Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Louer votre sac à main de grande marque


Le site Bag Borrow or Steal propose de louer un sac à main et des bijoux.
Le consommateur nouveau luxe ne veux pas forcement être propriétaire des objets mais il veux avoir l'expérience d'utilisation et les sentiments qui vont avec.
Puis avec des objets qui se démode assez rapide c'est pratique d'avoir la possibilité de juste louer l'objet le temps que c'est encore tendance et pouvoir changer l'objet en fonction de la mode.
Et si vous tenez à garder l'objet vous pouvez l'acheter pour un prix inférieur au prix neuf. Ce qui est aussi un aspect intéressant pour le client nouveau luxe. Car il aime bien de faire un affaire et payer moins que le prix afficher sur l'étiquette.

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Monday, October 29, 2007

Luxury Brands Experiencing Popularity Increase Among Teens

Teens all over the world are becoming more and more aware of designer brands, causing those brands to react as any good business would. The marketing firm Fuse says many luxury brands are responding to increased teen fashionista interest in their brands by hiring young starlets like Lindsay Lohan (Dooney & Bourke) and Kiera Knightly (Chanel). The brands themselves are less concerned than they used to be, Fuse says, about making sure a store's atmosphere is to the liking of anyone who might step in it. It's all about the teens and making it the perfect experience for them.

Recognizing that these teens are the future market, the luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton and Prada have come out with smaller and less expensive items such as key chains and coin purses to satiate the desire to have one of their products. Some brands have started entirely new lines for their young luxury-hungry clientele. The strategy is a good one that gives these young people the feeling of status and can start what will hopefully become a case of long-term brand loyalty.

Photo 1: Andrea Bruce, Washington Post

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Vietnamese Clients Represent New Luxury Market

Major luxury brands have an unexpected new sector to focus on these days. With excessive wealth and exorbitant spending happening in some of the most surprising places, high fashion designers are now seeing a trend in heavy spending from customers in southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam. People are surprised by this new trend based on Vietnam's historical tendency toward a "less is more" attitude and its frowning upon ostentatious displays of wealth.

But people with significant wealth no longer subscribe to such a way of thinking. These shoppers are having no qualms about spending tens of thousands of dollars on everything from handbags to clothing to jewelry. Some say that this is due to free-market reforms and courting foreign investors introduced by the government some 20-plus years ago, which has had significant positive effects on individual wealth. These reforms were of course a vast change from what had been a closely micromanaged economy. Over the years, these reforms have had an impact on the way the Vietnamese view consumption and has even brought on new preferences toward western styles and attitudes.

However, the people who are not enjoying such wealth are rather bitter about the "gratuitous" spending. Dao Quang Hung, a Hanoi taxi driver, stated, "The money they spend on a Louis Vuitton bag could buy several cows for a farmer's family and lift them out of poverty." According to the AP, however, "...60 percent of Vietnamese born after 1975 are very optimistic about the future - and determined to enjoy the here and now" contrary to "the war generation that wasted nothing and always saved for the future."

For now, the debate on individualism that has the country divided will surely continue for now, as will the spending increase by those who have the means.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Companies Seeking Ways to Offset Carbon Footprints

In an industry that's largely targeted for its enormous amount of emissions, some say for a questionable end, many companies are feeling the pressure to do their part to offset their negative impact. When you think of the most emission-producing industries, the airline industry is probably one of the first that comes to mind. So what about the private jet industry? Many celebrities who have championed global warming action have been criticized for not "walking the walk" because they often travel via private jet. While it's a luxury not everyone can afford, many of those who are guilty of flying privately generate the emissions of the annual average of a medium-sized family. This of course has environmental groups outraged.

However, it should come as no surprise that many of these private jet companies are jumping on the bandwagon and making an effort to offset those carbon footprints in many ways, one of which is requiring an often minimal supplemental payment (less than 1% of the flying cost per hour to fly carbon neutral). Given the prices of the prices of the flights themselves, this would rarely deter anyone wanting to take that private flight.

One inventive way some of these jet companies have been offsetting their emissions is by having their clients purchase TerraPasses, which funds clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is an inventive way to offset each person's emissions. Companies and clients are both happy because they can now feel a little better about making that private luxury flight.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

New Mothers Offered Their Own Piece of Luxury

New mother's in the Lavender Bay area of Australia have a new luxury destination made just for them. The Mother's Retreat at Lavender Bay invites new mums to come rest in a peaceful quiet place with their new babies. The creators of the concept recognized that giving birth had become too much of a drive-thru process, with an unhealthy amount of that "hurry up and get back to normal" attitude. Most mothers are simply sent home within a day to handle the new baby with no help, no guidance, and almost no rest.

At the Mother's Retreat, they are, as stated on the web site, "dedicated to supporting, educating and assisting mothers in becoming competent and confident in the care of their new babies. The combination of assistance from our highly experienced staff and some well-earned pampering in the beautiful tranquil environment of The Retreat ensure that every new mother will leave our care rested, refreshed and very confident."

The staff includes post-natal midwives, lactation consultants and mothercraft nurses advice in feeding, settling and all other aspects of the care of her precious new baby. General practitioners and pediatricians are available, should any medical assitance be needed for any Retreat guests.

With all the pampering you can imagine during your stay, a single night at the Retreat costs $1300. Partners are not included in the invitation to stay right away, though may be as time evolves.

