Luxury Institute News

May 5, 2013

9 apps for millionaires

Posted in E-Commerce,Fashion,Flash-Sales Sites,Internet/Web,Marketing,Retail
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No need to ask Jeeves, just whip out your smartphone

By Kelli B. Grant
MarketWatch
May 4, 2013

You’re wealthy and you don’t want to wait out a flight delay? There’s an app for that. BlackJet lets members book a seat on a private jet via their smartphone. Although the app is free, the service sets travelers back $2,500 for an annual membership, plus the cost of the flight; roughly $3,500 for a one-way jaunt from New York to San Francisco.

Sure, it’s not likely to appeal to everyone (read: most anyone), but apps for the 1% have become a hot market. According to a 2012 survey from marketing firm Luxury Institute, 64% of wealthy consumers view luxury brands more favorably if they have their own app. (Most are just window-shopping: Only about 13% of the affluent have purchased a luxury product or service via their phone.) “The best luxury apps come from branded applications,” says Brad Spirrison, the managing editor for review site Appolicious. It’s common to find fashion houses’ look books, high-end hotels’ recommendations for local amenities and other value-added features that any fan might use. But some, like BlackJet and these eight, are really made for rich customers.

Click the link to read the entire article:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/9-apps-for-the-super-rich-2013-05-02

May 4, 2013

75pc of affluent consumers would buy luxury brand’s mainstream extension: Luxury Institute

Posted in Luxury Brands,Luxury Market,Marketing,Retail
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By Tricia Carr
Luxury Daily
May 3, 2013

Most affluent consumers will continue to purchase from a luxury brand that offers a mainstream line, according to a new report from the Luxury Institute.

The quarterly Wealth Report polled wealthy consumers on their perception of luxury and mainstream brands and 24 percent of respondents said that damage to a luxury brand’s image or reputation is a risk when entering the mass market. The report also uncovered shopping habits of wealthy consumers such as the likelihood of making a purchase in-store and online is about equal among respondents.

“One thing for sure is that consumers, regardless of what price point they’re paying, expect great quality from luxury brands,” said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, New York.

“Millennials expect great quality and boomers expect great quality, regardless if they are buying a luxury brand or mainstream brand,” he said.

Luxury Institute surveyed wealthy consumers with annual household income of at least $150,000 for the Quarter 2 Wealth Report.

Going mainstream
The Wealth Report found that wealthy consumers are open to mainstream brand extensions from luxury marketers.

Eighty percent of respondents said they would buy goods or services from a mainstream offshoot of a luxury brand and 75 percent said they would buy a luxury brand’s mainstream line.

Eighty-four percent of women and 78 percent of men would continue to purchase from a luxury brand that has a mainstream extension.

Meanwhile, 88 percent of female respondents and 79 percent of male respondents would continue to buy from a mainstream brand that offered an up-market line.

If a luxury brand were to launch a mainstream line, 28 percent of respondents reported being skeptical about consumer acceptance.

Also, 24 percent of respondents believe that damage to the luxury brand’s image or reputation is a risk and 20 percent said quality concerns.

Mainstream lines are doable for luxury marketers because consumers will accept them, but the level of quality and brand DNA should still be in the products.

“You do need to differentiate your brand offerings with quality, with design, with craftsmanship and with pricing,” Mr. Pedraza said.

When asked what differentiates luxury from mainstream, 60 percent of respondents said quality. Among this portion are many respondents on the higher end of wealth and income.

Fifty-five percent said that price is a differentiator between luxury and mainstream. Many who chose price earn less than $200,000 per year and have a net worth less than $1 million.

Additionally, 48 percent said craftsmanship is a differentiator between luxury and mainstream, 47 percent said prestige and 38 percent said design.

Craftsmanship was chosen more often by older respondents.

“The standards have gotten so high,” Mr. Pedraza said. “They expect quality in both, but the quality of a luxury brand has to be dramatically higher than mainstream.”

Shop till they drop
The Wealth Report also found that new technologies drive store traffic instead of keeping consumers away from bricks-and-mortar.

Seventy-eight percent of respondents said that they made a purchase in-store in the past year and 77 percent made a purchase online.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents made purchase decisions based on information they gathered while shopping, but 58 percent gathered their information online via desktop.

But ultimately digital could be considered the most effective channel to trigger purchases since 69 percent of respondents made a purchase on the Web based on information they found online.

Luckily, far less respondents, or 25 percent, participate in showrooming – buying online after gathering information in-store.

