Culture Vulture Issue 05 Luxury - TO VIEW

Luxury
CULTURE
VULTURE
Luxury
E DIT IO N 0 5
Inspiring original thinking through a

deeper understanding of cultural trends.
Introduction
Luxury
F
C ontents
The 10 Cultural Dynamics
Centre Stage
Layered Luxury
Playomatic
Screen Dreams
Connoisseurs of Craft
Less is More
Cherry Picking
Inclusive Exclusive
Pride & Provenance
The New Luxurians
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
Points of View
26
Categories
Fashion
Watches & Jewellery
Finance
Automotive
Beauty
Travel
Alcoholic Beverages
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
References
52
rom space tourism to jewelencrusted mineral water bottles,

we have seen a huge increase in
the sale of non-essential goods
and experiences, thanks to the
global rise in the numbers of wealthy and
the middle class. There were an estimated
330 million luxury consumers in 2013,
increasing by 10 million per year, spending
217bn, according to Bain & Co. Lens On
The Worldwide Luxury Consumer, January
2014. Derived from the Latin word luxus
meaning excess, today the concept of luxury
is constantly evolving and, as we shall see,
subjective. It is typically used to describe
products and defines an aesthetic but,
increasingly, it denotes an experience and
the availability of time.
The luxury market has, by its own admission,
been wary of the democratic free for all
nature of digital channels. In spite of this,
luxury brand sales online are up 28% 2013
vs. 2012, according to Bain & Co. Luxury
Goods Worldwide Study, and the increasing
number of affluent millenials will further drive
this trend. Nevertheless, discovering new
products in store and of course showrooming
are extremely important the tactile nature
and physical beauty of luxury products, along
with the contextual in-store environments
and the human touch of personal service, are
impossible to represent in the virtual world.
In order to understand how luxury might
evolve in this ever-changing environment,
we investigated Mindshares 10 Global
Trends and explored how these manifest
themselves in the different luxury categories.
This investigation developed 10 Cultural
Dynamics patterns in social behaviour and
attitudes that capture the prevailing spirit
of the times. These Cultural Dynamics can
help inspire communication ideas to deliver
a brand experience that indulges, enlightens
and influences consumers at all points of the
customer journey.
The report is divided into three sections
with contributions from experts, category
specialists and media owners.
2 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture
Cultural Dynamics
Luxury
These are the major Global
Consumer Trends that
Mindshare consider to be a
powerful influence on culture.
This is how we see the Global

Consumer Trends manifesting
themselves in luxury.
Global Trends
Cultural Dynamics
CO N SU M E R
TR E N DS
LUXU RY
DY N A M I C S
CT
ulture informs
media and media
drives culture. They
are intrinsically
linked together and
to understand the different areas
of our culture, the best way is to
look at trends.
Findings from Culture Vultures luxury dossier
have been drawn from a rigorous process
that integrates desk research, brainstorming
sessions and our Culture Vulture framework of
Global Consumer Trends (peoples reaction to
cultural influences and drivers).
Global Trend
MN ME NATION
PP
CENTRE STAGE
From anticipating demand
to offering platforms for
expression.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
LAYERED
LUXURY
Doing multiple things

at the same time.
Optimise time and enhance

experiences.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
POWER PLAY
PLAYOMATIC
The use of gaming system

and design in a non-gaming
context.
Challenge and reward

achievements. Add an
injection of humour.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
VISUALISATION
The look and feel of
everything is the most
important factor in
its quality.
SA
Cultural Dynamic
Individuals perception
that consumers are in the
centre of their universe and
everything should revolve
around them.
MM MAXIMISING
MOMENTS
Our study has identified 10 Cultural Dynamics

patterns in social behaviour and attitudes that
capture the prevailing spirit of the times that
are related to our global consumer trends and
reveal how luxury is perceived and experienced
around the world.
Each Consumer Trend has a

colour which is matched to its
relevant Cultural Dynamic.
This is the symbol for the

Consumer Trend which will
appear whenever the trend
is referenced.
SCREEN
DREAMS
Rich filmic experiences and
visually driven technologies.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
SEEKING
AUTHENTICITY
CONNOISSEURS
OF CRAFT
The desire to have a

transparent, genuine
experience while
maintaining privacy.
Stories celebrating
provenance and
craftsmanship.
Global Trend
SIMPLIFICATION
The desire to not
complicate life.
SN
NN
NC
Global Trend
SNACKING
Cultural Dynamic
LESS IS MORE
Streamlined lives and pared
down products.
Cultural Dynamic
CHERRY
PICKING
We now consume media in

the same way we consume
snacks. Curation plays a part
in the growing need to have
access to anything without
purchasing.
Edited information, access

over ownership and pop-up
everything.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
NEW
NETWORKING
INCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE
Communities dont have

to be based on location but
on shared interests. The
power of the community is at
an all-time high.
Redefine balance of power

with consumers.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
NATIONAL
CELEBRATION
PRIDE &
PROVENANCE
Being proud of where

you come from and
a desire to support
local people.
Exploring heritage and

celebrating local culture.
Global Trend
Cultural Dynamic
NWO NEW WORLD

ORDER
With new global economic
powers the world view
is shifting so ideas and
products can come
from anywhere.
THE NEW
LUXURIANS
Changing global
demographics and social
attitudes
Cultural Dynamics
MN
Luxury
ME NATION
C
centre
stage
From anticipating
demand to offering
platforms for expression.
entre Stage is particularly relevant

to the luxury consumer. Time poor
and cash rich people demand and
expect products and services which
are tailored to, or ideally, anticipate
their needs. The data powering their mobile
devices can help brands deliver the most hyperpersonalised experience. This trend is also
applicable to the behaviour of some, particularly
millennial consumers, who have the desire
to express themselves and their lifestyles to
others, often with their coveted purchases.
Holiday company, One&Only Resorts, built up
a profile of forthcoming guests from their social
media profiles so they can tailor everything for
their clients complete comfort including inroom entertainment. Apps such as those from
Ritz Carlton, W or Hilton Conrad Concierge
synchronise your breakfast for when you return
from your jog, or schedule your wake up call
when youre out at dinner. Push notifications
such as those on Google Now are based on GPS
and Gmail bookings to alert you to information
that may be useful such as flight delays or local
phrases when travelling your personal data is
enabling services to anticipate your needs before
you knew you even had them.
The fragrance and beauty sector are also tapping
into this trend: the DKNY Scent Finder Facebook
app aims to help consumers to choose the right
scent; Le Labo Fragrances are created specifically
for the customers personality. My DNA Fragrance
takes individuality to the extreme by analysing
your genetic make-up and matching it to your very
own scent.
Of course, personalised tailoring in couture and

high end fashion has always been identified with
traditional luxury brands Lapos Wardrobe in
Italy, a made-to-measure menswear collection
by Gucci, and Ferragamo both addressed a
slowdown in sales by offering made to order bags
and shoes for some Asian markets.
Real-time personal assistance is becoming
increasingly popular to help consumers navigate
through the multitude of choices. Luxury brands
in China have staff specifically assigned to help
with live enquiries on the popular IM WeChat
platform. PS Dept (Personal Shopper Department)
Ask The Experts Anything is a fashion styling
app where the shopper can send a request for
designer looks to representatives at a selection of
shops such as New Yorks Barneys and Bergdorf
Goodman; the stylists all respond with a variety of
recommendations, including availability of stock
and images, and then items can be bought or
reserved via the app. (See also Visualisation).
Millenial luxury consumers in particular have
embraced the desire to share and express
themselves via their social platforms. Giorgio
Armani used the video app, Videofyme for its
Frames of Life campaign, where users were
invited to upload their videos on to Twitter, which
were then treated with the special in-app Armani
filter.
Jimmy Choos 24:7 Stylemakers and Burberrys
Art of the Trench both celebrate the styles of
brand fans by inviting them to upload images
of themselves wearing their favourite brand
tagged with #choo247 for example others can
comment on or share their looks. Interestingly,
fans are displayed alongside celebrities, thereby
giving them equal status in the community of
advocates.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
Using insightful customer data, can your

brand deliver hyper-personalised added
value such as after-sales or conciergestyle services?
Digital platforms offer precise pinpoint

targeting and consumers will opt in to
share their profiles and personal data
in return for relevant, timely rewards
and messaging by, for example, Push
notifications.
Where relevant, offer a platform for
the brand fan community to share their
loyalty and love for your products, gaining
additional earned value.
Dont under-estimate the power of
personalised email and newsletters as
they are still relevant, particularly for
businesspeople. Ensure that the recipient
lands on a customised homepage to
further personalise their experience.
}
}
}
Cultural Dynamics
MM
Luxury
MAXIMISING
MOMENTS
F
Layered
luxury
Optimise time and
enhance experiences.
rom online to store, it is vital

to optimise luxury consumers
precious, available time and deliver
enhanced experiences at all their
touchpoints. Multi-screen activities
optimise time 82% (index 122) of our Global
Affluents[1] tend to use different media
devices simultaneously providing brands
the opportunity to engage audiences with
deeper and more meaningful experiences.
E-tailers are now providing editorial content
whilst publishers are offering e-commerce,
opening up new levels to the consumer
relationship. Additionally, weve observed
that as markets mature, experiences become
increasingly desirable and more highly
valued than material goods; leisure activities
such as holidays and entertainment are
premiumised and enhanced to varying levels
of exclusivity.
Second and synchronised screen activities
have been utilised to good effect by Jaguar. To
support the F-type TVC, viewers could use the
Shazam app on their mobile or tablet to get a
feel of what it was like to be behind the wheel,
rev up the engine and see a 360 degree view
of the interior and exterior of the car. Targeting
time-poor young achievers, Rolex partnered
with TED on their new tablet app by creating
a functionality Inspire Me, where users
could discover talks within a given topic and
timeframe. The average viewing time was an
impressive 24 minutes, clearly demonstrating
Global Affluents belief that knowledge is
power (94% agreed) [1].
Magtailing describes the increasing trend for
e-tailers such as Style.com and Net-A-Porter to
launch glossy publications, providing deeper
engagement and more touchpoints with their
shoppers. Cond Nasts recent purchase of
Farfetch reinforces this strategy. Meanwhile,
media owners are investigating ways in
which they can offer e-commerce without
compromising their editorial integrity.
Downtime in airports is optimised by Martell

for its Modern Elites campaign: interactive
portrait exhibitions, including photographs of
aspirational actors and film directors, were
displayed at Beijing and Shanghai airports.
People were invited to scan QR codes
accessing the brands WeChat page to obtain
audio descriptions of the men.
Everyday leisure activities are enhanced to
provide exclusive and premium experiences
cinema clubs such as Londons Secret Cinema
and Punchdrunks Sleep No More interactive
theatre in NYC both turn their audiences
into active participants. There is obviously
no shortage of Layered Luxury for global
gourmets. For example, FineDiningLovers,
created by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna,
sates the appetite of intrepid foodies, featuring
a restaurant at the end of a three-hour cliff
hike in Switzerland and one on the seabed in
the Maldives.
Although global department stores are set to
grow by over 22% over the next five years,
according to Verdict Retail (February 2014),
there are now fewer but bigger flagship stores
which offer immersive brand experiences.
Belstaff on Madison Avenue in NYC has an
English butler serving cream teas, whilst Louis
Vuitton stores in Shanghai stay open late into
the evening for time-pressured shopaholics.
Chanels Covent Garden London store offers
everything from a nail bar, beauty vending
machine and a flower stall.
In-store technology assists your shopping
experience in Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman
Marcus, by using tablets and multi-screen
displays. Burberrys products have RFIDs
attached which project catwalk images
and information of the products onto giant
screens. Audi offers virtual factory tours on
their site and interactive screens in their Audi
City showrooms, helping people get more
specifications on different models.
Apples micro-location receivers, iBeacons, are
being used in early adopter department stores
in the US to guide people to concessions

