Tag: Cartier

  • Damien Licciardi: From Richemont to Cartiers New MD in Thailand

    Damien Licciardi: From Richemont to Cartiers New MD in Thailand

    Luxury jewelry brand Cartier has announced the appointment of Damien Licciardi as the Managing Director (MD) for its operations in Thailand. This appointment is effective immediately.

    Licciardi’s Professional Background

    Damien Licciardi steps into the role of MD at Cartier with over a decade of experience in the luxury retail industry. Licciardi has spent the past 12 years with Richemont, a Switzerland-based international distributor of luxury goods. During his tenure at Richemont, Licciardi served in various high-ranking roles. He held the positions of General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the company’s Mexico operations. More recently, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Richemont’s Thailand business.

    Licciardi’s multi-faceted experience with Richemont, from operational roles to senior leadership responsibilities, has provided him with a broad understanding of the luxury retail sector.

    Licciardi’s Remarks on His Appointment

    Expressing gratitude upon his appointment, Licciardi acknowledged the exciting opportunity to be a part of Cartier. He expressed his admiration for the brand, its distinctive culture, unique craftsmanship, and its talented team. Licciardi notes that he is looking forward to continuing his learning and development journey at Cartier.

    He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Cartier’s regional and headquarters management for entrusting him with this new role. Licciardi thanked his teams, partners, and colleagues who have supported him in moving into this new chapter in his career. He gave special thanks to his wife and family for their steadfast support and for embarking on this new adventure alongside him.

    Questions & Answers

    Who has been appointed as the new Managing Director for Cartier Thailand?
    Damien Licciardi has been appointed as the new Managing Director for Cartier Thailand.

    What was Damien Licciardi’s previous role before joining Cartier?
    Before joining Cartier, Damien Licciardi was the Chief Operating Officer of Richemont’s Thailand business.

    What are Licciardi’s sentiments concerning his new role at Cartier?
    Licciardi expressed gratitude and excitement for his new role at Cartier, acknowledging the brand’s unique culture and craftsmanship, and expressing his eagerness to continue his learning and development with the company.

  • Cartier Debuts Expanded Flagship Boutique with Unique Macau Flair at Four Seasons

    Cartier Debuts Expanded Flagship Boutique with Unique Macau Flair at Four Seasons

    Cartier, the opulent jewelry house, has revamped and enlarged its boutique in the distinguished T Galleria, located in the Shoppes at Four Seasons, Macau.

    The Newly Revamped and Expanded Boutique

    Cartier’s renovated boutique is an amalgamation of Cartier’s illustrious heritage and the rich cultural identity of Macau. The remodelled store now includes the first-ever open salon and bar from Cartier in Macau, two private lounges for VIPs, separate dedicated sections for men and women, a gender-neutral area and a distinct high-jewellery section.

    The boutique’s ‘Women’s Universe’ features an exquisite mosaic art piece by the renowned French artist Mathilde Jonquière. The artwork eloquently portrays Cartier’s emblematic panther amidst fireworks, creatively mirroring Macau’s vibrant skyline and festive ambiance.

    In contrast, the boutique’s recently inaugurated salon and bar are a nod to Macau’s Sino-Portuguese lineage. The design includes meticulously handcrafted mosaic flooring, ceramic wall adornments, and lantern-inspired illuminations.

    The gender-neutral zone takes inspiration from the interiors of yachts and Macau’s historical connection with the sea. The ‘Men’s Universe’ exhibits the brand’s wide-ranging collections of timepieces, jewelry and accessories.

    Cartier has curated a Prestige Area to display its high-jewellery collections, characterized by panels of straw marquetry, glass showcases and intricately sculpted chandeliers.

    The expanded boutique is completed with the addition of two VIP salons, inspired by the lotus flower, a symbol synonymous with Macau. The decorative features in these salons were fashioned by the acclaimed French artistic workshop, Ateliers Berger.

    Cartier asserts that the boutique’s reopening signifies the brand’s ongoing commitment to Macau and its initiative to enhance the retail experience with a larger store format and specialized product environments. In the previous year, Cartier launched its most extensive store in Asia, situated in the upscale Ginza retail district of Tokyo.

    Questions & Answers

    What is unique about the renovated Cartier boutique in Macau?
    The renovated Cartier boutique in Macau uniquely blends Cartier’s heritage with Macau’s cultural identity, and features Macau’s first Cartier open salon and bar, dedicated areas for men and women, a unisex zone and a high-jewellery area.

    What inspirations were drawn for the newly renovated boutique?
    Inspiration for the design of the renovated boutique was drawn from Macau’s Sino-Portuguese heritage, its maritime history, and symbolic elements like the lotus flower.

    What does the reopening of the Cartier boutique in Macau represent?
    The reopening of the Cartier boutique in Macau represents the brand’s continued investment in the region and its commitment to offer an enhanced retail experience through a larger store format and dedicated product environments.