“As a retailer, it should be about a seamless relationship with your customer,” Mr. Pedraza said. “Stop looking at it as channels, but relationship-building between the channels that you use and they use.

“Consumers will become seamless in how they engage brands across channels and the word ‘channel’ will become a useless term,” he said.

http://www.luxurydaily.com/75pc-of-affluent-consumers-would-buy-luxury-brands-mainstream-extension-luxury-institute/

April 29, 2013

Now made in China: Taste

Posted in Automobiles,China,Fashion,Luxury Brands,Luxury Leaders,Luxury Market,Marketing,Politics,Wealthy Consumer
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5 Things Big in Beijing, Headed for Buffalo

By Quentin Fottrell
SmartMoney
April 28, 2013

Despite the ubiquitous “Made in China” label on everything from clothing to toys, China has been slow to export its own products and culture. Most Americans couldn’t name a single Chinese brand, a survey released this month found. Only 6% of could think of one, according to international marketing firm HD Trade Services. Some respondents mistakenly identified Japanese brands like Honda, Sony and Toyota as Chinese. Indeed, Chinese companies often sells products under non-Chinese names. Volvo Car, for instance, is owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

“Branding was an alien concept in old China,” says Stanley Kwong, managing director of China Business Programs at the School of Management of University of San Francisco. “China had been making products for companies like Wal-Mart and Apple, but has not developed many brands.” It’s been easier for China to make a product than build a brand, experts say. Popular Chinese cosmetic brand Herborist is labeled “Made in Shanghai,” for instance, and the box for Apple’s iPhone — although made in China — is labeled “Designed by Apple in California.”

Click the link to read the entire article which includes several quotes from Milton Pedraza, CEO of Luxury Institute: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-chinese-tastes-are-reshaping-american-malls-2013-04-26

March 25, 2013

Forget Tupperware parties. Local trunk shows offer exclusive access.

Posted in Fashion,Luxury Brands,Marketing,Wealthy Consumer,Women
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By Abha Bhattarai
Washington Post
March 22, 2013

Forget the mall. Your next clothing purchase could take place in a local hotel, hair salon or art gallery.

Washington area businesses such as the Four Seasons and the Northern Virginia Art Center have played host to designer trunk shows in recent months, as businesses look for new and unconventional ways to bring in money.

For clothing and accessories companies, the short-lived events provide an easy way to rack up sales without investing in store fronts or pop-up locations.

Click the link to read the entire article which includes several quotes from Milton Pedraza, CEO of Luxury Institute:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/forget-tupperware-parties-local-trunk-shows-offer-exclusive-access/2013/03/22/20a54950-8ff5-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html

March 22, 2013

Affluent women control 68pc of household purchases: Luxury Institute

Posted in Marketing,WealthSurvey,Women
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By Erin Shea
Luxury Daily
March 21, 2013

Affluent female consumers are making 68 percent of their household’s purchases, while more women are becoming the bread winners of their families, according to a new survey from the Luxury Institute.

Women are now more involved in purchasing and financial decisions for the family than ever before. Since this trend is likely to continue, luxury marketers should look to target affluent women to drive sales.

“This means that [marketers] need to pay more attention to how they are marketing to women in a respective and relative way,” said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, New York.

“A lot of companies are doing a good job of marketing to women, but we will see more companies and more services that will begin to market to women,” he said.

The Luxury Institute’s WealthSurvey: Marketing to Wealthy U.S. Women study surveyed 800 U.S. women who are 21 years or older and have a minimum gross annual income of $150,000. The survey took place in the last quarter of 2012.

The bread winners

Two-thirds of women surveyed earn at least $150,000 per year from their own salaries. This group of women has a median annual income of $181,000 per year.

More than 40 percent of working women in married or coupled households report being responsible for the majority of their total household income.

Seventeen percent of women surveyed said they provide support for additional familiar members other than their spouse or children. A quarter of these women said they spend at least $100,000 per year on providing support.

In addition, approximately 25 percent of working women are owners or partners in organizations. These women say that the flexibility in schedule and desire to “be my own boss” drove them to this situation.

The number of women in high-leadership roles and entrepreneurial positions will continue to increase.

This could mean an overall shift in corporate atmosphere, which could help marketers reach female consumers.

“We see a growth in women in the highest level in entrepreneurial and leadership positions that will make corporations more collaborative internally and externally,” Mr. Pedraza said.

“Most women understand the needs of other women, women consumers and other consumers.”