or special promotions, acting as a second
salesman. However, these could be used
in more diverse ways such as guiding to
restaurant reservations or treasure hunts.
Beyond the store, Chopard provides shoppers
with journey experiences from their base
in Gstaad, Switzerland, offering purchasers
dinner and accommodation, with a helicopter
trip to the factory for a behind the scenes tour.
[1] Global Affluents, from Mindshare proprietary study Mindreader 2013,
respondents aged 25-44 living in h/holds with above average income
e.g. US >$150k p.a.
So what does this

mean for brands?
Layered Luxury by design consider

providing multiple opportunities for your
consumer to engage with your brand
so that there are no dead ends in your
relationship with them.
Consider creating brand extensions,

which can either enable or enrich brand
experiences these could be locationbased experiences using mobile or
physical destinations.
Offer immersive shopping experiences

showcasing layers of your brand
personality, particularly in flagship
retail or using iBeacons to promote
concessions in department stores.
Consider an omni-screen campaign,

such as using Twitter tools or an app
like Shazam in conjunction with TVC or
digital video to increase engagement
and, in many cases, reach.
}
9
Cultural Dynamics
PP
POWER PLAY
T
P lay-o -matic
Challenge and reward
achievements. Add an injection
of humour.
his trend does not at first appear

to sit comfortably with some
luxury brands. Thanks largely
to touch screen technology, we
have seen the format of gaming
redefined and extended from consoles into
mobile, tablets, wearable accessories and
car dashboards. It has the potential to reinvigorate many businesses by applying
gaming dynamics or gamification to
drive consumer engagement, such as
challenges, achievements and rewards. We
have also seen Playomatic manifested in
the communications of brands wanting to
demonstrate their personality using humour.
Auto marques are naturally following this
trend, firstly with their marketing. For example,
Nissans Infiniti Q50 was launched with an
interactive film, Deja View on its website.
Viewers were invited to opt in by giving their
mobile number and the films characters would
seemingly call them to decide the next course
of their behaviour, using voice recognition
technology. Viewers could interact with the
three-chapter storyline, which could last up to
20 minutes. Various clues and Easter Eggs
were seeded on social platforms to reward and
inspire viewers interactions.
Secondly, auto brands are integrating gaming
technology into their designs or using it
for communications. The motion-sensing
capabilities of gaming devices such as
Kinect and PS4 enable aspirational owners
of superfast and luxury cars to experience
the vehicles in virtual test drives. Mercedes
showed off their concept car, MG Vision, in a
Gran Tourismo game, which could lead to a
scenario where gamers could book a test drive
or even purchase in-game.
Luxury
Apps for car dashboards were prevalent at
CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2014. For
example, Chevy is launching the Corvette
Stingray Performance Data Recorder, which will
record a video as you drive, as well as track
your speed and G-force. This is clearly aimed
at petrol-heads and motoring aficionados,
but this technology has the potential to help
new drivers too. Apples new CarPlay system
uses Siri for voice activated control of all your
infotainment whilst apps for in-car, mobile
or wearable tech, like Google Glass and
other HUDs (Heads Up Displays) are being
developed to help with everyday functionality
such as parking and traffic updates.
The fashion industry is often criticised for

taking itself too seriously. However, Creative
Director Alber Elbaz appeared in Lanvins
AW13 audio-visual campaign giving a comical
running commentary. Elbaz appears via
Skype as he wasnt able to attend the shoot.
Lanvins choice of using Elbaz highlights the
fact that much of the brands heritage comes
from its playful personality. More recently, with
an unashamedly witty nod to consumerism,
Chanel staged its AW 14 Paris show in a
custom-built supermarket, complete with aisles
stocked full of Chanel-labelled foodstuffs and
models pushing trolleys and carrying wire
shopping baskets.
Taking the auto and gaming relationship to its

extreme, Grid2: Mono Edition, is to date the
worlds most expensive videogame that even
comes with a real racing car. Priced at 125k,
the special edition package is issued by UKs
Briggs Automotive Company and comprises a
170 mph BAC Mono supercar, driver race wear,
a PS3, a day at the cars factory to customise
the vehicle, as well as the videogame itself, of
course.
In perhaps the most extreme demonstration

of playfulness, the airline Lufthansa staged a
competition offering one winner a new life in
Berlin, complete with apartment, bicycle and
German-language lessons, all on the condition
that the winner had to change their surname to
Klaus-Heidi.
The dominant story from CES 2014 was

wearable technology and how it can enhance
peoples lives. Life logging gadgets from
Samsung, Sony, Pebble, Meta, LG, Garmin,
Razer amongst others all seek to change
behaviour by facilitating goal setting and
reinforcement, making healthier choices
about diet, exercise and lifestyle. The keys to
success for these products are driving users
motivation by triggering personal rewards
and encouraging social connections where
they can share, comment and encourage
each other. For example, when linked with an
Android iPhone, the Sony SmartBand goes
beyond the pedometer functionality and
records location data, camera activity and
social media happenings in real time. Wearable
wristband smartphones, Android Wear and
Moto360 are new additions to this expanding
category, which is yet to prove itself beyond
early adopters. (See also Visualisation).
So what does this

mean for brands?
Meanwhile weve seen overt humour and

playfulness in the communications for some
luxury car brands. A TVC for Mercedes-Benz
showed a live chicken moving to music,
illustrating the stability of the cars Magic Body
Control feature. However, Jaguar retaliated by
mimicking the ad, with the chicken supposedly
eaten by a jaguar with the strapline We prefer
cat-like reflexes.
Consider the broader picture of

consumer behaviour and how creating
utilities can help them set goals, earn
rewards or inspire others.
Which media and brand partners can

fit with your brand and help to create
utilities, offering technological input and
consumer engagement?
Can you deepen consumer engagement

and create further differentiation by
using humour or gamification in your
communications?
Digital platforms can encourage

consumer interaction in your
communications ensure the level of
effort is commensurate with the reward.
}
11
Cultural Dynamics
VISUALISATION
D
Screen
dreams
Rich filmic experiences and

visually driven technologies.
riven by the proliferation of

screen technology and audio
visual platforms, this trend
is inherent across all luxury
categories. With the launch of
every collection or every new model, fashion
and auto brands are almost expected to
produce sumptuous short films with high
production values, featuring big name actors
and directors. Such content can deliver a
more expansive experience than a typical
30-second TVC, educating new markets to
the brand and creating deeper emotional
attachment. Visual recognition technology,
AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual
reality) are also driving this trend, being
used in everything from billboards in Japan
tailoring messaging to passers-by to fashion
styling apps.
The visual scrapbooking properties of sites
such as Tumblr and Pinterest allow users to
display their objects of desire boards and
pages themed Luxury showing aspirational
items particularly for homes, bedrooms and
bathrooms. Images have been curated by
being sifted, sought and re-posted, influencing
others desires and decisions. Social media
brands have also recognised the power of the
moving image, with the creation of Instavids,
Vine and Flipagram.
Jaguars film Desire for the F-type featured
Daniel Craig in the 13-minute length content
and was premiered, quite fittingly, at the
Sundance movie festival. Known as microfilms in Asia, Cartiers Destine mini-series,
featuring romance and marriage proposals,
was shown on Chinas Youku, whilst whisky
brands Johnnie Walker and Chivas have
both run mini-series. Salvatore Ferragamo
also created a 21-minute film which was also
edited into an 8-part mini-series, Walking
Stories shot in LA, Florence and Shanghai,
featuring star actress Kaya Scodelario (see
also Snacking).
Luxury
Shoe company, Stuart Weitzman, worked with
Kate Moss to co-host its store launch and
feature in its Made for Walking short film.
Viewers were encouraged to upload images
and videos of themselves to Instagram using
#madeforwalking, with weekly prizes for
the most stylish. In somewhat of a contrast,
Diesels creative director, Nicola Formichetti,
worked with photographer Nick Knight on the
#DieselTribute campaign and in typical antiestablishment style, used only an iPhone to
shoot the whole campaign. The images and
videos were treated with the glitching and
filtering capabilities of apps translating the
language of social media into a new visual
concept. Diesel acts as a stage creating
icons from fashion, arts, music and design
communities, often discovering their future
models from their Tumblr pages. Some have
been further celebrated in immersive portrait
exhibitions such as the one held at Galeries
Lafayette, Paris.
The long awaited Google Glass officially
launches to consumers this year, having
partnered with Luxottica to produce designer
frames from Ray Ban and Oakley. Its uses
are expected to be far-reaching with one
glassware company, Emotient, having
developed an app able to read a range of
peoples reactions from joy to anger, even
frustration and confusion. Originally aimed at
the retailer, to judge a customers reactions to
products, one cant help but wonder how this
might be otherwise deployed! Golfers have
lauded Glass as the perfect accompaniment
to their game, particularly when partnered
with an app such as GolfSight which gives
exact location and distances of thousands of
greens. Oakleys GPS enabled ski goggles,
Airwave, offer real time performance analytics,
navigational information and the ability to
locate others on the mountain.
A number of fashion apps are driving the
Screen Dreams dynamic. Snap Fashion and
ASAP54 invite users to upload images of
clothes they want, and using visuals rather
than keywords, aims to source the items or,
with the help of human stylists, suggest similar
alternatives. The Billionaire Shop is using facial
recognition technology in a competition to win
a Lamborghini Aventador to prove how much
entrants want the car, they have to upload a
picture of themselves making a wish.
Since Facebooks purchase of Oculus Rift,

Virtual Reality is set to broaden from its gaming
status to a wider number of applications, such
as shopping and socialising, and has already
been used by high street retailer, Topshop, for
a virtual catwalk experience. Meanwhile, the
beauty sector has utilised augmented reality
in its communications. For example, Shiseidos
Magic Mirror creates an accurate image of your
face and then maps different cosmetics on it.
For the launch of Pleats Please, Issey Miyakes
perfume in Paris, users could post messages
of joy to their friends and lovers onto the
brand platform, giving a particular location
they were then seen at the locations by the
recipients using their mobile or tablet.
When Audis Twitter following reached one
million, the brand visualised the community
by recreating a 3D model of R8 V10 with one
million spheres each reacting in real-time
to activity on the web. Titled One Million
Reasons, the graphic showed all the users
Tweets and offered a chance for 16 of the fans
to win a drive in the super-fast car.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
}
}
}
Consider unique partnerships in both

product design and marketing that provide
innovations and, importantly, ongoing
support.
Use real-time contextual micro-targeting of

different visuals for different audiences by
learning which type of imagery appeals to
which user.
Consider the role of different platforms
and the different behaviours they tend to
generate in order to deliver appropriate
communications.
Protect your brands visual content and the

environment in which it appears by buying
premium content via trading desks; Cond
Nast have entered into a DSP (Demand
Side Platform or programmatic) deal with
Google giving guaranteed quality along
with data and value.
}
13
Cultural Dynamics
SA
Luxury
SEEKING
AUTHENTICITY
n a consumer world of mass

production and now domestic 3D
printers, discerning shoppers want to
know the provenance of and celebrate
beautifully crafted products. In the
search for luxury, 3/4 of our Global Affluent
audiences are always looking for different
cultural experiences and influences that will
broaden my horizons (index 124). Respected
brands have engaging stories to tell, firstly
about the heritage of their products, offering
connoisseurs valuable knowledge, but also
on their ethical, philanthropic or socially
responsible values.
C on Noisseurs
of craft
Stories celebrating provenance
and craftsmanship.
Luxury brands are synonymous with the worlds

of arts and culture, often communicating with
their audiences in the same language. In Tier
1 Chinese cities and Hong Kong, Dior, Chanel
and LV have all created travelling exhibitions
showcasing their products alongside works
of art, either specially commissioned or in the
case of Culture Chanel, a series of Picassos
paintings, giving visitors the rich cultural
context behind the labels.
As a demonstration of its support for emerging
talent in the arts, Rolex runs the Mentor
and Protg Arts Initiative, whereby new
talent in the worlds of architecture, music,
theatre, dance and visual arts are mentored
by celebrated specialists in their field. This
initiative not only demonstrates the brands
philanthropic character but it also provides
high quality, shareable content.
LVMHs Journes Particulires offers
immersive brand experiences inviting brand
fans to visit artisan workshops and see
goods being made. Chanels Paraffection
(for love) combines 11 ateliers including
couture embroiderers, a feather specialist
and a cashmere mill in Scotland, thereby
safeguarding crafts and skills handed down
through generations. The Paraffection work is
celebrated in the Mtiers dArt collection every
December.
Part of the experience of owning a Rolls Royce

