The new website by Six Senses Hotels

Luxury brands move to merge corporate content and eCommerce platforms, as Ferrari integrates the Apple iPad mini and Siri technology into its FF hatchback

Will digital marketing bring new consumers to luxury brands? According to a new survey from Luxury Interactive and ShopIgniter the answer is a resounding yes. The study found that the leading business driver among luxury brand marketers, for investments in digital and social media, is in fact new customer acquisition.

63% of the luxury marketers surveyed predict that by 2015, digital marketing will be the most important form of marketing for their brands — more important than traditional print, TV or loyalty programs. This very year 85% will increase their digital spend and 72% will increase spending on social media marketing.

“ Social media creates opportunities to drive product discovery, generate new customer insight & move prospects closer to a purchase decision ”

“While acquiring new customers in social media is logical given the demographics it draws, luxury brands need to develop strategies built on extending their brand promise, inviting fans in and providing the exclusivity they expect,” explained Marko Muellner, VP marketing at ShopIgniter, in a statement.

“Our experience shows that roughly half of a brand’s social fans are not in the house file, which means there is ample opportunity to not only introduce the brand to a new customer, but also find opportunities to drive product discovery, generate new customer insight and move prospects closer to a purchase decision.”

Baselworld, App

The Baselworld 2013 App is now available for Android, Blackberry and iOS, offering help for those negotiating the new hall layouts. The free appincludes interactive 3D hall plans, detailed information about exhibitors and an overview of events and press conferences. Users can add their own notes and photos to an exhibitors entry.

Download: Apple
Source: Retail Jeweller

Christian Louboutin, Chinese Social Media

Christian Louboutin has launched on Sina Weibo, Youku and Tudou, as the brand looks to extend its digital influence in Asia. A new ecommerce site to service countries within the APAC region will be launching in the coming months, alongside a simplified Chinese corporate website and a dedicated ‘Stop Fake’ site.

Websites: Weibo, Tudou, Youku
Source: Christian Louboutin

Condé Nast, Web TV

Condé Nast has announced its latest digital push: an online video network, featuring Glamour and GQ-branded original video series sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and Mondelēz International. More “branded programming” featuring other Condé brands will follow, more than a year after Condé announced the launch of a new entertainment division.

Source: Fashionista

Escada, eCommerce

Premium womenswear label Escada has launched its first e-commerce website in its home country of Germany. The site marks the brand’s first transactional website, offering apparel and accessories from both the mainline Escada collection as well as the sub-brand Escada Sport.

Website: escada.com
Source: Fashion United

Ferrari, Apple Integration

Following the appointment of Eddie Cue – Apple’s software and services guru – to Ferrari’s board, the luxury automaker has announced that Siri integration and a pair of iPad Minis are now standard on the Ferrari FF. The FF, its all-wheel drive, four-seat hatchback, will have iPad Minis installed in the headrests as part of a new rear-seat entertainment package.

Source: Wired

Jaquet Droz, Website

Celebrating its 275th anniversary, Jaquet Droz has unveiled its new HTML 5 website, infused with the brand’s DNA and the latest on-line technological innovations. All content can be shared on numerous social networks like Facebook or Twitter, and is available in 8 languages (French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Russia, Simplified Chinese, Japanese).

Website & Source: Jaquet Droz

Lanvin, mCommerce

Lanvin has launched its e-store on its mobile-optimszed site. The brand announced the new shopping channel to consumers with a direct email and Twitter campaign. When mobile users access Lanvin’s site on their mobile device, they are brought to a homepage where they can scroll right and left through branded content such as exclusive items available on the e-store, fashion show videos, collections and window displays.

Source: Luxury Daily

LuxDeco, App

LuxDeco, an online destination for luxury home products, will launch its first shoppable magazine app for the iPad on April 24th. The latest trends and interior styles are brought to life in video features, captivating photo shoots and exclusive interviews with renowned tastemakers, stylists and connoisseurs of design.

“With over 25% of our audience coming from the iPad, a luxury shoppable magazine was the obvious next step”, Says founder and CEO Jonathan Holmes.

Source: LuxDeco

Proenza Schouler, Website

Proenza Schouler has reinvigorated its website, the final phase of its rebranding, undertaken in collaboration with art director Peter Miles. Stocking a range of small leather goods, accessories and select items from the Spring 2013 runway collection, the revamped site will significantly expand Proenza Schouler’s presence in e-commerce.

Website: proenzaschouler.com
Source: Business of Fashion

Six Senses, Website

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has launched its new web site, in keeping with the brands new visual identity and repositioning. The Web site makes full use of the group’s vast library of extraordinary images, highlighting the aesthetics, experiences, and natural beauty of the locations that Six Senses call home.