Purchasing power

Affluent women are most likely to control the food and clothing – such as apparel, shoes and accessories – purchase decisions for their household.

This group makes approximately 68 percent of the purchases on behalf of their household.

When purchasing, these women have a decided preference for products that are made by established and well-known brands.

Many luxury marketers target this group of affluent women because of their buying power, but some industry sectors are sending a stronger message than others.

The survey found that fragrances and cosmetics, clothing, shampoo and conditioner, shoes, department stores and jewelry and watches are categories that most effectively market to women.

Also, 65 percent of women in married or coupled households are making investment decisions jointly or in consultation with their spouse or partner.

Twelve percent of affluent women surveyed said that someone else makes these decisions for them, so there will likely be more financial services and similar companies that will begin to market to female consumers.

“We’ll see a lot of brands in the financial services and brands that are at the bottom try to understand how to develop and brand products to women,” Mr. Pedraza said.

http://www.luxurydaily.com/women-control-68pc-of-household-purchases-luxury-institute/

March 14, 2013

63pc of affluent consumers want to opt out of online tracking: Luxury Institute

Posted in Luxury Brands,Marketing,WealthSurvey,Wealthy Consumer
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By Erin Shea
Luxury Daily
March 13, 2013

Sixty-three percent of affluent consumers would choose to keep their online history and Internet activities private through an opt-out tracking policy, according to a new survey from the Luxury Institute.

Affluent consumers do not want their personal information used for other purposes and many consumers do not trust the safety of their information when giving it to a brand. This means that luxury marketers need to earn the trust of their consumers before asking for their participation in online tracking.

“We underestimate the fact that consumers are concerned about their privacy,” said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, New York.

“Unfortunately, if brands do not earn consumer’s trust and use their data in a trustworthy way, then consumers will opt out if there is privacy legislation passed,” he said.

“Brands then have to shift to earn the trust of consumers.”

The Luxury Institute’s Luxury Brand WealthSurvey surveyed 1,232 U.S. consumers in December 2012 about sharing their contact details in-store and online as well as their tracking preferences.

Respondents were at least 21 years of age and had a minimum annual income of $150,000.

Respecting the consumer

Although 68 percent of affluent shoppers are willing to give personal information to online retailers, 75 percent say this is because of purchase requirements to complete an online transaction, per the Luxury Brand WealthSurvey.

Women feel more pressured in-store to provide personal information during the checkout process. But only 24 percent shared their personal information during a recent in-store transaction.

Also, 66 percent of consumers feel comfortable sharing email in-store, compared to 78 percent feeling comfortable sharing it online.

Once consumers provide their information to a company, 60 percent feel little to no control over it, while 30 percent think that the security of their information is extremely likely to be compromised.

Luxury marketers need to make sure they are being transparent on their intentions when gathering consumers’ information and need to earn their trust before asking for personal data.

“Brands cannot take data collection for granted,” Mr. Pedraza said. “You need to earn that right to get that data and then use it in a trustworthy manner.”

Do not track

Recent U.S. legislation proves that consumers are seeking more control over their contact information and online activities.

If passed, the Do Not Track Act will let consumers stop companies from gathering their personal information online, but experts agree that there is most cause for concern among mainstream brands rather than those in the luxury sector.

Sen. John D. Rockerfeller IV (D-WV) introduced the “Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2013” in the United States Senate Feb. 28 to help consumers keep their online habits private, which is a reintroduction of a 2011 bill.

The legislation will limit the availability of information that marketers use to place digital and mobile ads.

Many affluent consumers would opt-out of online tracking if this legislation passed, according to Luxury Institute’s survey.

Eighty-two percent of affluent customers have already placed their phone numbers on do-not-call lists and the majority reported that they would do the same if there was a similar online option for blocking their Internet activities.

However, luxury marketers can overcome this negative mindset on information sharing by establishing relationships with customers, since 46 percent of respondents said that knowing a specific sales associate makes them more likely to give out contact information while shopping in-store.

“The way to do this is to have sales associates contact the customers directly,” Mr. Pedraza said. “Establish the communication with real humans and that will customize the experience.

“Relationship building is paramount when privacy is a concern,” he said.

http://www.luxurydaily.com/63pc-of-affluent-consumers-want-to-opt-out-of-online-tracking-luxury-institute/

September 5, 2012

Get Ready for the Loyalty Marketing Renaissance of 2013

Posted in Customer Experience,Customer Service/CRM,E-Commerce,Internet/Web,Marketing,Mobile,Mobile Commerce,Social Media
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Six New Ways to Serve Loyal Consumers in a Smartphone Age
By: Adam Broitman
AdAge.com
September 04, 2012

The essence of loyalty marketing has not changed since its invention; incentivize your best customers and they will not only remain patrons, they will tell their friends about their experiences with your brand. The rise of social technologies has multiplied the positive effects of a brand supporter and underscores the importance of influential evangelists.