Phantom is the customisation that is available.
To celebrate its hand-manufacturing, the
company hosted an exclusive lavish dinner
party for 100 customers to dine on the line
a specially decorated dining room set in the
assembly room of the factory. Guests were
introduced to both the cars management and
craftsmen behind the vehicles.
Tiffany & Co recognises that their customers
want to be re-assured about the accountability
and traceability of their diamonds. The
company belongs to an international cooperative, working with governments and
mining industries, which aims to eliminate
conflict diamonds. Honest by claims to be
the first transparent fashion company from
former Hugo Boss art director Bruno Pieters.
Information on the provenance of the limited
edition clothing is given to consumers as are,
more surprisingly, the wholesale costs of all
the materials. In March 2013, Gucci introduced
the worlds first Zero Deforestation luxury
leather handbag collection. Each bag comes
with a passport detailing the source of the
leather.
Taking the idea of products with stories one
step further, Hiut Jeans come with a History
Tag. Jeans are individually numbered and
wearers can upload their own imagery and
commentary to the brands blog about where
they went and what they did in their jeans.
Hiut is also known for reviving an ailing
manufacturing industry in its hometown in
Wales, giving additional kudos to its CSR
(Corporate Social Responsibility) credentials.
Of course, authenticity usually comes with
exclusivity but it does not have to come
with a hefty price tag. Ichizawa Hanpu is a
handmade bag manufacturer in Kyoto and
a canvas tote bag, for example, is $40. The
bag-makers apprentice for 15 years and they
cut the fabric for each unique product without
using patterns. Importantly, the bags are only
sold from their one store in Japan and are not
available online, as the company would like
customers to take the time to choose their
favourite item first hand.
Fake merchandise is an issue in many

markets and in attempt to address this, online
marketplace Tmall in China, part of Alibaba and
Taobao, promotes itself as a brand mall where
products are verified and fakes prohibited
Louis Vuitton and Alexander McQueen both
sell accessories on the site.
We see the rise in a desire for education
and the increase in masterclasses as driving
Connoisseurs of Craft, as nearly all the Global
Affluents[1] (94%) believe that knowledge is
power; the knowledge may be as specialised
as having an opinion on a fine wine to knowing
where to buy that unique bag.
e.g. US >$150k p.a.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
}
}
Balance both long term brand building

with short term or real time opportunities,
thereby appealing to loyal and new fans.
What valuable connoisseurship can you
offer your consumers, from exclusive
visits to the manufacturer, information
on materials or the makers to offering
masterclasses?
What are the interesting background

stories to tell about your product? These
stories can be told using a variety of
channels at all stages of the customer
journey including post-purchase when
your brand advocates contribute to
earned media.
Can the consumer add their own

personalised story to the product itself
or its journey, adding further advocacy to
your brand? This could be via a carefully
monitored and curated social platform.
}
}
15
Cultural Dynamics
Luxury
SIMPLIFICATION
B
less is
more
Streamlined
lives and pared
down products.
usy professionals crave products

or services that can simplify or
streamline their lives; many feel
the need to completely switch
off and escape. Data-fuelled
technology can reduce the time everyday
tasks may take such as payments, whilst
there is a diverse range of labour-saving
personal services on offer from editing your
wardrobe to organising your paperwork.
Meanwhile, as markets have matured and
some suffered economic downturn, some
consumers are turning away from overt to
more discreet branding less show more in
the know.
Mobile apps provide shortcuts offering that
essential information when and where you need
it, whether its learning a new language such as
Duolingo, keeping up with business news and
associates through LinkedIn Pulse or aggregating
web pages for reading offline using Pocket (see
also Snacking).
Etailers may be encouraging shopping online,
but spending in bricks and mortar outlets is also
becoming simpler. Mobile payment apps such as
the Square and LevelUp aggregate all your credit,
debit cards and loyalty cards. PayPal has been
piloting an image recognition function based
on users photographic ID and, more recently, is
setting up bluetooth beacons in stores which can
provide information and take payments. Working
with Mastercard and Visa, Google Wallet and Isis
use NFC (Near Field Communications) available
on some mobile handsets. The salesperson
can accept payment anywhere in store and the
customer is enabled to shop without their wallet
or, using beacons, without the salesperson. Of
course, for some luxury brands this might remove
the all-important expected personal sales service.
NFC is even being used in wearable technology

designs such as rings, allowing the user to unlock
phones, pass on personal data to retailers and
so on, presenting potential opportunities for
accessory brands. Fingerprint recognition is used
on devices like the iPhone 5s, and wristband Nymi
uses biometrics to do everything from unlocking
your car, devices, and of course, make cashless
payments (see also Power Play). In the US,
American Express has teamed up with Twitter, so
by using a specific partner brands hashtag, credit
card holders can earn discounts and offers.
long before GPS enabled deliveries pinpointing

recipients exact whereabouts will be a reality.
Whilst megacities are ever increasing in size
and pace, luxury has come to mean escaping for
many switching off, relaxing and indulging in
downtime whether its a treatment at Aurigas
Capella Pedregal resort in Mexico, which offers
lunar treatments based on the four cycles of the
moon, or staying at eco-resort Elqui Domos in
Chile where you sleep under the stars and learn
about astronomy.
The No Noise project at Londons Selfridges

created contemplative spaces to shop, removed
logos from products such Crme de la Mer, Acne
and Levis, and a Silence Room offered a space
for meditation and escape from the hubbub of the
store.
Second generation consumers of luxury and
premium goods from markets such as Tier 1 cities
in China and India are rejecting some of the wellknown logos of their parents generation. They
tend to seek out either more niche brands, such
as Bottega Veneta and Celine, or less overtly
branded products. To address this, LVMH has
launched a range of un-monogrammed goods.
(See also New World Order).
From high end concierge services like
Quintessentially, more mainstream personal
services have emerged to look after timepressured professionals, appearing ready to take
the stress out of domestic life. TaskRabbit, Ask for
Task and Taskhero offer services from collecting
dry cleaning, walking the dog and fixing your
computer.
With the burgeoning rise in the number of
purchases made online, courier companies will
offer increasingly personalised and competitive
services. Users of UPSs My Choice premium
service can set their delivery preferences, receive
delivery alerts via text, and authorise shipment
via their phone. Amazon has already tested drone
deliveries, originally as a PR-stunt, but it wont be
So what does this

mean for brands?
Can your brand simplify customers lives,

helping them to make decisions quicker and
easier, such as providing ease of access
and streamlined transactions together with
a first class service.
Are there instances where minimal/no

branding may be preferable e.g. goods and
their packaging sold via e-commerce where
customers dont want overtly branded
goods arriving at workplace or home?
{
{
}
}
Can you anticipate the needs of your

customers to make their lives run more
smoothly or comfortably such as hotels
providing pick-up from the airport, offer
relaxation spaces for partners in busy
flagships? Can your brand extend its offer
into personal services in customers lives?
Consider how associations with nature or
the environment could deliver downtime or
relaxing experiences.
}
}
17
Cultural Dynamics
SN
Luxury
SNACKING
che r r y
picking
onsuming information and

entertainment in bite size pieces
suits time-poor people on the
move. Microblogging platforms
like Sinaweibo and Twitter
have taken over as primary information
sources, whilst personalised publications
like Flipboard and Facebooks Paper
are becoming the new newspapers. The
economy has also driven this trend: Cherry
Picking provides an entry level for some and
is evident in consumers desire for access
over ownership, renting or the chance to
sample expensive items. Meanwhile some
businesses are creating pop-ups, not only
taking advantage of the low rents on empty
venues, but also testing new markets.
In contrast to 140 characters, Medium, backed
by Twitters Biz Stone, encourages bloggers
and readers to share more meaningful bites
of content, combining lengthier posts with the
community of a social network. Importantly, each
post title is given an estimated read/viewing
time to give users a guide to their snacking of
information.
Edited information,
access over ownership and
pop-up everything.
Acknowledging the importance of on-demand

content, Rolex partnered with Monocle online
radio and iPhone app by creating a new utility in
the form of a timeshift function that allows users
to pan back to pre-recorded pieces of broadcast
content. Alongside this branded function is a
sponsored programme called Top of the Hour
bringing in the latest news.
Gucci created Pinterest enabled banner ads, so

users could pin the items from the ad directly
to their boards and beauty brand, NARS, tested
selling via Pinterest by working with popular
design Pinners, providing exclusive access to a
new line of lip pencils. In the future, brands will be
able to target more precisely on Tumblr, using the
new sponsored units.
women-only members club at the Caf Royal

hotel in Londons Piccadilly. Members could
purchase items in a pop-up boutique, watch short
films and take part in talks about womens role
in society (see New World Order). Independent
furniture designers in Shanghai are showing their
designs in Shanghais South Bund area, under the
Strictly Designers United umbrella.
Cherry Picking is a key dynamic of consumers

behaviour across all the luxury categories. As
weve seen, luxury means different things to
different people and for many people splashing
out and rewarding oneself with non-essential
items is important, from buying a sports car,
to having a spa treatment or even a premium
range chocolate fondant. Within fashion, the
collaborations of mainstream brands with
designers are extremely successful, giving the
designer access to new audiences and vice
versa. H&M has famously partnered with Isabel
Marant, Karl Lagerfeld and Versace to name but
a few; Stella McCartney and Raf Simons design
collections for adidas.
Sampling luxury-style is perfectly suited to a

well-positioned vending machine: examples
include one dispensing mini Mot & Chandon
bottles in Selfridges, a machine at Hudson hotel,
NYC, dispensing gold handcuffs and a Paul Smith
designer toothbrush, or U*tique machines selling
Lancme and Smashbox beauty products and
cosmetics.
Rent The Runway is a US-based website that

enables consumers to rent designer fashion and
accessories. Designer Vera Wang is introducing a
gown rental service as she begins her expansion
into Asia. There is a whole raft of websites selling
pre-loved designer and Vintage clothing such
as ASOS-owned Covetique and Vaunte, where
shoppers can also contribute to good causes
whilst purchasing. Its obviously important for
brands to monitor the popularity of their labels
on these third party channels - while they may
represent a threat - with careful positioning they
may present future opportunities for new markets.
Pop-up is an enduring trend, particularly
restaurants and supper clubs a literal
manifestation of Snacking. Parisien store,
Collette, created a pop-up drive-through during
Miamis Art Basel event featuring kiosks selling
Andy Warhol prints and Damien Hirst T-shirts. As
a thankyou to their loyal Facebook fans, Marc
Jacobs Daisy perfume opened a pop-up in New
York over fashion week visitors were rewarded
with free gifts for posting photos and messages
with #MJDaisyChain. Miu Miu created a temporary
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
Consider creating utilities which

improve users access to content,
particularly when theyre busy or on the
move.
The content is consumed in bite sizes
so think about the different platforms,
suitable time lengths, formats,
continuity, etc.
Can your brand reach out to new
consumers by sampling in innovative
ways such as vending machines,
smaller size units or creating popups? Work with key influencers to help
promote these via their own social
networks.
Consider brand partnerships which
can produce a symbiotic relationship,
introducing your brand to new
markets, both demographically and
geographically.
}
}
}
}
19
Cultural Dynamics
NN
Shop The Hangout where Google+ users could

interview the designer live. Viewers could also
explore a tab beside the video featuring products
from her DVF label and could click through
Google Shopping Shortlists to see other curated
fashion items. Users could shop the looks and
buy directly from the DVF website or save them
to their own Shopping Shortlist under categories
such as Products I want.
NEW
NETWORKING
igital connectivity has not

only democratised access
and information but also
encouraged commerce
and entrepreneurship. The
new networks have fuelled the rise of
small businesses and start-ups through
crowdfunding. The relationship between
brands and consumers has changed and
the balance of power redefined. Inclusive
Exclusive provides opportunities for brands
to harness the power of communities and
remunerate collaboration, converting
advocates into affiliates.
I n clusive
exclusive
Redefine balance of power
with consumers.
Luxury
The affiliate model has long been the revenue