Website: sixsenses.com
Source: Hospitality.net

Zegna, Website

As part of its comprehensive digital strategy, Ermenegildo Zegna, has consolidated its online platforms, Zegna.com and the Zegna Online Store Powered by Yoox Group, under a single interactive structure that delivers full coverage of hot new style trends, fashion news and exclusive content together with a fashion-forward online shopping experience.

Website & Source: Zegna

For more in the series of The Latest Digital, please see our most recent editions as follows:

- The Latest Digital: Gucci, Porsche & Raymond Weil
- The Latest Digital: Labelux, Burberry & Chanel
- The Latest Digital: Cartier, Prada & Tod’s

Luxury brands push more & more video content, as Raymond Weil directs all corporate web traffic to Facebook and Christie’s auctions Andy Warhol exclusively online

Given François-Henri Pinault’s well-documented love of technology and digital communications, it is with little surprise that the French conglomerate is turning its Digital Academy project into a permanent human resources tool.

Launched in September 2011 as a pilot training scheme, the initiative is designed to foster digital culture within its luxury and sport/lifestyle brands, including Gucci, Puma, Stella McCartney and Boucheron.

WWD reports that 400 employees have as yet taken part in training sessions in eight cities on three continents, with participation not only by digital experts, but also top brand managers and chief executive officers. The workshops are designed to strengthen expertise; help brands define and seize opportunities; develop innovation and e-commerce, and create a digital community within the group.

Anya Hindmarch, Digital Campaign

Anya Hindmarch launched a multichannel campaign entitled Anyagrams to celebrate the brand’s London Fashion Week presentation. The brand launched a digital anagram generator that produced fashion-themed nicknames for consumers and attendees, where consumers could share their new identities through social media.

Website: anyagrams.com
Source: Luxury Daily

Barney’s Outlet, Website

Barneys New York has uploaded its famous outlet sale to a permanent online space. The department store chain launched the new ecommerce site at barneyswarehouse.com, seeking to match the outlet shopping experience to that of its main ecommerce site. The move will also expand the consumer pool for the Barney’s online consumer.

Website: barneyswarehouse.com
Source: Luxury Daily

Benetti, Website

Benetti is celebrating its 140th anniversary with the unveiling of a sleek new website, supported by the “Being Unique is an Art” campaign. The site has been optimised to display full screen regardless of the platform, screen resolution, browser or device, and centres itself on the bespoke services offered by the luxury boat builder.

Website:
Source: Luxury Insider

Burberry, Runway Made to Order

Burberry launched a service called Runway Made to Order, allowing customers to order products directly from its London Fashion Week FW13-14 collection, for delivery in a matter of weeks. Clients that order accessories or outerwear from burberry.com not only have the option to personalise metal plate of a jacket or bag with their name or initials, but access video of their product being made, just for them.

Website: burberry.com
Source: Fashion United

Chanel, Video

To celebrate the 1932 Chanel fine jewellery collection dedicated to diamonds, the brand has released a video detailing the heritage of Bijoux de Diamants. The short film details the way Coco Chanel paved the way for a whole new style of fine jewellery, using collage, animation, and archival footage.

YouTube: Chanel
Source: Fashionologie

Chloé, Video

French fashion house Chloé is celebrating its limited-edition 60th anniversary collection with a series of eight mini films that celebrate the designers who have contributed to the label since its formation in 1952. The first film explores La blouse that was part of the spring/summer 1960 collection by Ms. Gaby Aghion, the brand’s founder.

YouTube: Chloé
Source: Luxury Daily

Christie’s, Online Auction

Christie’s recently completed an online-exclusive auction, featuring 125 works of art by the American pop icon Andy Warhol. The auction marked the first time that Warhol’s art was sold strictly online, with prices ranging from $600 to $70,000, offering buyers “extraordinary global access to Warhol’s work.

Website: christies.com/warhol
Source: Luxuo

Diageo Reserve, eCommerce

Diageo Reserve has launched a luxury e-commerce platform, Alexander & James, named after sprits makers Alexander Walker and James Buchanan. The online portal retails premium Diageo brands and focuses on gifts and features a dedicated area offering ideas for packaged present ideas.

The portal, created in partnership with digital agency Huge, will also link to Facebook for users to share wish lists and get reminders of friend’s birthdays. Registered members can create a wish-list to share as well. It is currently only available in the UK and will be expanded across Europe in the coming months.

Website: alexanderandjames.com
Source: Marketing Week

Gucci, Facebook App

Gucci is celebrating the launch of its newest fragrance, Guilty Black, through a Facebook application that includes a video and fragrance locator. The Facebook app includes video, information about the fragrances, campaign images and an area where consumers can join Gucci’s mailing list.

