Senior executives of Swiss private bank Lombard Odier serve as keynote speakers

November 16, 2011

Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) has announced that it has explored exciting investment opportunities in the Middle East’s luxury goods sector during the November edition of the “Monthly Lunch Majlis” that was held recently at the Gulf Function Suite of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. DBWC invited senior executives of Swiss private bank Lombard Odier to serve as speakers of the Lunch Majlis, which was organised under the theme “Luxury Goods: Growth, Success and Performance”.

Keynote speakers Arnaud H. Leclercq, Limited Partner and Head of New Markets, and Christophe Lalandre, Executive Vice President, Middle East team of Lombard Odier, provided a global economic environment analysis focusing on the debt crisis from the point of view of Lombard Odier, stability of banks and economic and financial outlook. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East’s luxury goods sector, while a special demonstration was prepared on how to invest in the luxury sector.

Arnaud Leclercq said: “It is important to be constantly aware of opportunities to optimise the investment potential of businesswomen. The luxury goods sector particularly offers excellent investment prospects for women, especially here in the Middle East. The Dubai Business Women Council’s Lunch Majlis is certainly a great venue to discuss the new possibilities that have emerged in the region’s luxury goods landscape.”

Christophe Lalandre said: “The Dubai Business Women Council has done an excellent job in motivating women to be more actively involved in various business and investment activities in the society. The Lunch Majlis is a great example of the proactive efforts of the Council in highlighting the exciting opportunities that are available to businesswomen in the UAE and across the region. We are certainly very pleased to support this initiative and offer our insights about new prospects in key industries.”

Raja Al Gurg, President, Dubai Business Women Council, said: “The participation of senior executives from Lombard Odier underlines the continuing success of the Lunch Majlis as a pioneering platform that cultivates greater women participation in economic activities in the country. The discussions enabled us to better understand the intricacies of the luxury goods market and help better position women entrepreneurs to take advantage of new business prospects in this key growth industry.”

Founded in 2002, DBWC motivates women to be productive members of the society, while encouraging role models to rise up from the ranks and inspire other women around the world, especially in the Arab region, to discover their true potential. DBWC organises the high-profile monthly event ‘Majls Business’ to provide information about the latest knowledge, skills and best practices for women entrepreneurs and leaders.

Spring 2011 update of Annual Industry Barometer Study finds 2010 total year sales turn positive after two straight years of decline

1 June, 2011

Dubai, UAE - Buoyed by strong first quarter momentum in the US and Europe and continuing growth in China and other fast-growing luxury markets - including the Middle East, Brazil and Russia - worldwide luxury sales are projected to grow to €185 billion in 2011, up 8 per cent from €172 billion in 2010; this according to Bain & Company, the leading advisor to the global luxury goods industry, in its “Spring 2011 Update: Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study.”

After declining by €17 billion over the course of 2008 and 2009, a strong 2010 closed with higher-than-expected holiday sales (up 14 per cent versus 2009), bringing the luxury goods market to €172 billion, surpassing its prior peak of €170 billion in 2007.

The study also predicts that growth in emerging markets will remain the focus of luxury manufacturers for the next two to three years. Tourism in Dubai and internal markets demand throughout the GCC will fuel growth in the Middle East (8 to 12 per cent), while Brazil will see heavy investment by international brands (10 to 15 per cent). Lifestyle changes have driven a return of luxury goods sales in Russia (5 to 10 per cent annual growth). China’s fast-growing wealth will fuel both same store sales growth and new store openings.

“The Middle East remains a hugely lucrative market for luxury goods as we expect growth in the region to remain robust in the coming years due to tourists’ influx, domestic salary increases and store openings, notably in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” said Cyrille Fabre, Partner and Head of Luxury & Retail practice for Bain in the Middle East.

“The emerging market consumer continues to create the most exciting challenges for our industry,” said Santo Versace, Chairman of Fondazione Altagamma. “Even as we adjust to the maturing of the North American and European markets, consumers in countries like China are becoming more demanding and more sophisticated in their luxury tastes.”

Bain finds that department stores and direct-owned luxury stores saw continued double-digit sales increases in February and March versus 2010, selling out on much of their Spring/Summer 2011 inventory. Additionally, stores have placed robust orders for the Fall/Winter 2012 seasons and have restocked sold-out inventory levels, especially in accessories, leather goods and hard luxury categories such as jewelry and watches. Retailers interviewed for the Bain study expressed a high level of confidence that consumers will keep coming into stores and continue making purchases with the same vigor that preceded the global financial crisis.

“Luxury has made a brilliant return to the retail stage, but the script has been re-written,” said Claudia D’Arpizio, a Bain partner in Milan and lead author of the study. “More demanding customers, generational shifts, new loyalty rules, an increasingly integrated offline and digital customer experience and the continued growth of China and other fast-growing markets are transforming the luxury industry.”

Bain forecasts that sales in the Americas for 2011 will grow by 8 per cent, to nearly €52 billion. The US will remain the world’s largest luxury goods market. China will see 25 per cent year-over-year growth this year, putting Greater China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) in a strong position to exceed sales in Japan for the first time. Growth in Europe will reach 7 per cent in 2011 and Japan will see declines of 5 per cent, due in part to structural decline and also the impact of the recent earthquake. However, the Bain study estimates that Japan’s luxury sales will stabilize starting in the third quarter of 2011, as consumption recovers and as reconstruction drives GDP growth. In fact, even as Tokyo stores reopened in the two weeks after the earthquake, brands reported a quick resumption of sales to expected levels, with little impact in southern cities such as Osaka.

The Bain study concludes with a look ahead to 2014 and beyond, estimating a €214 billion to €221 billion market within three years, and recommending three keys to “owning the luxury goods future”:
• Deep focus on emerging markets—penetration; route-to-market; a tailored value proposition
• Adaptation to the continuing generational shift—baby-boomers retiring; Generation Z (always connected)
• Continuous enhancement of the customer experience—increase loyalty and satisfaction; integrated online and offline experiences; unrelenting service

“Emerging markets are doing more than generating revenues,” concluded Bain’s D’Arpizio. “New consumers are also forcing luxury brands to become much more nimble in the merchandise selection and customer experience they offer to increasingly diverse consumers.”

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