Though the substance of loyalty has not changed in the past 30 years, the tactics and technologies required to implement a loyalty program have been displaced — so much so that history may designate the years between 2012 through 2015 as a renaissance in customer loyalty. Here are a few guidelines to use when planning your customer loyalty programs for 2013:

Don’t Just Be Social, Be Helpful
According to a survey by American Express one in five American’s have used social media for customer service. Furthermore, customers, on average, are willing to spend 21% more with companies that provide great service. Given that social media is an ideal channel to directly interact with your customers, a strategic approach is imperative. The mere presence on popular social networks is no longer enough. Simple, canned responses to comments on social networks no longer meet consumer expectations. It is crucial for social media to be treated as a service channel in addition to a promotional channel. The installation of an uninformed employee, armed with no more than a hyperlink to a customer service page is only slightly better than ignoring comments made within social networks.

Forget Gamification, Learn The Game
The Gamification gold rush has led many brands to the construction of superfluous “cart before the horse” initiatives in which badges and leaderboards serve little to no strategic purpose. There are countless theories that marketers can borrow from games, but in order to accurately take advantage of such ideas in an effective manner, marketers must dig deeper and strive to realize the various compulsion loops and social dynamics that make games “sticky” (apologies for the late 90′s lingo). Here are a few links for inspiration:

  • http://www.mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm
  • http://www.mud.co.uk/richard/Shoreditch.pdf

Feel The Power of Post-PC
The post-PC era has put massive computing power, packed in every shape and size screen, in the palm of the everyday consumer. If your legacy POS system is getting in the way of allowing you to implement a cutting edge loyalty program, consider taking advantage of consumer grade products to get the job done.

Take a look at the following payments systems that have integrated elements of loyalty into their platform:

  • Square
  • SAIL (Verifone)
  • PayPal Here
  • NCR Silver
  • Revel Systems

Learn to Outsmart “Showrooming”
“Showrooming” has become a plague for retailers. According to eMarketer, 59% of US smartphone owners have engaged in “showrooming”. Ironically, the very same mobile device that consumers are using to “showroom” can be used to create value. Marketers should look at the way in which luxury brands create value. Luxury marketers are notorious for creating value adding experiences in lieu of price breaks—as such, mobile has become a no-brainer for luxury marketers. According to the Luxury Institute, luxury shoppers expect the following from mobile applications:

  • 46% expect loyalty programs
  • 45% expect early access to sales
  • 53% want access to a sales professional that can help with finding the right product

Remember That Likes Don’t Equal Loves
These days, it is all too easy to create a “like-gated” promotion yet many of the programs that ask for personal information in exchange for entrance into a contest fall flat when it comes to any type of long term engagement. In the endless debate about the value of a “like,” many marketers have concluded that a like is only as good as the communications that follow it. Loyalty can certainly begin with a like, but a like is not guaranteed to get you to a “love”. According to eMarketer, nearly half of branded “likes” have no influence on consumer purchase decisions.

Make Love
Though last on this list, this is the most important thing a brand can do. We have seen brands like Zappos and Warby Parker take brand “amore” to new heights. Each brand uses social media and technology in exciting new ways, but each brand also manages to present their costumers with something marketers and advertisers speak about ad nauseam, “surprise and delight.” There are a variety of new brands such as Warby Parker that are set up as B Corporations. This corporate structure requires a company to generate some sort of “general benefit for society” as part of the way it defines profit. While long established plans will likely not reincorporate, this model has loyalty baked in and big brands should be looking at the types of ways these companies do business

As you are planning your loyalty efforts for 2013, do your best not to get so caught up in the trees that you forget to look at the forest. The seemingly endless number of mobile and social loyalty platforms can be so overwhelming, they can divert even the most savvy of marketers from their core objectives. With the above guides and a constant eye on ROI, 2013 should be a banner year for customer loyalty.

http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/ready-loyalty-marketing-renaissance-2013/236999/?utm_source=daily_email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage

August 7, 2012

10 Things Apple Won’t Tell You

Posted in Clienteling,Customer Experience,Customer Service/CRM,E-Commerce,Finance,Internet/Web,Luxury Brands,Luxury Leaders,Luxury Market,Marketing,Mobile,Mobile Commerce,Retail,Social Media,Social Responsibility,Stock Market,Wealthy Consumer
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , —

From customer service to app safety and even how its devices affect our relationships, here are 10 things Apple won’t likely tell you about its products and its business.