driver for bloggers, particularly those from
the fashion community, where products
are promoted via their editorial and feeds.
Now there are a number of e-tailers such as
Fancy and the more mainstream StyleOwner,
which encourage regular users to share and
recommend products through their social
networks and gain either discounts on
purchase or financial commission. Although
70% of the Pinterest community drive brand
engagement, the site has recently announced
that Pinners cannot be paid directly by brands.
However, individuals can create a board on
behalf of brands and then receive commission
from affiliate Pinterest partners when his/her
pins lead to sales.
Google Hangouts have introduced a TV-style
shopping experience to its social network,
blending social video with shopping tools to
deepen the communitys engagement. The
designer, Diane von Furstenberg, launched
The inclusive attributes of crowdfunding have

enabled entrepreneurs to launch their products
without the need for bank loans, and enabled
investors to back interesting nascent projects
with the possibility of a return on their investment.
UKs Crowdcube, the Nordics Fundedbyme,
Germanys new Dreamojo and French fashion
platform I Am La Mode all offer potential new
businesses access to potential investors in return
for equity. Martin Kastner of Crucial Design
raised over $736k on the US based Kickstarter
to launch his product Porthole, an infuser for
making cocktails, which now retails at $100. His
vision had captivated the community his target
was to raise only $28.5k. Pebble Watch was also
backed by a hefty $10m crowdfunding campaign
on Kickstarter.
Exclusive and VIP networking are still paramount
for the elite, bringing them together with their
shared passions and interests. The Johnnie
Walker House in Shanghai is an embassy for
whisky culture that involves, educates and
inspires its influential guests according to
Diageo. Accessible by invitation only, guests
are encouraged to use the location for upscale
networking. The house features interiors made
from a range of materials used in the whiskymaking process and visitors are also able to
purchase a limited edition blend at 1,300 a
bottle.
Launched on the eve of the World Economic
Forum in Davos 09, The Wine Forums members
have to be both world leaders and philanthropists,
as well as consumers and collectors of wines.
Whilst experiencing money-cant-buy gastronomy
and drinking vintage Krug, Cheval Blanc and
Yquem, the selected members are bound
together by their status and shared love of
viniculture. The White Club and Claret Club are
similar such communities which typically attract
CEOs entertaining clients.
Social networks for HNWIs (High Net Worth
Individuals) such as ELEQT, the social network of
Concierge Club Quintessially, and Swedish-based
Best of all Worlds, pride themselves on vetting
their new members who have to be invited by

the existing communities. The idea is that their
networks are able to meet like-minded affluent
people from around the globe and engage with
their favourite brands, charities and hotspots.
Premium travel companies are exponents of
Inclusive Exclusive. Voyage Priv is a membersonly travel club where you have to be invited
by a friend or by the site, giving its clients an
aspirational taste of exclusivity. KLM have created
a Meet & Seat initiative for business travellers;
by sharing their LinkedIn or Facebook profiles,
passengers will be given the opportunity to be
seated next to suitable fellow passengers for
networking opportunities whilst in the air.
In the wake of revelations in the US and UK on
how peoples networking data is made available
to government, it is worth noting that people
will increasingly seek out services or networks
which protect their personal data and secure
opt-in access, for example, Silent Circle claims to
be the worlds first encrypted mobile, video and
voice service. It works with Vertu and Android
to encrypt users contact lists to prevent Google
accessing data.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
Consider a value exchange between your

brand and community, building affiliate
relationships with influential bloggers, sites
and users who can work as advocates. This
attracts new consumers whilst rewarding
the loyal fans.
Crowdfunding sites can offer new business

opportunities for entrepreneurial brands
discovering innovation, NPD and emerging
talent.
}
}
}
Encourage long term loyalty from your

customers by exploring exclusive rewards,
concierge style services and enabling them
to share their positive brand experiences.
Be aware of who your real buying
customers are whilst maintaining a strong
relationship with your key influencers, who
may be different.
21
Cultural Dynamics
NC
NATIONAL
CELEBRATION
s seen in Seeking Authenticity,

luxury shoppers demand to
know as much as possible about
their brands provenance and
its no surprise that 77% Global
Affluents[1] love brands and products that
have a heritage (index 136), particularly
those living in Europe and Asia. On the
one hand consumers repertoire consists of
global brands, yet on the other, there is an
increasing desire to celebrate the nationality
of their cherished products manufacture.
Luxury consumers embark on pilgrimages
to the birthplaces of their prized Swiss
watch or French handbag; local communities
support their local cultures and traditions.
P ride &
provenance
Exploring heritage and
celebrating local culture.
Recognising the value of tourist shoppers,

Dubai Taxi Corp has trained drivers to give
tourists local information, displaying their
apparent pride in their city. Attracted by
tax incentives and a weak euro, Chinese
tourists are the biggest overseas spenders,
making 60% of their purchase overseas
and by 2015 their spending will exceed all
luxury sales (source: Bain & Co). However,
this hasnt stopped a new breed of luxury
brands launching from emerging markets. For
example, Herms-owned Shang Xia produces
ready-to-wear clothing, homeware and
furniture, celebrating Chinese traditions but in
a contemporary style it has opened its first
flagship store in Paris. The Qatar Luxury Group
advocates the development of traditional
local knowledge and design. Interestingly,
Bosideng, regarded as a mass market brand
in its native China, has launched an upmarket
menswear store in London costing 30m and
is expanding with further store launches and
acquisitions.
Regardless of national heritage, the consistency
of luxury brands on the world stage is vitally
important. Chanels travelling exhibition Little
Black Jacket for example, visited the diversely
different cities of Seoul, Dubai, London and
Sydney amongst others and the show was given
native flavour by featuring portraits by local
photographers and featuring local talent.
Luxury
Launched in 2010 across US and now the UK,

American Express Small Business Saturday
was set up to help the credit cards local,
independently-owned businesses on the busiest
shopping day of the year (typically the first
Saturday in December). In 2013, their customers
spent an estimated $5.7 billion in the US[2].
American Express also provides personalised
marketing materials on their site, together
with support on Facebook and Twitter under
#shopsmall in the US.
Designer outlet villages have become a growing
global Snacking trend with 10 sites from the
company Value Retail. However, McArthurGlen
embodies National Celebration in its international
network of 21 villages, which have become visitor
attractions in their own right their aim is to select
the best local food and drink from its locations,
whilst offering international brands for bargain
hunters. Localism is supported by the growth
in online curation and consumers appetites for
discovery; fashion sites such as Farfetch offer
smaller independent brands access to a global
marketplace.
In order to cater for tastes and satisfy demand
from emerging markets, Mot Hennessy launched
a pair of fizzy wines made in India, Chandon
Brut and Rose. Hennessy will also launch its first
Chinese-grown wine in 2014. Meanwhile, both
markets are improving home grown brands in
India, the well-known Sula and Fratelli vineyards
also offers resort stays; the Chinese are now the
worlds biggest consumers of red wine (IWSR
survey by Vinexpo) and are employing the skills
of wine experts from Europe to improve their
vintages.
Shifting global dynamics are challenging the
long held assumptions about the importance
of national identity. It is worth noting that
quintessentially RTW collections from British
designers like Alexander McQueen and
Stella McCartney are made in Italy and rest of
Europe. The design codes are British but the
craftsmanship is from elsewhere. Antoine Beige,
head of consumer brands and retail equity group
research at HSBC, predicts that many Asian
countries will start to rediscover and leverage
their artisan skills and manufacturing capabilities
to develop their own luxury brands.
Some examples of these emerging businesses

are already in evidence. Pernias Pop-Up Shop
in India is an e-commerce portal selling clothing
store designed by Indias most renowned fashion
designers. Fighting off competition from LVMH
and Kering, luxury Brazilian sports brand Osklen
sold a 30% stake to SP Alpargatas the company
who made Havaianas the first Brazilian brand to
go global. Another Brazilian fashion shoe brand,
Melissa, has successfully partnered with Vivienne
Westwood, selling millions of her rubber shoes
across the globe.
e.g. US >$150k p.a.
[2] Based on the First and Second Annual Small Business Saturday
Consumer Insights Surveys of consumers who reported shopping
at small independently-owned retailers and restaurants on Small
Business Saturday. Conducted by Redshift Research on behalf of NFIB
and American Express.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
Consider that your consumers may want to

learn about the provenance and national
heritage of your products through your
communications.
Target global luxury consumers by
being consistent in every market whilst
addressing local nuances where possible.
Can you support and partner with likeminded local small businesses to create
PR-able events and stories for example,
authentically associate with local cultural
holidays/events using geo-targeting where
possible?
Target shopping pilgrims and
communicate before and during their
journeys e.g. making travel arrangements,
airport media, etc. and if relevant think
about the need for multi-lingual approach.
}
}
}
}
23
Cultural Dynamics
NWO NEW WORLD
ORDER
According to Mindreader, 75% of 18-24 year

olds in BRIC markets use their smartphones
regularly and, increasingly, younger affluents are
not only researching via mobile or tablets, they
are shopping on them. Mobile communication
strategies are therefore essential for reaching
luxury millennials, particularly in emerging
markets.
THE NEW
Luxurians
Changing global
demographics and social
attitudes.
Luxury
hanging global demographics

and evolving social attitudes
are producing new markets and
new opportunities for brands.
Millennials will become the most
important consumer market for luxury from
2018, especially from emerging markets,
and their total global spending power has
already reached $200bn (Kelton Research/
Unity Marketing). Increasing liberalism in
some markets at least - to same sex couples
and the growing numbers of professional
women are also breaking the traditional
stereotypes. Meanwhile, some advanced
markets are entering a phase of guilt-free
consumerism, partly driven by the economic
downturn and also driven by ethical or
philanthropic concerns.
Indian and Chinese luxury Millennials have

never seen hard times, only growth. They think
there are only going to be good times in life
so they are primed for spending according to
Radha Chadha, co-author of The Cultof the
Luxury Brand. We have seen in Less is More
however that sophisticated shoppers in these
markets are interested in less overt branding
there is even a Chinese term for the nouveau
riche with too much brand badging or bling,
namely tuhao.
In lower tier cities, young luxury consumers are
looking for entry level products and affordable
luxury such as branded accessories, sunglasses,
beauty products and perfumes Coach and
Loewe have both launched ranges including
lower priced accessories for Asian markets.
According to American Express Frances VicePresident, Armand de Milleville, these consumers
are not particularly brand loyal and they typically
experience luxury brands through online
channels.
Those markets that have recently experienced

a recession are moving towards less
ostentatiousness and less overt branding.
For example, Ralph Lauren has launched its
unbranded Purple and Black ranges; the pared
down designs of Common Projects and Berluti are
both hand-made footwear brands from Italy.
The term womenomics describes the increasing
numbers of educated and affluent women
who are contributing to the New World Order,
particularly in emerging markets where they are
gradually getting higher paid careers. The Four
Seasons have addressed this with the creation of
women-only clubs in Cairo and Riyadh. Self-gifting
by professional women for items such as watches
and jewellery has increased particularly in
Taiwan and China. In the US, women will become
controllers of 2/3 of consumer wealth over the
next decade (source: FleishmanHillard).
Remarriage is acknowledged and celebrated in
an Indian TVC for jewellery brand Tanishq; its the
first campaign of its kind in the country and shows
a woman with her young daughter at the wedding
celebration to her second husband.
Economist Jim ONeill, who coined the wellknown BRIC acronym, has highlighted new
market hotspots as Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria
and Turkey, or MINT. Due to their rapid economic
and demographic growth, many brands are
focusing their attention on these countries.
Recently, Prada announced it would open 260
new stores over the next three years, focusing on
cities in emerging economies including Istanbul,
but also other new markets such as Beirut and
Casablanca.
Guilt free products, particularly evident in
advanced luxury markets, address the desire to
consume whilst satisfying ethical or environmental
concerns. Two thirds of our Global Affluents[1]
have stopped buying a product because the
company acts unethically (index 128). Examples
come from a range of categories: the award-
winning Tesla Model S electric hatchback car will

