...Brief History Guccio Gucci opened a small shop selling leather goods on the via del Parione in Florence in 1923. He sold luggage imported from Germany and offered customers with repair services. As the luggage business prospered, he opened his own workshop to produce his own design. The business in the 1920’s created huge profit and success however in the 1930’s Gucci began to face some challenges when the sanctions imposed on Mussolini. He faced shortage of imported leather yet this challenge gave him innovated idea of using new materials such as canvas and produced small leather goods, wallets and belts that are still big part of the Gucci company. Gucci became an internationally known luxury brand after World War II and over the next two decades the company flourished. In the1970s Gucci began to fall down due to internal conflict. Most of the conflict was between Aldo and Rodolfo Gucci, the founder’s surviving sons over strategy and control of the company. Rodolfo Gucci died in 1983 and left his 50% stake in the company to his son Maurizio. One year later, Maurizio seized control over Gucci and determined to transform Gucci into a modern retail organization. Maurizio failed. Years later, Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole are given the credit for turning Gucci around in 1994 and turned the company into a powerhouse luxury brand. This case study will discuss why Maurizio failed to transform Gucci and how Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole rebuilt Gucci again. Luxury Industry ...
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... FASHION FAUX PAS: GUCCI & LVMH “The brewing battle for Gucci is emblematic of the New Europe that is taking shape with the launch of the common currency and the globalization of industry: two Frenchmen squaring off for control of a Dutch-based Italian company run by a U.S.-educated lawyer and an American designer, and advised by London-based American investment bankers. “Gucci Watch,” Wall Street Journal, March 22, 1999. The Gucci Group N.V. 2000 Annual Report really said it all. Tom Ford, Creative Director, and Domenico De Sole, President and CEO, stood side-by-side facing the camera with eyes of steel. Ford, unshaven and shirt provocatively opened, was the American designer who had single-handedly revitalized the Gucci name. Domenico De Sole, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, with finely trimmed beard, was the Italian lawyer -turned-businessman who had returned Gucci to profitability and promise. The photograph, of course, by the famous fashion photographer, Annie Leibovitz. These two men represented the defiant spirit of Gucci, a molten mix of high-powered fashion and high-powered finance. These two men had, in the first six months of 1999, been the centerpiece of one of the most highly contested hostile takeover battles ever seen on the European continent. Under attack by LVMH Möet Hennessey Louis Vuitton, the French luxury goods conglomerate, Gucci had implemented the age-old strategy of “the enemy of an enemy is a friend.” Gucci successfully enticed...
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...emeraldinsight.com/researchregister The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0959-0552.htm IJRDM 33,4 256 The nature of parenting advantage in luxury fashion retailing – the case of Gucci group NV Christopher M. Moore and Grete Birtwistle Division of Marketing, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK Abstract Purpose – Examines the application and nature of parenting advantage within the context of luxury fashion conglomerates principally as a means of understanding the synergistic benefits that accrue as a result of brand consolidation within the sector. Design/methodology/approach – Derived from company annual accounts, market analysts’ reports and other secondary sources, the paper delineates and evaluates the ten-year renaissance of Gucci brand from a company on the verge of bankruptcy to its emergence as the world’s second largest luxury group. Findings – Through the identification of intra-business group synergies, it is clear that the transference of brand management expertise and competence is the principal dimension of parenting advantage in the Gucci Group. Originality/value – From an examination of the Gucci Group’s brand management strategy, resource investments and business development activities, the paper proposes a model of the luxury fashion brand. This multi-dimensional model identifies the components of the luxury fashion brand, locates their inter-connections and illustrates how...
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...GUCCI 3F Sunglasses | BBA3 BBA3 | RIDA FATIMA S2F14BBAM0023 RABIA NOOR S2F14BBAM0004 NIMRA IMRAN S2F14BBAM0006 | | SUBJECT MARKETING SUPERVISED BY Sir SOHAIL ASHRAF TABLE OF CONTENT | NO OF CONTENTS | TOPICS | PAGE NUMBER | 1 | Introduction to company | 3 | 2 | New product development process | 8 | 3 | Market place and customer needs | 11 | 4 | Market segmentation | 12 | 5 | Marketing Strategies and plans | 13 | 6 | Market targeting | 13 | 7 | Pricing Strategies | 16 | 8 | Advertising, public relation and sales promotion | 17 | Company Profile Gucci | | Type | Subsidiary | Industry | Fashion | Founded | 1921 | Founder | Guccio Gucci | Headquarters | Florence, Italy | Key people | Marco Bizzarri (CEO) Alessandro Michele (Creative Director) | Owner | Kering | Website | www.gucci.com | Introduction Gucci was founded in 1921 when Guccio Gucci opened a leather goods company and small luggage store in his native Florence. Today, it is part of fashion conglomerate...
