Those of you who frequently abroad, irrespectively of age, gender or sexual preference, have at least once noticed how different you are regarded in each country. For instance, Asian women prefer foreigners versus locals, therefore an American male in Tokyo or Beijing has a definite advantage over a local when it comes to social networking and dating. The same applies to a ... read more

For the fourth consecutive year, YSL has continued to be the black sheep of the GUCCI GROUP, with losses which have amounted in 2009 at EUR 10 million. Since the departure of Tom Ford as chief designer, the famous French fashion brand has been underperforming. It is not only a creative direction issue but also a strategic management one. Despite Stefano Pilati's inspired womens' creations especially ... read more

The World Capital of gambling and entertainment, the legendary American city of LAS VEGAS has been strongly hit by the financial crisis, with a direct impact on both gambling and hotel revenues. Particularly affected have been the large scale properties downtown and the ones outside Vegas. Ritz Carlton announced the closing down of its property in Las Vegas by May this year, laying off hundreds of ... read more

In an anticipated remark, LVMH boss Bernard Arnault confirmed to Reuters : 'bling, bling' was out, while  sales have been improving for the French luxury group, particularly in spirits, champagne and watches. Mr Arnault also said the crisis had led consumers to look for authentic and genuine luxury more than ever, a trend which analysts say tends to benefit strong and ... read more

According to Precepta research firm, online sales of luxury brands in 2009 represented only 3% of the total sales, the estimate for 2010 being at 3,8% in 2010 and 4,7% in 2011. The figures apply to a worlwide luxury market of EUR  7 billion. The research also highlights the importance of online sales considering the lowering offline sales due to the international crisis. The main reason ... read more

Many luxury brands, irrespective of the luxury industry field have been desperately seeking for innovative measure to counter the effects of the crisis. The aim of such measure is to maintain and add value without compromising on quality. The luxury hotel industry is yet to come up with innovative sollutions until now the only measures applied being cost cuttings and cutting of staff. One of ... read more

Who would have estimated that famous fragrance brands such as CHANEL or GUERLAIN would one day be available in every mall and mass market shopping center, even hypermarket shopping galleries. The boom of retail development in the past decade, in many cases uncontrolled, especially in countries where operating under franchise has turned retail chains such as SEPHORA or DOUGLAS into perfume supermarkets ... read more

During the month of December 2009, CPP Management Consultants Ltd, sole Central and Eastern European luxury industry consultancy, has conducted a thorough research of the Slovenian luxury market with the aim of identifying its potential. CPP has research all luxury market segments in Slovenia - hospitality, fashion, accessories, jewelry & watches, organic/gourmet, travel and auto. A market ... read more

Bling is out, enduring quality is in. That’s the message this holiday season from makers of luxury goods, who are betting that even in a shaky economy, shoppers will still pay serious money for fine craftsmanship. Instead of sexy models flaunting handbags and lots of skin, Louis Vuitton’s current ad campaign features Vermeer-inspired images of demure young women hand-finishing ... read more

Maurizio Aschero, one of the top luxury professionals in Ukraine with a vast experience internationally shares with CPP-LUXURY.COM his views on the world of luxury. You are a luxury industry professional with an extensive career in retail. What are the most motivating aspects of the luxury business for you ? and which are the least motivating ?  I am convinced that behind real luxury lays a ... read more

An interview with Mihai Ceciu, HOROLOGIVM / Maurice Lacroix (monobrand boutique - Bucharest) What is the profile of the Romanian luxury watch consumer? At least in the past year, we have perceived the luxury consumer as being more and more informed, more educated in the field. The connaisseurs take their time and after they gather all the information, they let time influence their decision. ... read more

If you never noticed the recession, you are surely keeping good company: Haute joaillerie, or high jewelry, it seems, has not noticed it either. In the past year, the topmost niche of the luxury jewelry market has seen the arrival of a new brand, the return of a defunct brand and the revitalization of a high jewelry brand that had lost its way. In this lofty world, where prices start in the tens of ... read more

This week's debt crisis at Dubai World, the leading holding company of the Dubai Emirate has been sending shockwaves to stock markets worldwide particularly Asia and Europe. Dubai's financial reputation and stability has been highly questioned by investors worldwide. This will certainly impact on its luxury market and the ... read more

While China, Korea and Brasil make international headlines with their booming luxury markets, Eastern Europe, not long ago, a priority for luxury brands, continues to suffer from the international crisis. The majority of luxury markets in Eastern Europe countries are not likely to start recovering earlier than mid 2010. Moreover, Ukraine is likely to see a ... read more

  The most fabulous brands of the world often have a piece of their history related to Eastern European countries. While composers such as Chopin, dancers such as Baryshnikov or institutions such as the Theatre Kirov in Saint-Petersburg revealed the wonderful poetry of the East to a fascinated Western world, other talent from Prague, Warsaw, Bratislava, Bucharest or Moscow have contributed ... read more

  The Communist regime managed to compromise the wine civilization on its very birth grounds, on Dionysos’ hills and fields in Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, on the ancient Thracian territories. After 1989, European and local government funding contributed to major technology upgrades in cellars, but also imposed more-than-average production in vineyards – some 500 ... read more

It may be difficult to believe, but the “bling culture” of the Central and Eastern Europe has finally come to a point where a new class of “true luxury connoisseurs” has started to take shape. The simple fact that there is a significant group of people – consumers, retailers, experts – able to issue a judgment call on the phenomenon ... read more

Despite its position as opening for the global luxury surplus, the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is, in fact, quite poor when it comes to proprietary luxury brands. A company here and there, making a name around the globe in a few cases but that’s all. One could not find a dozen significant names on the luxury market, except maybe for some brands tightly connected to history and heritage, ... read more

  Everyone points at the financial crisis as main cause for the poor sales on the luxury segment. It is only partly true. The main issue neither begin, nor end with the stuck credits. The entire luxury industry entered a time of lament, instead of adopting firm statements, of making moves towards the new values and the new communication principles – more than enough to re-open the thick ... read more

No one remembers where the problems of the luxury market started. The roots go as deep as the success of the first “democratic luxury” brands, like Chanel and Dior. It also be about the strange mix between recession (2001-2004, 2007-2009) and fast economic growth we all saw this past decade. The certain thing is that luxury sells to a lot more people than the exclusive high-class. The ... read more