be sold globally in 2014, challenging the likes of
the Toyota Prius; Saught is a range of jewellery
made from Cambodian landmine materials whilst
Veuve Cliquot has a range of biodegradable
isothermal packaging. Meanwhile, in anticipation
of the World Cup and influx of affluent tourists,
Brazilian architect, Helio Pellegrino, built a
sustainable luxury hotel with reclaimed materials
on top of the Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro,
employing construction workers from the favela
itself. Even Formula 1 has gone green with more
energy and fuel-efficient engines, which are also,
to the horror of many, significantly quieter.
[1] Global Affluents, from Mindshare proprietary study Mindreader
2013, respondents aged 25-44 living in h/holds with above average
income e.g. US >$150k p.a.
So what does this

mean for brands?
{
{
{
{
Opportunity to grow your market by

prospecting the emerging luxury shopper
by, for example, supporting academia,
providing scholarships and sponsoring
future talent.
As more consumers have growing
concerns about CSR and ethics, ensure
your company addresses these and
provides information on your policies.
Remember not to stereotype emerging
consumers or markets, take time to
understand their specific needs and
welcome less traditional audiences to
your brand.
Mobile and m-commerce are crucial
for targeting both luxury millenials and
emerging markets. Ensure to include
a mobile communications strategy
incorporating the local social platforms,
designed for different smartphone and
tablet formats (NB the content may differ
from your online campaign).
}
}
}
}
25
Points of View
Luxury
point s
of view
27
Points of View
Dylan jones
Editor GQ Magazine
PHOTO CREDIT: RICHARD YOUNG/REX FEATURES
what i s your definition of luxury ?
I think the definition of luxury becomes more

complicated as time goes on. Since the recession
everyone has tried to grab a little bit of luxury, a
little bit of provenance, claiming theyre probably
older than they are, maximising their heritage. I
think real luxury is, these days, about having real
confidence in what you do. It doesnt necessarily
have to be expensive. For instance, if you look
at the tie up between H&M and Versace which
previously would have been looked upon like an
odd thing to do two ends of the market meeting
like that, it possibly looked expedient it actually
created something thats new, original, quite fresh.
Something like that can be considered luxury in
the same way that a Herms bag can.
what part do luxury brand s play in
culture ?
I think luxury brands can contribute a lot.

However, they have to be real luxury. Luxury has
become a prefix in the same way that designer
was a prefix in the 80s, or bespoke has become
a prefix. Its really easy to stick the word luxury
in front of anything and it could be soap, lavatory
paper, mineral water or whatever. Real luxury is
very very particular and it is also something that
shouldnt be banded about too much. Its been a
much abused word.
W hat are the media trend s ?
The real issue with luxury and the media at the

moment is that the relationships are becoming
more specific because there are less luxury media
brands around. I think there is a rush to the free
market. If you look at the new digital model, and

the idea is to give everything away for free. But
if youre giving something away for free, it has
no worth. We make a point at GQ of charging for
everything we do, so if you want our product you
pay for it. I think media, particularly newspapers
and magazines, are too keen to give things away
for free. I think a lot of brands are also rushing into
e-commerce because theyre getting scared, and
a lot of brands are looking at the way that digital
is contracting and changing the marketplace and
looking at the way that the digital revolution has
overtaken the media world, and its scared them.
What were doing is staying true to our principles,
occupying the top end of the market and charging
for what we do. We consider ourselves to be a
luxury brand because of that.
What is it like working on the tablet
format of G Q?
We took a long time designing our tablet app,

there was a lot of R&D involved, a lot of money
and time. We certainly werent early but we
launched nearly three years ago and its now 15%
of our business. Were about to go into the mobile
market were launching our iPhone app in May.
We spent nearly two years developing that, a lot
of work and money, and by the time it launches
its going to be really good. In some respects
weve been slightly behind the curve because we
havent rushed to get into the market, but actually
all of that research, time and effort has proved to
be incredibly beneficial, and the mobile phone
app will contribute to our bottom line. Initially it
will be on iPhone but then it will be on Android,
and for every platform thats ever been invented,
well have a product!
Luxury
JUAN MArtin Qui onero

Commercial Director, Jaguar/Land Rover, Spain
what does luxury mean to you?
Luxury for me is everything that has substance,

design, aesthetics. They are experiences that
can transmit sensations that can be extremely
exclusive, outside the conventional it is a
superior experience with a superior price.
W hat are the biggest challenges /
biggest opportunitie s?
When the product or luxury experience starts

democratising it loses its luxury essence
and exclusivity, its own reason of being.
New communities started to be part of these
experiences and depending on their profiles, it
will be more of an opportunity than a challenge.
Are there partnerships that youd
like to explore?
Partnerships based on new models of R&D

with tech companies would be interesting (for
example Apple), or companies focused on new
experiences or services (for example Virgin).
Apple products would offer a unique experience
of having not only the mobile device but the
experience of having your music, communicate
via videos, the tactile sensations with great quality
- all these sensorial experiences are part of a
luxury that you never had before.
With Virgin it is the experience of luxury flights

- if there are delays, they make sure to keep
passenger entertained while waiting.
Traditionally luxury is in the domain of people
above 50 with more purchase power. I believe
the opportunities are in understanding that for
these communities, groups aged 35-45, luxury
is generally not a status symbol and not well
regarded.
What partnership would you love to

do with a luxury brand?
The most important relationship that brands

can have with media is about creating bespoke
products. We do a lot of supplements, events and
bespoke packages but theyre all done with the
editorial team. I think its too easy to fritter money
away on promotions and advertorials because
theyre usually produced by people who arent
quite good enough to get into editorial. All our
projects are produced by the editorial team and
are very good. We try to create products which
can be owned by us and the sponsor, whether
were working in fashion, politics or motoring
whatever were doing, were trying to create a
product that can be wholly owned by both of us
with incredibly high production values.
29
Points of View
Dodo Yeung
Publishing General Manager, Hearst Magazines China
W hat s your definition of luxury ?
Luxury is quite intangible and, for me, its not

just an object. We have many opportunities to
meet top brands and go to parties which look so
glamorous and exciting. People will think this is
luxury, but maybe its because of my age, I think
its more about experience, enjoyment for life.
We have such busy lives, luxury for me is how to
enjoy your life more, how to balance career and
family, how to spend more time in a good way.
Tangible luxury for me would be going on
holidays, good wine, spending time on myself like
a massage. These kinds of experiences are luxury
tools and they dont have to be expensive.
W hat part do luxury brand s play in
culture ?
Chinese people have changed a lot in the last

five years. We run focus groups to find out what
women think about luxury products. A few years
ago they wanted to have something very high
profile like big logos, and talking about the
brands, brands, brands - maybe they didnt even
know what the brand was! But theyve changed a
lot.
Theyre getting more subtle. They dont want
to have a big logo. They want quality and how
they use the product is getting more important.
Now theyre getting more sophisticated, more
concerned about how they wear it in their own
style. Products that make me feel better.
Tuhao describes people who wear logos to show
off. In First Tier cities, this is getting less but this is
a definition for those in Second, Third and Forth
Tier cities on how to show status.
W hat are the key media trend s?
We have e-commerce with Elle Shop and then

Luxury
Elle.cn so there are different tiers and segments

to the brand. Magazines are still top of mind for
quality and more influential to shoppers on where
to go print is still the key medium that they
believe in and where they trust recommendations.
But everyday we see online and social media.
Its valuable for when youre running around,
on mobile, and so on. Internet is perfect for
searching, offering more entertainment so the
objectives are not the same.
Weve learned from recent research (Contact Lab
Survey, 2013) about the influence on consumers
before they go shopping (for fashion): the first
is friends advice (67%); secondly its the brand
website (66%) for example Chloe or Bottega
Veneta, to search for the latest collection; the
third one is magazines (64%) and, honestly, that
quite surprised me. Weve been building the Elle
brand in China for 25 years now, so weve got a
mature status here. Magazines are still important
for people to get credible, trustworthy information.
Content is all-important to fashion magazines but
we have to create different types of engagement
on different platforms. We know that the social
media user spends much more time on social
media at the same time they are reading the
magazine. According to research (Kantar CNRS
2013) the affinity between social media users
and fashion magazines is the highest (80%). That
means they work together to build engagement.
It is very important to plan how we develop
the Elle brands on different platforms because
how people read print, visit the website, or
social media like WeChat or WhatsApp are very
different. We are pioneers in China as we have
already built all these tools here, but of course its
never-ending. We have to be pro-active.
I think the media trend will be how to lock in the
readers / users what are they expecting? We
have to make the balance between traditional and
new media - how to build readers engagement.
how does elle shop work ?
We work with many designers and put our

recommended products online as an affiliate. We
give trends and advice. In the magazine, you see
the top styles of the month linking to the e-shop. It
is more about local or unique designers, not like a
Net a Porter, for example.
E-publishing is an extension of the magazine,
allowing the audience to get extras - videos,
behind the scenes or more photos. The only
difference is behaviour they have different
reading habits, they want more entertainment for
example. It ties into different kinds of readers
involvement.
Rosa lvarez-Casco s
Commercial Director, Shiseido, Spain
what does luxury mean to you?
Being part of a Japanese company like Shiseido,

we understand luxury from the Japanese POV
- it is not sumptuous, glittering or flashy, it is
more discreet, more about details, the sum of
elements that makes a piece special, unique and
luxurious. In Japan, for example, when a woman
dresses up in a kimono, the more important the
event the more layers she wears so the luxury
is appreciated through the numerous layers of
her sleeves. It is an example of a very subtle and
delicate detail that is what we understand as
luxury at Shiseido.
W hat inspires your design process?
In our product packaging we use a research

technology, a philosophy called Kansei. The
Kansei philosophy (as utilised by Apple) is the
engineering of emotions and feelings that can be
transmitted when in contact with the product. We
always differentiate two aspects: what we call the
hardware and the software. When we talk about
hardware, we are talking about the formulations,
the investigations, all the R&D is a priority for
the brand. We are leaders in research, we have
a series of awards from the IFCC, the Nobel
prize for cosmetics; we are the most awarded
company over the past years and there are a lot
of resources in the R&D but we dont want to only
focus on what the product is doing on the skin, we
want to go beyond this.
The software is more about the packaging,
textures, emotions and the holistic aspect of the
product: the ergonomic shape and the meaning
of the shapes i.e. the lid of a cream pot emulates
the moment in which a drop touches the water
and creates an upwards pressure. This is what
makes a product luxuriant in the Japanese sense
- without any stridency, very subtle. This happens
with Apple products, you feel you really want to
use them, they use the Kansei philosophy and this
is what we have also been using as inspiration
with our products for many years.
communicating wellbeing. Our mission is to

create beauty, to create wellbeing. Shiseido in
Japanese means the house that helps to improve
the quality of life, not only with our products but
also how our products can make them feel better.
All the research is focused now in scents that
help you relax, sleep at night or for stress relief
and all the packaging has to be aligned with this.
Now the marketing of emotions, neuromarketing,
is popular. In that sense, everything is focused in
finding the mind and body balance something
that can be identified in Japanese philosophy.
Are there partnership s that you d
like to explore?
I would like to explore tech companies. We are

working in tech tools that are also helping us to
be in contact with the consumer through different
touchpoints. We are the only cosmetics company
in the world to have developed a tool which is
a make-up mirror that scans the face and, using
augmented reality, you can see your image in a
virtual mirror, then you can apply the product to
the image of your face.
Any type of partnership, including research
partnerships, that through technology will help
us to create experiences that consumers can
have with our brand, to find those additional
moments to be in contact with them and create
brand awareness, playful moments, and eliminate
the fear to use our products and finally create
memorable experiences with our brand. This is
the route we would like to take, to work more with
technological companies.