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...Gucci’s origins date back to 1921 in Florence Italy. It was started as a leather goods store by a man named Guccio Gucci. For the next fifty years after its creation, the Gucci logo had become a well-known fashion image. It wasn’t until the 1980’s when the company began to struggle due to aggressive branding, a poor licensing strategy, and an array of family altercations about who will be the progeny of Guccio Gucci. Finally, Maurizio Gucci, Guccio’s grandson, took control of the company in 1984 and restored it as a luxury brand. Within the next ten years, business began to plummet once again and Maurizio was compelled to sell his shares to Gucci’s second-largest shareholder, Investcorp. Investcorp’s two newly appointed executives, Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole, transformed Gucci back into a superior fashion brand within five years. The sales raised from $200 million in 1994 to $1 billion in 1999. This success caught the eye of many investors, such as French luxury group LVMH, which acquired 34% of Gucci’s shares by 1999. To protect their company from a takeover, Gucci established a new equity by offering 40% of its shares to PPR, a French global retail and luxury group. The new shareholder helped Gucci create a corporate of multiple luxury brands. There was a total of eight Gucci different brands each with their own management system and designer. Once Gucci became a multi-brand company, its family oriented and centralized business approach began to collide with PPR’s more brand-driven...
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...House of Gucci or simply known as Gucci is the biggest selling Italian fashion leather and luxury brand, it has been in existence since 1921, and regularly charts on Interbrand “Top Global 100 brands”. The Gucci Brand operates in the following areas – Africa and the Middle East (11 countries), Asia (14 countries), Australia (2 countries), Central America and the Caribbean (3 countries), Europe (22 countries), North America (3 countries) and South America (1 country). This represents a total of 56 countries in which the Gucci Brand operates. The marketing/PR campaign that I am about to critically analyse is called the Gucci Cruise campaign (for their handbag range), it was launched in 2011 via several media forms: TV, internet and print, the focus of my analysis would be on the print campaign. Gucci products are held in high esteem by its target audience and caters to a particular high end segment in most countries. It is not what you would consider to be a mass retail brand, very little adaptation is done, if any, across different markets. Gucci is associated with success, class, sophistication and exclusivity worldwide, its brand strength is quite appealing and people are willing to pay a premium price for a perceived premium product. Gucci products are standardised across the globe. I am going examine the intercultural issues of this campaign such as, tastes, customs and norms of Italy the home country and China their largest market in Asia and the strategies implemented...
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...Hsiao-Hsuan Sharon Chou 992209962 Symbolic Frame Slogan and Logo The value of GUCCI is clearly stated in its slogan: “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten” (WolrdofQuotes, 2007). This slogan emphasizes on product differentiation and quality. Since most of the existing or potential customers are already price insensitive, GUCCI uses its slogan to reinforce its brand image by concentrates on product quality. The logo of Gucci is GG, with the second G upside down. The design logo is simple and plain, yet it represents elegance, prestige and power. The representation of the logo also consists with GUCCI’s identity and brand value. The company set a clear, inspiring vision: "Gucci has become a beautiful symbol of maturity with aristocratic lines, and no longer a boring established icon." (Maximizing Your Brand Value (FL51)) Employees The characteristics of employees in GUCCI reflect company’s values. Thus, GUCCI pays special attention in selecting and training its store salespeople and product designers. When entering into GUCCI, customers can spot that all the employees are dressing in black suits. The employees dress up in suits to represent “high class.” Employees dressing code symbolizes GUCCI’s value on formality. With formal attire, customers feel that GUCCI treats them with high respect. Also, the formal attire communicates the brand itself – prestige, power, chic, and elegance. Black color also associated with meaning sophistication, and...