Facebook: Gucci
Source: Luxury Daily

Longines, App

Swiss watchmaker Longines is tapping its involvement in the world of alpine skiing for a new mobile application that gives enthusiasts news and updates on the sport. The app, entitled Live Alpine Skiing, allows users to find out the latest about events and competitors in the area of alpine skiing.

YouTube: Longines Watches
Source: Luxury Daily

Melia, eCommerce

Meliá Hotels International has launched an online store through which customers can buy a collection of bedroom and bathroom products featured in Meliá hotels. Amongst the items available are a choice of mattresses and bed bases, pillows, duvets and bed linen, as well as bathroom towels and bathrobes.

Website: meliahotels-store.com
Source: Hospitality.net

Miu Miu, Video

Miu Miu has unveiled the fifth film in its ‘The Women’s Tales’ series, entitled The Door, directed by Ava Marie DuVernay. The director became the first African-American woman to win the best director prize at Sundance for her film Middle of Nowhere in 2012, and seeks to illuminate both the power of female bonds and the transformative function of clothing in the short.

YouTube: Miu Miu
Source: Style.com

Porsche, Crowdsourcing

German automaker Porsche is honouring its 5 million Facebook fans by letting them collaborate on designing a 911 Carrera 4S vehicle. Each week for five weeks, Porsche invites it’s Facebook fans to vote on various specifications of the special 911 Carrera 4S model, on a different part of the vehicle.

Website: porsche.com/5million
Source: Luxury Daily

Prada, Video

Prada has launched its Spring 2013 campaign video, directed by DJA with photography from Steven Meisel. The short film features ten models – including Eva Herzigova, Saskia de Brauw & Raquel Zimmermann – each representing one of the mysterious flowers represented in the collection.

YouTube: Prada
Source: Fashionista

Raymond Weil, Facebook

In honour of Facebook’s 9th birthday, Raymond Weil chose to direct all of its corporate website traffic to its Facebook page for just one day. Acknowledging the shift in consumer behaviour and consumption of social media, the gesture intends to acknowledge the power of Facebook to connect brands and fans with their larger social “hives.”

Facebook: Raymond Weil
Source: Raymond Weil

Swarovski, Multi-Channel Campaign

Swarovski, in partnership with RO New York, has launched it’s first multi-channel campaign with ’"Passport to Sparkle", a year-long project designed to engage the consumer with an interactive in-store and online initiative inspired by travel.

The result is a powerful integrated project integrating the online and in-store experience with elements including crystallized passports, customized and collectable passport stamps, a micro-site and social media content.

Website: passporttosparkle.com
Source: RO New York

For more in the series of The Latest Digital, please see our most recent editions as follows:

- The Latest Digital: Labelux, Burberry & Chanel
- The Latest Digital: Cartier, Prada & Tod’s
- The Latest Digital: Balmain, Yoox & Mandarin Oriental

Anna Wintour has been appointed artistic director at Condé Nast

The Latest luxury industry appointments at Barneys, Daimler, Chanel, Tod’s, Condé Nast, Aquascutum, Raymond Weil, Walpole, Sofitel & Volvo

Richemont has announced the retirement of Ms Pilar Boxford, effective 1 April 2013. She will step down from the Group Management Committee at that time after serving the Swiss conglomerate since 1979. Following her retirement, she will continue as a consultant, supporting the Maisons on key public relations matters.

Henrik Fisker has resigned as executive chairman, citing “several major disagreements” with top management on business strategy, according to an email he apparently distributed to several major news organisations. According to Brand Channel, Fisker was integral to the design of the company’s cars as well as its name.

Shiseido Co. President Hisayuki Suekawa will step down for health reasons at the end of March 2013. Chairman Shinzo Maeda, who was president from 2005 to 2011, will take on the added role of president.

Mark Taylor, COO, Acquascutum

Aquascutum has hired former Juicy Couture finance director Mark Taylor as its chief operating officer for its UK business. Mr. Taylor took up the position in early March, replacing former Aquascutum boss Tim Dally, who stepped down due to ill health. He will report directly to Aquascutum International’s executive director and general manager, Andrew Chan.

Source: Fashion United

Jennifer Sunwoo, EVP, Barneys

Barneys New York has confirmed that Jennifer Sunwoo has been promoted to executive vice president and general merchandise manager for women’s, effective immediately. The former Bergdorf’s divisional merchandise manager of designer sportswear, joined Barneys in 2011 as the senior vice president of women’s designer fashion.