By Quentin Fottrell
SmartMoney
August 6, 2012

1.”Our customers are worn out.”

All that initial excitement over the first iPhone or iPad has quickly given way to what analysts are dubbing “upgrade fatigue” — with even Apple’s most loyal customers upset about the steady stream of newer models. In fact, when people buy Apple’s latest product, the company is usually already preparing its replacement, says technology consultant Patchen Barrs, who has owned 25 Apple products over the last 20 years. “Everything we buy from them is already out of date,” he says. Take a count: Since 2001, there have been six iPods, two iPod minis, six iPod Nanos, four iPod Shuffles and four editions of the iPod Touch. Apple has released five iPhone models since 2007 and has had three iPads since 2010.

Of course, newer models have their upsides: They’re usually slimmer, faster and have additional features like better cameras and improved screen quality. And Apple, which declined to comment for this story, has said that such improvements more than justify the fast pace of their new additions. (In March, for example, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the latest iPad delivered a “stunning” screen display.) But that argument isn’t enough to appease some cash-strapped consumers. Almost 50% of consumers say they’re increasingly unwilling to buy new products for fear that they will be rendered outdated by even newer versions, according to a recent survey of 2,000 people by Marketing Magazine in the U.K.

Click the link to read the entire article which includes a quote from Milton Pedraza, CEO of Luxury Institute: http://www.marketwatch.com/Story/Story/?guid={61E63842-DFED-11E1-961B-002128049AD6}

July 13, 2012

Did Apple Tame the Salesman?

Posted in Clienteling,Customer Experience,Customer Service/CRM,Internet/Web,Luxury Brands,Luxury Leaders,Luxury Market,Marketing,Retail,Social Media,Wealthy Consumer
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , —

By Quentin Fottrell
SmartMoney
July 12, 2012

Salesmen are going soft. They’re toning down their pitch and ditching the “always be closing” approach. And consumers largely have the Apple Store to thank – or blame.

Industry experts say Apple’s blue-shirted smiling staff is now the envy of other retailers. Best Buy is remaking its “Geek Squad” in Apple’s image, in a pilot program at its Richfield, Minn., location. General Motors plans to institute “no-haggle prices” on some models, which will remove some of the salesman’s role in negotiating a car purchase. “Apple has had a tremendous amount of influence,” says Milton Pedraza, the president of Luxury Institute LLC, a marketing firm.

The floor staff at Apple emphasizes customer service over sales, with new employees taught an APPLE acronym for their “five steps of service,” says Carmine Gallo, a communications coach and author of “The Apple Experience.” (Approach in a warm manner; Probe politely; Present customers with a solution that may not involve a sale; Listen carefully; End with an invitation to return. ) “AT&T retail is closely following these steps,” he says.

Click the link to read the entire article which includes quotes from Milton Pedraza, CEO of Luxury Institute: http://blogs.smartmoney.com/advice/2012/07/12/did-apple-tame-the-salesman/?link=SM_hp_ls4e

May 15, 2012

Will Christian Louboutin Beauté dilute the brand name?

Posted in Fashion,Fragrance/Cosmetics/Skin Care,Luxury Brands,Luxury Leaders,Luxury Market,Marketing,Retail,Shoes,Wealthy Consumer
Tags: , , , , , , —

By Tricia Carr
Luxury Daily
May 14, 2012

French footwear designer Christian Louboutin will begin selling beauty products in late 2013, which could leverage the brand across a mainstream category as long as it does not dilute the name.

Louboutin announced last week that it will partner with Batallure Beauty to create and market Christian Louboutin Beauté products. While some experts say this is a good move to broaden the consumer base, others feel that a beauty line could dilute the brand.

“Christian Louboutin has established a strong brand around a single product line of high-end designer shoe with the immediately-recognizable red sole,” said Karen Kreamer, president of K2 Brand Consulting, Overland Park, KS. ”Extending the brand into beauty products is a good first step before determining how, or if, the brand should be further extended.

Click the link to read the entire article which includes quotes from Milton Pedraza, CEO of Luxury Institute: http://www.luxurydaily.com/christian-louboutin-enters-beauty-biz-with/

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