biggest opportunitie s?
Our challenges and opportunities are always

focused on the consumers, in always finding and
31
Points of View
KE VI N J OH N RYAN
Fiona Dallanegra
Retail Director, Damas Jewellery, Dubai
Fashion Consultant
the design process is mindful of remaining true to

our vision and making sure that the jewellery we
design is a unique expression of each womans
passions and lifestyle. Because we believe quality
comes from innovation, creativity is at the heart of
our brand. First we handpick the finest jewels and
then craft them into unique designs using stateof-the-art techniques. This eras constant demand
for innovation is what allows us to realize our true
potential.
What are the bigge st challenge s /
bigge st opportunities?
One of the biggest challenges in the design

process lies in clarifying and communicating
the value and potential of each design. Damas
designs have a strong foundation, historically
and culturally, and our focus right now lies in
expanding that and catering to an international
audience. One of the biggest opportunities lies in
the simple fact that we are located in Dubai and
are able to be inspired and interact with such a
diverse audience.
what doe s luxury mean to you?
Luxury for Damas has always been a standard of

quality and a mark of authenticity, sheltered by a
veil of exclusivity. Luxury is the seamless, tasteful,
exceptional and gracious experience where every
detail is in place and every moment adds to the
total experience. Of course, true luxury is in the
eye of the beholder.
Our most recent collections are adorned with
South Sea pearls and exquisite diamonds and
the unique use of colour, finesse and sparkle of
enamel, all which truly define the spirit of life.
W hat in spire s your des ign process?
Women in the Middle East appreciate top luxury

and innovation and with every collection that we
launch we aim to create exclusive designs that
meet our customers expectations. Each step of
Luxury
The regions taste for luxury is very well known

worldwide, and Dubai has a long-standing
reputation as one of the top destinations for the
gold and diamond trade. Middle Eastern women
have become the worlds biggest buyers of
luxurious jewellery and beyond aesthetics and
symbolism, jewellery embodies value. Some
jewellery is purely ornamental, but in any case it
has always held great symbolic meaning.
Are there partner ships that youd
like to explore?
The journey of the Damas group began in

1907, and since then, the brand has expanded
tremendously, growing into a trusted household
name. We are very passionate and dedicated
about maintaining our current partnerships
with some of the worlds most high end and
prestigious brands, while at the same time we
look forward to establishing more such successful
partnerships in the future as Damas evolves from
a famous brand in Dubai to a famous international
jewellery brand from Dubai.
W hat does luxury mean to you?
For me, luxury - be it a product or experience - is

about trust. Whether Im indulging my time or hard
earned cash I need to feel secure that whatever it
is Ive bought into delivers and does not leave me
feeling cheated or disappointed.
Its also about a brands ability to elicit a sense
of calm confidence in their product or service
that reduces the need for too much choice. I like
brands that make choices for me; that present
me with the ultimate holiday destination / piece
of furniture / handbag I seek out brands that
can edit on my behalf, brands that have done
all the hard work for me so Im free to focus
on desirability! Be it a car, a lipstick, a jacket. It
doesnt mean I dont want a choice, I do. But I
need someone I trust to sift through all the white
noise first.
W hat part do the luxury brands play

in media?
Luxury brands, be they fashion, cars, watches or

jewellery keep the wheels of many media brands
oiled and turning. Through straight advertising,
staging of events that then provide copy and
pictures, to providing news stories and features in
print and digital form. Fashion media particularly
relies heavily on revenue from luxury brands and
conglomerates.
Then, it becomes all about emotion

W hat part do luxury brands play in
culture?
On a business level, they should be providing

the benchmark of how to run profitable, ethically
sound, global businesses. Successful luxury
brands generate huge profits and a proportion
of that profit should be, and hopefully is, used for
ventures that support key global initiatives such
as hunger, poverty, the environment and youth.
These initiatives should be played out discreetly,
away from the attention of the brands internal PR
machines, as a matter of course. Again, for the
consumer its about trust. If I choose to spend
3,000 on a handbag, I shouldnt feel the need
to check its provenance, or where the profit Ive
helped generate is going. I should feel safe and
secure in the knowledge that, without question,
my purchase has had only a positive effect on
every pair of hands involved in its creation,
production and manufacture and that perhaps
some of my money is going towards a greater
good, somewhere.
To be frank, its not like any of us actually need
luxury in our lives but luxury is seductive and
desirable and beautiful and emotive and not a
day goes by without each of us wanting luxury in
some form or the other.
W hat are the cultural and media

trend s shaping the luxury category ?
I cannot see how something like magtailing could

be of any interest to a true luxury brand for now.
So few of them have even engaged in online
retail on their own sites where they have total
control, so theyre unlikely to view any third party
involvement as a positive.
Luxury has never been about the consumer
dictating their wants, needs, desires to a brand.
Luxury has always operated the other way round luxury brands lead, they dont follow.
There are experts in luxury and there are experts
in 21st Century media weve yet to build a
bridge that links the two.
biggest opportunities for luxury
fashion and beauty brands ?
Engaging with the next generation of consumer.

Relevance, keeping the dream alive, and how to
deliver those two messages are the three key
challenges and opportunities that luxury
fashion and beauty brands engaging with the next
generation of consumer face today.
33
Points of View
G I L LI A N D E B O NO
Editor, Financial Times How to Spend It
What are the cultural trend s in the

luxury sector?
A greater number of people with enormous

wealth and that is obviously going to change how
luxury brands operate, and the expectations that
consumers have of them. You also have a fall out
from the last recession where consumers need to
feel that they can make a luxury purchase without
a feeling of guilt and that is driving a greater
interest in heritage, in intrinsic value and heirloom
quality - that is something that luxury brands are
having to respond to.
What are the media trend s?

W hat i s your definition of luxury ?
There are two types of editor. You have those

that personify their brand and they can only edit
a magazine that reflects their own lifestyle. And
theres the other type who enjoy the challenge of
editing a product that is for a different group of
people. I fall into the latter category. I love pulling
a team together, I love producing something
thats beautiful, thats about quality but thats my
professional job.
My own tastes are quite simple. I work incredibly
long hours so, for me, luxury is time. Time to
spend with my friends and family, without having
a deadline looming over me. Or possibly staying
in bed on a Sunday morning with the newspapers
and a coffee, where as I would normally be
reading proofs, or editing copy on a Sunday
morning. Its such a treat for me.
W hat part do luxury brand s play in
culture ?
I think its the reverse. Obviously theyre

responding to changes in popular culture all the
time. At the moment, you have emerging markets
and a lot of new wealth, and thats changing the
way people live and peoples expectations and
so the luxury brands are going to respond to that.
You also have a new generation coming up with
different values to their parents and again theyre
going to have to respond to that. I do think theres
a generation of consumers for whom corporate
social responsibility is going to be very important,
more so than it was to their Baby Boomer parents.
Media is becoming very complex. I have to say

editors jobs have got a lot more difficult in the last
few years - there is a lot of blurring of lines. For
instance, publishers are now moving into e-tailing,
e-tailers are moving into publishing. We also have
the blurring of lines between advertising and
editorial that used not to exist five years ago. In
a magazine, you would have something that was
labelled advertisement feature, we had that clear
stamp on those particular areas and the reader
would know what the advertising pages were as
opposed to the editorial ones. Now theres a lot of
pressure to combine the two that is in a way less
transparent. Thats a bit of a minefield for editors.
Its also happening online where advertisers want
to be embedded within the editorial, so theres
virtually no way of detecting which is which. There
are a lot of discussions going on in publishing
houses on how to handle that.
What partner ships or activitie s
would you like to explore in the
future ?
Luxury
Brendan M onaghan
Publisher of T, The New York Times Style Magazine
W hat are the cultural trend s you
have observed in the luxury sector?
The trend we see most obviously is the everbroadening definition of luxury. Whereas several
years ago, luxury may have been defined by a
small handful of people interested in fine wine
or luxury cars, today the term luxury consumer
defies easy definition. It includes young and old,
in developed and emerging markets, across
continents and, frankly, socio-economic strata.
With such a varied but always discerning
audience, luxury brands must think carefully about
their strategy and be dynamic across audiences,
markets and mediums. I think highly tailored,
brand-created content is evidence of this more
dynamic approach.
W hat are the media trend s?
Given the diversity of the global luxury consumer,

I think all mediums print, online, mobile, social,
events remain highly relevant, if properly
deployed. From mobile to social, The Times has
had great success leveraging our knowledge of
how content moves through our platform. Heres
a fact Im always astounded by: A New York Times
story is shared on Twitter three times every four
seconds.
W hat partnerships would you like to

execute with a partner brand?
We see phenomenal opportunities to cultivate

partnerships and sponsor collaborations with
a number of brands across all Times outlets,
from print to mobile to events. One of our most
interesting projects is linking European heritage
brands with an exciting new product in China.
Stay tuned.
This connectivity allows us to create products that

people want and deliver them to the places where
people want them.
Something that weve been discussing for some

years is how we crack e-tailing. We have to
preserve the editorial integrity of the FT. We have
to have some kind of demarcation between the
etailing venture and the integrity of the editorial.
Were still finding that quite a difficult conundrum.
I dont think weve found the solution yet, I think
we will do eventually.
Id also like to see a Chinese language How
to Spend it with a partner on mainland China.
Discussions have been going on for 10 years
on that one. Even though the Asian market isnt
expanding as quickly as it was, its still a huge
market and it is crazy that a global luxury lifestyle
magazine isnt available there.
35
Categories
Luxury
categorie s
37
Categories
Luxury
FASHION
rom an industry established on

understanding - and setting - the
zeitgeist and with an obsession for
the pursuit of the reimagined and
unexplored, it was not difficult for the
fashion designers and marketers alike to fall in
love with all that digital technology offered. And
if the past five years have been about technology
aiding creativity and craft, will the next be directed
at the more practical and accountable ends?
It is worth noting that digital darling Burberry
has been quieter of late, with rumours that even
they are buttoning down in favour of exploring
all that is offered by cookie tracking, retargeting,
database management, affiliate programmes and
other more accountant-friendly tactics. The fact
that digital allows brands to recognise and tailor
experiences based on the depth of their existing
relationship, it is perhaps difficult to reconcile
the delay in embracing all that digital offers to
best mirror real-world luxury brand experiences
- which are arguably the most personal offered
by any industry. A Chanel boutique manager will
always recognise a returning customer, remember
their shoe size and recommend complementary
products based on his/her knowledge of prior
visits. The stark contrast with the un-personalised
digital experiences currently offered by luxury
brands is perhaps the reason why e-commerce
luxury is still in its infancy, and something a good
CRM database and intelligent cookie targeting
could go a long way to solve.
The pressure on good brand CRM is not just one
of individual brand experience; there is a much
more aggressive threat in play presented by the

multi-brand e-commerce platforms with their
enviable well dressed delivery services, personal
styling and 24-hour personal customer service.
After all, who wants to be dressed head to toe
in one brand? (We all know the dangers of the
Westbrook effect.) We have seen some brands
dabble with personalised servicing. For example,
Dunhill Brazil offers customers the privilege of
avoiding Rio gridlock via an in-office bespoke
tailoring service. But on a larger scale, these truly
worthy and refined brand experiences remain an
untapped goldmine for stand-alone luxury brands.
The final trend of particular note to the fashion
category is one of geography and demography.
New markets, in every sense, are one of particular
complexity and a one-size-fits-all solution remains
elusive. Aside from the practical demands on
seasonal stock rotation and copy translation, the
extent to which a brand should nuance or reimagine for new demographics and markets is a
difficult question. Herms famously re-imagined
their iconic silk designs as saris to coincide with
their expansion in India, and many years later,
changed tack entirely by launching a stand-alone
brand, Shang Xia, in China - both approaches
received with positive attention and business
success.
All that is certain is that after the pants-down
surprise of the rise of China and e-commerce, the
fashion industry is unanimously obsessed with all
that exploration and calculated risk can offer. An
exciting prospect indeed.
CH ARLOTTE DAY-LEWIN
Partner, Luxury and Fashion, Mindshare WW
39
Categories
Luxury
watches & jewellery
s youll have seen elsewhere in this

document, two things characterise
luxury in recent decades.
Firstly, shifts in income distribution