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...Brand Name and the Quest for Success in the Luxury Sector All luxury designers strive to achieve long-term success. To put a label on a collection of products is to create a brand, but that label does not provide for definite staying power. Lucrative brands have gone beyond creating something pretty; an outstanding brand writes a story that the consumer believes and wants to buy into and the brand then becomes more than its product. Labels that grasp the importance of branding understand that they must be more than the watch or bag or scarf. The appeal of a brand must be in who the consumer becomes when he or she puts on or uses a certain product. Brand awareness widens when a high-end label creates and conveys a clear message or lifestyle that the consumer thinks he or she can attain through purchase. That is the art of branding. Branding convinces the consumer not to simply buy a product, but instead buy the brand as a whole. A stellar product does not stand alone—behind it must be something deeper, a message or a symbol which should represent or relate back to the identity of the brand. Within the luxury sector, where products are often an investment regardless of one’s socio-economic status, conveying an identity is crucial. If the consumer cannot see what he or she will gain from purchasing a $2,000 handbag or a $26,000 watch, there will be no sale, and the ship that is the brand will sink. John Goodchild and Clive Callow, authors of Brands: Visions and Values...
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...and facilities 3.0 Products and Services 5 3.1 Product description 3.2 Competitive Comparison 3.3 Supply and demand details 3.4 Technology needs 4.0 Target Market 7 4.1.1 Target Market Segment Strategy 4.1.2 Market Needs 4.1.3 Market Trends 4.2 Industry Analysis 4.2.1 Industry Participants/Key Players 4.2.2 Main Competitor analysis 5.0 Strategic and Implementation Summary 10 5.1 Marketing Strategy 5.2 Pricing Strategies 5.3 Promotional Strategies 5.4 Distribution Patterns 5.5 Marketing Program 5.6 Sales Strategies 5.7 Sales Forecast 5.8 Sales Program 6.0 Web Plan Summary 13. 6.1 Website Marketing Strategy 6.2 Development requirement Reference 15 1.0 Executive Summary 1.1 Objective This paper will tend to provide a brief introduction of Louis Vuitton, the famous and high price and high reputation luxury brand product originated from France. Later, this paper will further investigate on the information regarding the company’s products and services (product mix) and its marketing analysis and industry analysis in general. The strategies analysis and implementation of the strategies will be demonstrated and website marketing strategies by the company will be discussed as well after the implementation of the strategies plan. Lastly, a brief conclusion will be provided to summarize the entire marketing plan for LVMH. 1.2 Vision and Mission LouisVuittonMoët Hennessy group,LVMH, would represent the most refined qualities of...
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...in North America, Japan through the addition of new stores * Raise brand awareness and build market share in underpenetrated markets such as Europe, Asia and South America * Anticipate consumer changing needs by being “consumer centric” through the use of extensive customer research and surveys to innovate to create customer and shareholder value * matching key luxury rivals in quality and style while pricing the goods at 50 percent or more cheaper than competitors Strategic Objectives Business Level Strategy * Product differentiation – “accessible luxury brand”. It can defend against new entrants since they have to surpass proven products; they also mitigate buyers’ power through the tiered pricing structure for its products * When products are well differentiated customers are less price sensitive. A well differentiated product line reduces chance of customers trying other products and switching to different brands Functional Strategy * Coach Inc. designed and marketed ladies...
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...1 Table of Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................1 Coach’s History..............................................................................................................2 Coach’s Current Profile..................................................................................................3 Coach’s Future Plans......................................................................................................3 SWOT Analysis .............................................................................................................4 Global Expansion & Challenges ....................................................................................6 Coach’s Competitors ......................................................................................................9 Industry Analysis ......................................................................................................... 11 Short-Term Recommendations ....................................................................................12 Long-Term Recommendations.....................................................................................13 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................14 Bibliography ................................................................................................................16 ...