Source: WWD

Christine Dagousset Global President, Fragrance & Beauty, Chanel

Christine Dagousset, currently executive vice president of fragrance and beauté at Chanel Inc. in the U.S., has been appointed global president for the division. Ms. Dagousset began an 11-year tenure with L’Oréal as an intern in the household products division. In 1998 she was approached by Chanel to become senior vice president for global skincare, based in France.

Source: WWD

Victor Luis, CEO, Coach

Coach Inc. has named Victor Luis, head of the company’s international business, to succeed Chief Executive Officer Lew Frankfort next year. Frankfort, who was named CEO in 1995, will become executive chairman as of January 2014. Coach named Luis president and chief commercial officer in the interim and said he’ll also join the board.

Source: Bloomberg

Anna Wintour, Artistic Director, Condé Nast

Condé Nast has promoted Anna Wintour to the newly created role of artistic director, further to her duties as editor in chief of Vogue and editorial director of Teen Vogue. “The establishment of an Artistic Director is a reflection of our commitment to preserve and champion all that exists ‘Only at Condé Nast,’” Charles H. Townsend, the chief executive of Condé Nast.

Source: Fashionista

Dieter Zetsche, CEO, Daimler

Daimler has extended Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche’s term until the end of 2016. The automaker has also named manufacturing manager Wolfgang Bernhard as head of the Daimler Trucks division, switching roles with Andreas Renschler, who will oversee production and purchasing at Mercedes-Benz cars and vans.

Source: Bloomberg

David Chu, CEO, Georg Jensen

Georg Jensen has appointed David Chu – the original founder of Nautica – as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Chu previously served as Georg Jensen co-chair of the Board of Directors and chief creative officer. He will continue to serve as a board member as well as the chief creative officer, overseeing the design direction and strategy for all products.

Source: Retail Jeweller

Ann McLaughlin Korologos, Jean Tomlin, Board of Directors, Michael Kors

Michael Kors Holdings Limited has appointed Ann McLaughlin Korologos and Jean Tomlin to the Company’s Board of Directors. Ann McLaughlin Korologos is a former U.S. Secretary of Labor with extensive experience in the areas of international markets, marketing, regulatory and government affairs, policymaking and corporate governance.

Jean Tomlin has over 35 years experience in human resources, employee relations, training and development. Since 2006, Ms. Tomlin has served as Director, Human Resources of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Source: BusinessWire

Stuart Sklar, VP, Raymond Weil North America

Raymond Weil has appointed Stuart Sklar as vice president of North America. Sklar previously held the positions of vice president of national sales at Bulova, senior vice president at Movado Group, and president at Maurice Lacroix.

Source: JCK Online

François Tauriac, Managing Director, Richard Mille

Richard Mille has appointed François Tauriac as managing director. Mr. Tauriac has spent his entire career at the Figaro Group as a journalist, starting out in the politics department of the group’s French daily newspaper. He has also developed a number of innovative online and digital applications, including the first magazine television channel on YouTube: “Very Watch”.

Source: FHH

Sirinate Meenakul, Global Brand Director, Sofitel So

Sofitel Luxury Hotels has appointed Sirinate Meenakul as its first Global Brand Director for the Sofitel So label, the ‘boutique hotel’ vision of Sofitel. Mr. Meenakul has served almost two decades in the hospitality sector, and will spearhead and strategise the overall brand positioning of Sofitel So.

Source: eTravel Blackboard

Alessandra Facchinetti, Creative Director, Tod’s

Tod’s has hired former Gucci and Valentino designer Alessandra Facchinetti as creative director, where she will oversee the company’s womenswear line. Her first collection will be presented during the Milan fashion week in September 2013. Facchinetti, who debuted as designer of Prada’s edgy brand MiuMiu in 1994, made her name as creative head at Gucci, Moncler and Valentino.

Source: Reuters

Robin Page, Interior Design, Volvo

Volvo has hired the man responsible for designing the interiors of the Bentley Continental and Mulsanne. Bentley’s head of interior design, Robin Page, has confirmed he’s joining Volvo to head up the interior design department at the Swedish automaker.

Source: Motor Authority

Sue O’Brien, Board of Directors, Walpole

Sue O’Brien has been appointed to the Walpole board of directors, the luxury brands trade body that represents British brands. In addition to her new role, O’Brien has been the group chief executive of Norman Broadbent since 2008, and she created the Human Capital Consulting Group which helps deliver and assess innovative leaders of the future.

Source: Fashion United

For more in the series of The Latest Appointments, please see our most recent editions as follows:

- The Latest Appointments: Bulgari, Burberry & Four Seasons
- The Latest Appointments: Harrods, Balenciaga & Louis Vuitton
- The Latest Appointments: Christie’s, Richemont & Ferrari