certificates Store gift certificates redeemable on the Chopa website, sold to U.S. consumers for gifting kimono, yukata, and related accessories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most orders ship within 1 business day from Northwest Florida
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• YesStyle: Large online Asian fashion and beauty retailer headquartered in Hong Kong, selling Japanese- and Korean-inspired apparel globally. Comparable to Chopa as a category-overlapping Asian apparel e-commerce destination, but at vastly larger scale and broader assortment.
• Free People: US-based bohemian and lifestyle apparel retailer with a strong DTC e-commerce channel selling flowy robes, kimono-style cardigans, and festival/occasion wear. Comparable to Chopa in targeting the same kind of consumer (women buying kimono-style pieces for loungewear, layering, and special occasions) and relying heavily on content/SEO-driven DTC.
• Muji: Japanese lifestyle retailer operating US e-commerce and physical stores selling apparel, home goods, and lifestyle products with a minimalist Japanese aesthetic. Comparable as a US-distributed Japanese-origin brand with DTC e-commerce and a curated apparel assortment, though broader and lifestyle-oriented.
• Uniqlo: Global Japanese apparel fast-fashion giant with a US e-commerce storefront selling casual and lifestyle apparel including yukata-inspired pieces. Comparable as a Japanese-origin mass-market apparel retailer with strong digital presence, though orders of magnitude larger and broader than Chopa's specialist kimono focus.
• Tokyo Otaku Mode: Online retailer specializing in Japanese pop culture, fashion, and lifestyle products including apparel and accessories, shipping internationally. Comparable to Chopa as a US-reachable Japanese goods e-commerce destination with overlapping cultural/apparel merchandise, though broader and pop-culture oriented.
• Lulus: DTC e-commerce-first apparel retailer focused on occasion-driven women's wear (dresses, bridal, loungewear). Comparable to Chopa as a digitally led apparel brand with a gift-giving, occasion-driven customer base, though orders of magnitude larger and not Japanese-themed.
• ModCloth: Vintage-inspired women's apparel and accessories retailer with a strong DTC e-commerce heritage and emphasis on unique, occasion-driven pieces. Comparable to Chopa as a digitally native apparel retailer targeting style-conscious consumers seeking distinctive garments, though with a much broader category footprint.
• Urban Outfitters: US apparel and lifestyle retailer that sells kimono-style robes and Japanese-inspired apparel as part of a broader women's and men's assortment. Comparable as a multi-channel apparel retailer carrying kimono-adjacent product, but operating at scale across many categories rather than specializing.

Others

• Japan Crate: US subscription box retailer delivering Japanese snacks, candy, and lifestyle goods to American consumers. Comparable to Chopa as a Japan-sourced consumer goods brand sold via US-based DTC channels, but non-overlapping categories (snacks vs. apparel).
• Bokksu: US-based Japanese culture subscription box company selling curated snacks, teas, and lifestyle products from Japan, with related retail offerings. Comparable to Chopa as a Japan-themed US-reachable DTC brand with a content-rich marketing engine, but subscription-driven rather than apparel-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kimonosource
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/www-chopa-com

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chopa