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...1. What is the Luxury goods industry? Luxury goods are products and services that are not considered as a necessity and are associated with affluence. The industry is defined by the consumer goods positioned in the high end of the market. Several products attain the status of "luxury goods" due to their design, quality, durability or performance that are remarkably superior to the comparable substitutes. "luxury" is marked by better-quality components and materials, solid construction, stylish appearance, increased durability, better performance, advanced features, and so on. As such, these luxury goods may retain or improve the basic functionality for which all items of a given category are originally designed. The main characteristics: A strong branding that relates to an exclusive and wealthy lifestyle. High quality, especially in terms of design Premium pricing The luxury brand is perceived as being: Exclusive – 82 % High Quality -80% Stylish -75% Extravagant -65% Lasting -55% and Expensive- 51% 2. Market Profile luxury good is a good for which demand increases more than proportionally as income rises and is a contrast to a necessity good, for which demand increases proportionally less than income Two Major Classifications: * Business Segmentation: Apparel, footwear, automobiles, perfumes, Watches, etc * Geographical Segmentation Asia, (60%) Europe and USA High income elasticity of demand - making a perfume more expensive...
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...Hermès creates bespoke brand for China By Justine Lau in Hong Kong, July 19 2010| Hermès is set to launch a new brand in China in September, in an attempt by the French company to win more customers in the world’s second-largest luxury goods market. Florian Craen, Hermès managing director in north Asia, said the Shang Xia brand – which means “up and down” in English – would remain “completely separate” from the main Hermès line to avoid customer confusion. Some analysts believe that the new Shang Xia shop, which will open in Shanghai selling tableware and furniture, will dilute the Hermès brand, famed for its Kelly and Birkin bags. However, Mr Craen said that while Hermès was a “Parisian company,” Shang Xia would be “completely different. “It is a Chinese brand, developed in China with the Chinese team, based on Chinese craftsmanship and broadly made in China. We don’t want any confusion.” Some western luxury groups have designed specialised lines for Asian markets, such as the Burberry’s Black and Blue Labels that are sold exclusively in Japan and Hong Kong. Levi Strauss, the jeans company, is reportedly planning on launching a Chinese brand this year. Hermès’ decision to create a brand for the Chinese market also reflects a thorny issue faced by luxury companies on the mainland. Companies need to figure out ways to appeal to more Chinese consumers with localised products without jeopardising the value of their brands. Hair and skincare brands must adapt their products...
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...Gucci Business-Level and Corporate Strategy During the late 1990’s, Gucci portrayed the characteristics of a firm with a differentiated business-level strategy. Gucci provides value to their customers with high quality luxury goods which consist of unique product features in relation to their rival competitors. One example of Gucci’s distinct quality is the prestigious image of their brand name using the famous “GG” logo on their items. Gucci is a successful firm in the luxury goods industry with many resources and capabilities that differentiate them from other companies within the industry. The first resource is the management team of Gucci following the millions in losses during the early 1990’s. Two managers in particular are Dominco De Sole, head of Milan office, and Tom Ford who replaced Dawn Mello as creative director in 1994. The duo of Ford and Sole turned the company around from near-bankruptcy to a close rival with LVMH, the luxury goods powerhouse. The two of them possess an intangible resource to Gucci that is valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable. Ford and Sole are considered to be valuable to the firm because of their leadership and vision to make Gucci a global presence and rare because their management skills are unlike any other firm in the luxury goods industry. What makes the management team a sustainable capability is the difficulty for other firms to match their business...
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...analysis report of: LVMH Hand-in date: 25.11.2010 Campus: BI Oslo Examination code and name: GRA 62123 Financial Reporting and Analysis Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 MARKET REVIEW: 4 COMPANY REVIEW 5 Management compensation 6 BUSINESS DESCRIPTION 7 Business Risk Analysis 8 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 9 Profitability 9 Activity Ratios 12 Financing and Liquidity 13 CASH FLOW ANALYSIS 15 VALUATION 16 CONCLUSION 17 References 19 Appendix 20 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper analyzes LVMH group. Taking the recent developments and prospects in luxury goods industry as a starting point, the first part analyzed and compares LVMH with Hermes International and GUCCI, focusing in particular on performance which is analyzed through their activity, liquidity and financing and profitability position. The next part scrutinizes LVMH’s cash flow statement in order to evaluate its operating activities as well as the ability to cover its investments. The paper will conclude that LVMH presents a good investment alternative considering other companies in the same industry. Second, LVMH have a low risk given its solid financial structure and sufficient liquidity. Sales have grown at an average annual rate of 7.5% over the past five years driven by organic growth and acquisitions. MARKET REVIEW: APPAREL, ACCESSORIES & LUXURY GOODS INDUSTRIES Concetta Lanciaux, ex head of the Human Resources for LVMH...
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