and growth in population mean there are lots
more luxury consumers to sell to. According
to Bain & Co., Lens on the Luxury Consumer,
January 2014, there are an estimated 330m
luxury consumers worldwide, more than triple the
number we had as recently as 1995.
Secondly, and in part driven by this, many luxury
industries have consolidated with small,
independent brands coalescing into big luxury
groups - and nowhere is this more true than in
watches and jewellery.
Both of these things have an upside: more rich
people means more money to be made, and
bigger luxury groups mean greater efficiency of
production and therefore greater margin.
But both trends have a downside too. Industry
consolidation has made it harder to make any
convincing claims to authenticity or decent
provenance because the really special assets
(whether its jewellery design talent or the ability
to assemble sophisticated machines like watches)
have to be utilised efficiently, which means using

them across brands.
And on the consumer side, the problem we face is
a much greater variety of wealthy people to cater
for, with varying degrees of life experience, brand
knowledge and source of income.
One solution to these twin challenges is
stratification. In watch, for example, this means
having both small, haute horlogerie brands in
the stable for the cognoscenti, and more mass
affluent brands which can scale to support the
needs for commemoration and gifting, that many
of these wealthy people have.
Another solution is the manufacture of scarcity
creating artificial limits of access, which in many
cases go beyond money into subtler factors of
status and endorsement; products which money
(alone) cant buy.
The third solution lies in the cultivation of habit.
Some brands take it for granted that people will
always buy engagement rings, and wear watches,
but the really intelligent luxury brands are those
gently working to create these habits in cultures
that dont already have them, and equally subtly,
to foster them in those that do.
Sameer Modha
Partner, Business Planning, Mindshare WW
41
Categories
Luxury
finance
gainst a backdrop of mistrust (and

increasing switching in the UK),
banks have to work harder than
ever before to regain the trust of
their customers and demonstrate
value. Rebuilding this confidence in services
is a great opportunity - relooking at and
understanding what todays customer really
wants from their bank. Therefore, wealth
managers and private banks are increasingly
being pressured to copy the customer service
offered in the luxury goods sector if they
want to retain high net worth clients. Financial
services have improved in establishing
personal connections but more needs to be
done, particularly in the digital realm. They
need to understand exactly what content a
customer is looking to their bank to provide.
A couple of the trends help to frame this.
Maximising Moments demonstrates the
importance of optimising consumers precious
available time and delivering enhanced
experiences. Some banks are taking these
steps from a more traditional B2B method
into a more B2C approach. Coutts sponsored
the V&As spring exhibition to bring new

experiences to their clients. Credit Suisse
went one step further when partnering
with The National Gallerys Leonardo da
Vinci exhibition. They created the first ever
360-degree 3D app of da Vincis studio,
allowing a peek into the studio via an app
which was downloaded directly onto your
device using a QR code. These examples
demonstrate how vital it is for financial
advisors to connect with clients and prospects
through both digital and traditional mediums
in order to become a more influential trusted
and valued provider.
New Networking is also a trend that the
finance sector needs to take note of. Fuelled
by digital advances, our reality now means
that more and more like-minded people are
able to connect with ease whenever they
want. Is there a way that banks can spread
values across the global affluent tribe
wherever they are? Can the bank play a role
in creating mutually beneficial connections
between their HNW customer base?
amy keaney
Business Director, Finance Client Leadership,
Mindshare WW
43
Categories
Luxury
automotive
he recent trend of segment

crowding (where carmakers
produce more and more
products to fit every segment
in the market) means that the
automotive sector is more competitive than
ever. Once it was easy to distinguish between
luxury or SUV brands, now SUVs drive
Porsches volume with the 911 range playing
a supporting role. Everyone is invading
everyone elses space and innovation is
driving the battle for brand strength and
differentiation.
Enhancing the customer experience through
media and technology is at the forefront of
this innovation. The modern consumer is
highly digitally engaged, using a combination
of desktop, mobile and tablet along their path
to purchase, and they expect their experience
with brands to shift seamlessly between
platforms. Using technology to enhance the
customer experience is already widespread
and will become even more important in the
future of the category. 75% of new car buyers
use video to aid their research into buying
a new car (Google Gearshift Auto Purchase
Journey Report, 2013). Car advertising will
continue to evolve from infomercials into
emotive short films, such as Jaguars Its
good to be bad campaign; short films with
high production values are the perfect vessel
to communicate the message of luxury and
glamour. Emotive advertising has usually
been the mainstay of special events such as
the Superbowl, but their continued success
means they will become more common place,
with the luxury automotive sector the perfect
environment.
The demographic of luxury automotive buyers
is also changing - in China we see a female
audience dominating luxury car brands, and
globally we are seeing a shift towards a
younger age group. The newly announced
Jaguar XE is designed to appease this new
generation of social climbers who want to
enter the luxury automotive market much
earlier than the older generation. These New
Luxurians are also more eco-conscious than
previous generations, so expect to see the
continued application of eco-friendly engines
used by companies like McLaren and in F1
racing cars, as well as other environmental

innovations such as Jaguars use of recycled
aluminium to produce lighter, more fuel
efficient cars.
The drivers of owning luxury products are
constantly evolving and will continue to
do so in parallel with socio-cultural trends.
Promoting the heritage and prestige of a
western brand is key in new markets, where
the quality assurance of western products
continues to be a main factor in success.
Despite this, even the most successful
western brands can suffer from unexpected
negative public perceptions in certain
contexts BMW has been stigmatised in
China as a car often purchased by unfaithful
men for their leftover women. Jilted
mistresses often oust their ex-lovers and
name the luxury goods they were gifted, in
one case a Chinese woman stated; a BMW is
a mistress car, I wouldnt want that (Canvas
8, The Role of Foreign Brands in China,
2013). Expect cultural nuances to continue
to drive changes in the way luxury brands
are marketed and perceived, especially in
developing markets where there remains a
sense of unknown.
The customer path to purchase is constantly
shifting with developments in technology.
The traditional role of car dealerships in this
journey has now shifted to the end of the
purchase cycle; only 6% of customers contact
dealerships at the beginning of their research
into buying a new car (Google Gearshift Auto
Purchase Journey Report, 2013). Dealership
retail space is expected to shrink by 20%
(Warc, Marketing Cars - Driving Digital
Success, 2014), with showrooms becoming
a digitised, multi-device experience centres,
using Apples simplistic and immersive
retail spaces as inspiration. This reflects the
changing needs of consumer and the high
expectations they have when entering the
luxury market. Delivering a high quality car is
no longer the only requirement. Dealerships,
service, events and media communications
are all expected to convey the luxury that
comes with the product, and all are expected
to integrate and be fully immersed in
technology.
Jack Stalker
Manager, Automotive Client Leadership, Mindshare WW
45
Categories
Luxury
Beauty
ts good to be having fun again! Its

refreshing to see luxury brands poking
their tongue out at the established,
old-fashioned category norms that put
the entire category in grave danger of
losing cultural relevance post Global Financial
Crisis. For a while there, everything got rather
serious!
The best thing about the luxury story in 2014
is that brands have adapted dramatically to
a younger audience (mass youth with cash),
different drivers of decision-making (when
you dont have a heritage to lean on) and
to new regions (Asia and Latam). Brazil, for
example, accounts for 10% of the global
beauty products market, third place behind
US and Japan according to Euromonitor.
Despite being 122 years old, every edition

of Vogue incites women to provocatively
question popular culture to stay ahead. Luxury
brands are now doing this too, creating the
most amazing experiences for 21st Century
consumers to participate in.
In 2012, when we published Culture Vulture:
Beauty we identified Anarchy & Rebellion as
an influential cultural dynamic. This is where
brands go against the flow of established
norms by exploring radical cutting-edge
experiences.
Its inspiring to see this in action and
experience it as a consumer in Asia. Im sure
the luxury sector will bravely continue to
shape popular culture and have fun. Hurrah!
Catherine William s-TRELOAR

Head of Product, Mindshare APAC
47
Categories
Luxury
T ravel
volving consumer expectations

for brand interaction mean luxury
travel marketers need to find ways
to recreate the experiences they
can deliver in more tactile ways.
This requires finding ways to sample their
brand, such as sleep pods for luxury hotels.
The standard retail environments are
becoming luxurized and travel companies
who rely on digital transactions should be
pursuing ways to similarly upgrade the
shopping experience. Even companies who
rely on third-party sales should view their own
direct channel as their flagship location that
will, at the very least, convey the luxury the
brand can provide.
Travel marketers and experience builders
need to be cognisant of the convergence
of marketing and product experiences. For
example, iBeacon and other place-based
mobile notifications systems should be used
to add value to the traveller, not just sell.
In an increasingly democratised visual
world, travel marketers must make it as easy
as possible for travellers to share images
and video of their experiences digitally.

This means an examination of the trade-off
between short term revenue and the potential
for authentic consumer sharing (i.e. paid or
free Wi-Fi).
With consumers seeking deep, authentic
relationships with brands they love, travel
brands should pursue partnerships with
other brands that represent their own luxury
aspirations to create exclusive opportunities
that enable travellers to experience the
history or heritage of those brands, such as
Cocos Chanels Paris or Grey Gooses wheat
fields in Picardy as a cruise excursion. As
Geoffrey Kent, founder, chairman and CEO of
veteran tour operator Abercrombie & Kent,
said: The key thing customers want today is
personal service. The guide has to be real.
People love things they cant Google.
As the New Luxurians enter the luxury travel
market, brands need to find ways to make
their experiences as scalable and flexible
as possible recognising that many affluent
Millennials may want to travel with their notyet-as-affluent friends.
JOSEP H MACEDA
Managing Director, Invention Studio, Mindshare US
49
Categories
Luxury
Alcoholic beverage s
ince the time of Roman banquets,

having a good drink has been
considered an essential part of the
bon viveur and associated with
luxury indulgence. Beverages are
intrinsically experiences; they always involve
a moment. Today, the search for Maximising
Moments is making this market grow,
diversified and sophisticated, with knowledge
and specialisation at its core. Experiential
consumption means that consumers are
expecting much more than a quality drink:
brands have to express a lifestyle, be
luxury experts and offer exclusive sensorial
experiences. Or, to put it another way, they
have to tell a good story.
In a digital era, these stories live online.
Luxury brands are becoming content
creators and exploring new ways of
storytelling through technology, multi-screen,
interactive and layered experiences. With
digital innovation and associations with
other categories, artists or events, they are
bringing into life the unique and surprising
experiences consumers are expecting.
#NextFrame project from Absolut Vodka is
the perfect example of storytelling through
digital content, collaboration with artists and,
of course, a great deal of creativity.
The luxury beverages market has been
refreshed as luxury consumers and
especially millennials demand more
innovative experiences. Campari surprised
consumers in Buenos Aires this summer with
the Campari Pool Parties, bringing a new
way to party in the city. Mot & Chandon are

holding their extravagant and fun Dner en
blanc parties in Guadalajara, Mexico. Even
though the extrovert is still part of the Latin
American way of life, we are witnessing a real
transformation in the way luxury is consumed
and with the expansion of middle and upper
classes - it is estimated that by 2017 there will
be 978 thousand USD millionaires in South
and Central America according to Credit
Suisse, Oct. 2012 the luxury experiences
will keep growing in the beverages category.
Indigenous beverages such as Argentinian
wines, Mexican tequila, Brazilian Cachaa
and Peruvian pisco were once considered
cheap and mainstream, but have now become
luxury products for export with the revival and
premiumisation of typically local beverages.
For Latin American consumers, Seeking
Authenticity is closely related to National
Celebration, they are proud of their heritage
and want to elevate the DNA of their unique
culture. The production process is the real
reason why they become desirable: the
artisanal labour involved, the land treatment
and ancient knowledge. It is around these
elements that brands have built experiences
and stories. The wine tours in Argentina,
specialized pisco bars in Per and Chile, the
creation of the most expensive tequila on
earth (the Diamond Sterling edition was sold
in 2013 for $3.5 million) are just examples of
how through heritage and a good story, even
the cheapest drink can become a luxury good.
Ana Stramucci
Strategic Coordinator, Mindshare LATAM
51
References
Luxury
REFERENCES
53
References
MN
Centre Stage
ONE & ONLY RESORTS - http://bit.ly/1nuPrBt
DNA FRAGRANCE - http://bit.ly/1rtOCJF
DKNY SCENT FINDER - http://bit.ly/1nWXjaw
LE LABO FRAGRANCES - http://bit.ly/1kdu9te
PS DEPT - http://bit.ly/1nuQAcd
GEORGIO ARMANI FRAMES OF LIFE CAMPAIGN - http://bit.ly/1rwWTOb
JIMMY CHOO 24:7 STYLEMAKERS - http://www.choo247.com
BURBERRY ART OF THE TRENCH - http://artofthetrench.com
GUCCI LAPOS WARDROBE - http://on.gucci.com/1rwX1gC
MM
Luxury
DIESEL TRIBUTE - http://www.diesel.com/dieseltribute/