Each of the 12 rooms have Harbour Bridge views and there is a gourmet chef to prepare the meals. There is even a beauty salon with a resident trained beautician. One beauty treatment is included in a 2-day package. New mothers will surely leave here rested as every last detail down to the linens and the toilet paper has been selected with comfort for new mothers in mind.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Hotel Particulier in Paris: Something to Experience

Travellers to the City of Light may recently have noticed a new choice in lodging in the category of luxury or boutique hotels. Hotel Particulier in Montmartre has many recent travellers to Paris completely smitten with its charm and seclusion from the Paris bustle, all while being well-placed in the artsy Montmartre area.
The hotel invites you to stay in one of its five uniquely decorated suites, all with different themes, and all decorated by artists, designers, sculptors and architects commissioned by concept-artists Morgane Rousseau and Frédéric Comtet. The five unique rooms are now known as : Curtain of hair, Window, Poems and hats, Vegetable Room, and Tree with ears.

The former mansion is surrounded by lush gardens that can be viewed from every window in the hotel. The public rooms are just as charming as the suites and just as interestingly decorated. You will find two sitting rooms, a reading room with an extensive collection, especially on subjects such as design, photography, architecture, etc. According to the hotel's site, the hotel dining room, which is available for private dinners, is a charming place where "guests can [host] their friends with an especially elaborated menu by a renowned chef. Authentic furniture, works of Baroque Art, antiquities and contemporary pieces have been gathered by the owners. They contribute to give this space a memorable atmosphere. The dining room opens up to a green terrace decorated by a water fountain which rustles poetically."

This hotel, only open since Summer 2007, is getting many wonderful write-ups and reviews, and travellers would be wise to plan in advance to ensure getting a piece of this wonderful experience.

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Friday, October 12, 2007

Champagne Supply May Not Always Meet Demand

We all know that Champagne can only be called Champagne because it was made in Champagne, France... correct? Well, recent word from that region indicates that we may not always have the luxury of splurging for that fine bottle of sparkling wonder since demand has been hitting all-time highs. The irony of it? French law mandates that one cannot call any sparkling wine Champagne unless it was actually made in the Champagne region. Those lawmakers didn't seem to think demand would ever reach such heights that they would consider calling other sparkling French wine by the name we've come to equate with luxury and celebration.

If we consider the rapid economic growth taking place in countries like China and Russia, it's not hard to see where the shortage is stemming from. According to South African web site Serious About Wine, China has seen an annual sale increase of 30 times the norm. In addition, the people who are enjoying the financial benefits of this economic upswing are becoming more and more comfortable with their new means, and spending to prove it.

This increase in demand of course could turn disastrous should a bad harvest year occur. And with all the unpredictability of weather due to global warming, who knows when and to what degree that might strike one day. And what might happen if people are discouraged by higher prices due to limited supply? Will they find another sparkling wine from elsewhere in the world to enjoy and ultimately choose instead? Unlikely, says Serious About Wine. Champagne's marketers have done a superb job at keeping the name associated with "the good life" and exclusivity. For now, Champagne lovers may want to keep their own small stock aside just as the distributors are doing in order to ensure at least some future availability.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

England's Wealth Boom is Opportunity for Luxury Goods Companies

According to London's The Business magazine, there is a key demographic that luxury goods sellers should be following closely. There has recently been a big boom in wealth in England, and the spending habits are showing it... £1.5 billion on designer items in one year. It seems the number of people in England earning more than £100,000 per year is growing at an average of 10% per year. The article states that Ledbury Research, a consultancy group, "estimates that the growth of this high-earning elite accelerated further to 11% last year, taking its numbers to around 500,000 in 2006."

Most of these people are showing their wealth by spending on fine things from cars to jewelry to vacations. While good taste does not come with those larger pay checks, many are said to be making a stronger effort to impress and stand out. But what is to explain this continuous growth in the wealthy British population? The Business claims that there has not only been a jump in enterpreneurs in London, but also the so-called "boom" in London, and "also by top lawyers, accountants, GPs and even teachers."

Shoppers will continue to seek high-end goods as long as this boom lasts, and designers would be wise to keep a close eye on this successful group.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Net worth determines luxury spending in tough times

Luxury goods manufacturers can expect to see a decline in customer spending while markets are volatile and the U.S. dollar struggles, surveys show. Those considered to be "super rich" with net worths of over $25 million are expected to spend as usual, however.

A recent survey given to people of varying income levels (the lowest being at $500K) aimed to pinpoint the spending tendencies of these demographics. The less rich (with net worths of under $10 million) of those surveyed gave indication that they were concerned about the market volatility and would even consider changing spending habits if the market didn't start to see an upturn, said JCKOnline. A full two-thirds of respondents said they would need to make “major lifestyle changes” if the market continues to deteriorate.

The online business information site also offered the following numbers on how the "super rich" are expected to spend in the next few months:
* 98.9 percent of respondents said they will spend at least $10,000 on fine jewelry before the end of the year;
* 100 percent said they will spend at least $30,000 on leisure travel;
* 100 percent said they would spend at least $10,000 on fashion and accessories;
* 43.2 percent said they would spend at least $10,000 on home electronics; and
* 38.6 percent said they would spend at least $10,000 on watches.

While those are telling figures and hefty numbers from some of the population, real strength will come from "regular rich" going back to feeling more positively about the market.

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