EMOTIENT - http://bit.ly/1qBSNGz
GOLFSIGHT APP - http://golfsight.skydroid.net
OAKLEY GOGGLES - http://bit.ly/1bIC7Gm
SNAP FASHION APP - http://www.snapfashion.co.uk
ASAP54 - http://www.asap54.com
THE BILLIONAIRE SHOP - http://bit.ly/1pKp1Ko
SHISEIDO - http://bit.ly/1mHYf2s
ISSEY MIYAKE PERFUMES - http://www.isseymiyakeparfums.com
AUDI ONE MILLION REASONS - http://bit.ly/1s4p59x
SA
Layered Luxury
CULTURE CHANEL EXHIBITION - http://bit.ly/1meUEJU

ROLEX MENTOR & ARTS PROTEGES INITIATIVE - http://bit.ly/UuN2eC
LVMH JOURNEES PARTICULIERES - http://bit.ly/1o5LhAW
CHANEL PARAFFECTION & THE METIER DART SHOWS - http://bit.ly/1kyMKAe
ROLLS ROYCE DINNER - http://bit.ly/1rbT3rN
TIFFANY - http://www.tiffany.co.uk/CSR/
HONESTBY - http://www.honestby.com
GUCCIS ZERO-DEFORESTATION - http://bit.ly/1mHZ6Qz
HIUT JEANS - http://hiutdenim.co.uk
JAPANESE BAG COMPANY ICHIZAWA HANPU - http://www.ichizawa.co.jp/en/
JAGUAR F TYPE & SHAZAM - http://bit.ly/1nWXGSx

MARTELL MODERN ELITES - http://bit.ly/1pevfAU
SECRET CINEMA - http://www.secretcinema.org
SLEEP NO MORE - http://sleepnomorenyc.com/#share
FINE DINING LOVERS - http://bit.ly/1p4rbHo
AUDI CITY - http://www.audi.co.uk/audi-innovation/audi-city.html
CHOPARD JOURNEY EXPERIENCES - http://bit.ly/1olCztf
APPLE IBEACONS - http://bit.ly/J0rK2N
PP
Playomatic
NISSAN INFINITI DEJA VIEW - http://nyti.ms/1njCHhq
GRID2: MONO EDITION - http://us.bac-mono.com/grid2
MERCEDES MG VISION GRAN TOURISMO GAME - http://bit.ly/UuLWj0
CORVETTE STINGRAY PERFORMANCE DATA RECORDER - http://aol.it/1kXcmRT
APPLE CARPLAY - http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay
JAGUAR VS. CHICKEN TVC - http://bit.ly/18Uzhub
LANVIN AW 2013 - http://www.refinery29.com/alber-elbaz-lanvin-skype
LUFTHANSA COMPETITION - http://bloom.bg/1smjjlE
Screen Dreams
JAGUAR F-TYPE FILM, DESIRE - http://bit.ly/UWjeb5
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO WALKING STORIES - http://bit.ly/1njDtez
STUART WEITZMAN AND KATE MOSS #MADEFORWALKING http://bit.ly/1sWMEVm
Connoisseurs of Craft
Less is More
DUOLINGO APP - https://www.duolingo.com
LINKEDIN PULSE - https://www.pulse.me
POCKET - https://getpocket.com
SQUARE - https://squareup.com
LEVELUP - https://www.thelevelup.com
PAYPAL - https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/home
GOOGLE WALLET - http://www.google.co.uk/wallet
ISIS - https://www.paywithisis.com
NFC RING - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23605127
AMERICAN EXPRESS PAY WITH A TWEET - http://bit.ly/1jWVT4Z
NYMI - http://www.bionym.com
NO NOISE AT SELFRIDGES - http://bit.ly/UpOOhn
QUINTESSENTIALLY - http://www.quintessentially.com
55
References
TASK RABBIT - https://www.taskrabbit.com

ASK FOR TASK - http://www.askfortask.com
TASK HERO - http://www.taskhero.com
UPS MY CHOICE - http://www.ups.com/mychoice
AMAZON DRONES - http://bbc.in/IMhGv7
LUNAR SPA TREATMENTS - http://bit.ly/1kXeMjc
ASTRONOMY TOURISM - http://www.elquidomos.cl
SN
NC
Inclusive Exclusive
FANCY - http://fancy.com
STYLEOWNER - http://www.styleowner.com
SHOP THE HANGOUT - http://bit.ly/1omBXJi
CROWDCUBE - http://www.crowdcube.com
FUNDEDBYME - https://www.fundedbyme.com
DREAMOJO - http://www.dreamojo.com
PORTHOLE ON KICKSTARTER - http://kck.st/UpPyDd
JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE - http://bit.ly/1nkifIA
THE WINE FORUM - http://www.thewineforum.org
THE WHITE CLUB - http://bit.ly/1rDhdil
THE CLARET CLUB - http://www.claretclub.com
ELEQT - http://www.eleqt.com
BEST OF ALL WORLDS - https://www.bestofallworlds.com
VOYAGE PRIV - http://www.voyage-prive.co.uk
KLM, MEET AND SEAT - http://klmf.ly/Mm3euw
SILENT CIRCLE - https://silentcircle.com
Pride & Provenance

HERMES OWNED SHANG XIA - http://www.shang-xia.com
QATAR LUXURY GROUP - http://www.qatarluxurygroup.com
CHANEL LITTLE BLACK JACKET CELEBRATION - http://bit.ly/WIsC3D
AMEX SMALL BUSINESS DAY - http://amex.co/1bukTFx
MCARTHURGLEN - http://www.mcarthurglen.com/en/outlets
FARFETCH - http://www.farfetch.com/uk
MOT HENNESSY INDIA - http://bit.ly/1p4tLgG
CHINESE WINE CONSUMPTION - http://www.vinexpo.com/en/studies
SP ALPARGATAS - http://www.alpargatas.com.br/#/conheca-empresa
PERNIAS POP UP SHOP, INDIA - www.perniaspopupshop.com
Cherry Picking
MEDIUM - https://medium.com
ROLEX TIMESHIFT ON MONOCLE 24 - http://monocle.com
GUCCI PINTEREST BANNER AD - http://on.mash.to/1qBUgwC
RENT THE RUNWAY - http://bit.ly/1mC8DLo
COVETIQUE - http://bit.ly/UuO6iF
VAUNTE - https://www.vaunte.com
COLLETTE ART DRIVE THRU - http://bit.ly/UuOaih
MARC JACOBS DAISY POP-UP STORE - http://on.mash.to/1o2376F
MIU MIU POP UP CLUB - http://bit.ly/1sWQoGe
STRICTLY DESIGNERS UNITED - http://bit.ly/1kdvAaV
MOT & CHANDON VENDING MACHINE - http://bit.ly/1AafgfV
U*TIQUE VENDING MACHINE - http://bit.ly/1dLMvar
NN
Luxury
NWO
The New Luxurians

COACH - http://bit.ly/1tEMOy5
LOEWE - http://www.loewe.com
RALPH LAUREN - http://bit.ly/1qBVzLN
COMMON PROJECTS - http://www.commonprojects.com
BERLUTI - http://www.berluti.com/en
FOUR SEASONS, WOMEN ONLY FLOORS - http://bit.ly/1nuZRRE
HOTEL IN BRAZIL - http://www.hpellegrino.com
WOMEOMICS STATS - http://fleishmanhillard.com
TANISHQ JEWELLERY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P76E6b7SQs8
MINT ECONOMIES - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25548060
TESLA MODEL S - http://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/models
SAUGHT - http://bit.ly/UpQibi
VEUVE CLIQUOT BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING - http://bit.ly/1kXgUaN
UNBRANDED LVMH IN CHINA - http://bit.ly/1x5zu66
General References
MINDREADER - http://mindreader.mindshareworld.com
BAIN & CO. LUXURY GOODS WORLDWIDE STUDY - http://bit.ly/1jWXGXw
VERDICT RETAIL - http://bit.ly/1nDXopA
THE LUXURY SECTOR, FOUR CHALLENGES FOR 2014 AND BEYOND http://bit.ly/1nX1J19
MCKINSEY & COMPANY, POWER OF EMAIL - http://bit.ly/1lMX2af
57
Culture Vulture
Luxury
thanks to
Our Editor
Jo Peters
Our Contributors
Elle
FT, How To Spend It
GQ
Jaguar/Land Rover
The New York Times, T Magazine
Shiseido
Damas
Fiona Dallanegra
W e would love to hear what

you think and what more you
would like to know.
The Mindshare Global Network

Amy Keaney
Carli Furman
Caroline Dowsett
Cline Pan
Charlotte Day-Lewin
Daniel Daynes
Davide Melli
Dean Browne
Elaine Quirke
Ella Levy
Emma-Jane Steele
Jack Stalker
Julia Brizi della Rosa
Kim Baylis
Luca Hortelano
Marc Fong
Natha (Mimi) Piyavirojsthien
Nik Gill
Pathamawan (Linda) Sathaporn
Sameer Modha
Sandra Freiha
Sophia Staton-Young
Susannah Outfin
Tom Morgan
Valentina Pacheco
Vanessa De Magalhaes
So, pleas e do contact u s at:
[email protected]
And the Mindshare Culture Vulture Team

Global And Europe
Victoria Cook
Michelle Cfas
Rita Ibarra
Asia-Pacific
Catherine Williams-Treloar
Latin America
Matias Galimberti
Ana Stramucci
North America
Mark Potts
Alexis Fragale
59
CuLTuRE
VuLTuRE
SO M E M O R E O R I G I N A L
TH I N KI N G P OWE R E D BY
M I N DS H A R E
Your global snapshot of current and emerging
cultural trends, bringing fresh and perceptive insights
from around the world to inspire, stimulate and
ignite new strategies for your brands.

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Luxury

Inspiring original thinking through a

rom space tourism to jewelencrusted mineral water bottles,

2 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

This is how we see the Global

Doing multiple things

Optimise time and enhance

The use of gaming system

Challenge and reward

Our study has identified 10 Cultural Dynamics

4 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

Each Consumer Trend has a

This is the symbol for the

The desire to have a

We now consume media in

Edited information, access

Communities dont have

Redefine balance of power

Being proud of where

Exploring heritage and

NWO NEW WORLD

6 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

entre Stage is particularly relevant

Of course, personalised tailoring in couture and

So what does this

Using insightful customer data, can your

Digital platforms offer precise pinpoint

rom online to store, it is vital

8 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

Downtime in airports is optimised by Martell

in the US to guide people to concessions

So what does this

Layered Luxury by design consider

Consider creating brand extensions,

Offer immersive shopping experiences

Consider an omni-screen campaign,

his trend does not at first appear

10 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

The fashion industry is often criticised for

Taking the auto and gaming relationship to its

In perhaps the most extreme demonstration

The dominant story from CES 2014 was

So what does this

Meanwhile weve seen overt humour and

Consider the broader picture of

Which media and brand partners can

Can you deepen consumer engagement

Digital platforms can encourage

Rich filmic experiences and

riven by the proliferation of

12 EDITION 05 Culture Vulture

Since Facebooks purchase of Oculus Rift,

So what does this

Consider unique partnerships in both

Use real-time contextual micro-targeting of

Protect your brands visual content and the

n a consumer world of mass

Luxury brands are synonymous with the worlds