  • Cartier Unveils Asia’s Largest Store In Tokyo, Melding Luxury With Traditional Japanese Aesthetics

    Cartier Unveils Asia’s Largest Store In Tokyo, Melding Luxury With Traditional Japanese Aesthetics

    Cartier, the renowned luxury goods purveyor, has recently inaugurated its most expansive retail location in Asia. The store is situated in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district, a hub of high-end shopping and fashion.

    Store Design and Features

    The flagship store sprawls over four storeys of the Hulic Ginza Sukiyabashi Building. The exterior has been conceptualized and executed by the Tokyo-based Klein Dytham Architecture (KDA). The design places a strong emphasis on the traditional Japanese artistry, drawing inspiration from conventional Japanese textiles, patterns, and art forms, thereby giving a distinct, culturally representative facade to the store. The geometric fan patterns layered on the store’s exterior not only add texture but also pay a subtle homage to the country’s art and craft legacy.

    On the inside, the store follows a minimalist yet elegant aesthetic. It has stone flooring and displays a range of Cartier’s offerings, including jewelry, timepieces, accessories, gifts, and fragrances. The interior design carries the same Japan-inspired theme, featuring various art installations from local artists scattered throughout the space. The most striking feature of the store’s interior is the ceiling. Designed to resemble origami, it covers the entire space, invoking the imagery of a traditional Japanese umbrella.

    The store also houses two additional zones, each dedicated to salon and garden themes. These spaces provide customers with a place to rest and leisurely browse between shopping. The top floor of the store accommodates the ‘Residences’, private spaces intended for exclusive events and special reservations.

    Cartier’s Expansion in Asia

    This move is a testament to Cartier’s ongoing expansion efforts in the Asian market. In August, the luxury retailer opened a duplex boutique in Bangkok. The boutique’s design carefully integrates elements of Thai heritage with Cartier’s signature craftsmanship, reflecting the brand’s commitment to celebrate and incorporate local culture into their store designs.

    Questions & Answers

    What inspired the design of Cartier’s new store in Tokyo?
    The design of the new Cartier store in Tokyo is inspired by traditional Japanese fabrics, artwork, and geometric patterns.

    What does the interior of the store feature?
    The interior of the store features art installations by Japanese artists, stone flooring, and a range of Cartier products like watches, jewelry, and fragrances.

    What are the ‘Residences’ within the store?
    The ‘Residences’ are private spaces located on the top floor of the store that are intended for special event reservations and exclusive use.

  • Cartier tells customers some data stolen in cyberattack

    Cartier tells customers some data stolen in cyberattack

    Cartier, the luxury jewellery brand owned by Richemont, recently experienced a cyber attack that led to the theft of some customer data. This information was relayed to clients through an email.

    Cyber Attack on Cartier

    This incident is the latest in a string of cyber attacks on companies, with several retailers, including Marks & Spencer and Victoria’s Secret, reporting similar occurrences. Cartier, known for its watches, necklaces, and bracelets, which have been sported by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie, and Michelle Obama, stated that an unauthorized party had gained temporary access to their system.

    The compromised data included limited client information, such as names, email addresses, and countries. Cartier reassured customers that more sensitive data, including passwords, credit card details, or other banking information, were not accessed during the breach. The company has since resolved the issue.

    Enhanced Security Measures

    In response to the attack, Cartier has taken measures to strengthen the protection of its systems and data. The company has informed the relevant authorities about the breach and is also collaborating with leading external cybersecurity experts to prevent future incidents.

    Julius Cerniauskas, CEO of web intelligence firm Oxylabs, highlighted that no brand is immune to cybercrime. According to him, cyber criminals are becoming increasingly opportunistic and sophisticated, targeting brands that hold valuable customer data.

    Other Retailers Affected

    Victoria’s Secret, a U.S. lingerie company, also recently reported a security incident related to its information technology systems. This forced the company to temporarily shut down its website for a few days. Victoria’s Secret claimed that the breach did not significantly impact its financial results for the first quarter but warned that its second quarter could be affected by the additional expenses incurred following the incident.

    Last month, British retailer Marks & Spencer revealed that a highly sophisticated and targeted cyber attack in April would cost the company about 300 million pounds (US$405 million) in lost profits.

    Fashion brand The North Face also reported a small-scale attack in April. The hackers used a method known as “credential stuffing,” in which they try usernames and passwords stolen from other data breaches, hoping that customers have reused the credentials across multiple accounts.

    Last month, Harrods, a London department store, reported attempts to infiltrate its systems, following similar incidents at Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group.

    Questions & Answers

    What type of data was stolen in the cyber attack on Cartier?
    Names, email addresses, and countries of some customers were stolen in the cyber attack on Cartier.

    What measures has Cartier taken in response to the cyber attack?
    Cartier has enhanced the protection of its systems and data, informed the relevant authorities about the breach, and is working with leading external cybersecurity experts.

    Have other retailers been targeted by cyber attacks recently?
    Yes, Victoria’s Secret, Marks & Spencer, The North Face, and Harrods have all reported cyber attacks recently.

  • Amazon, Cartier sue counterfeiters using social media to sell fakes

    Amazon, Cartier sue counterfeiters using social media to sell fakes

    Amazon is continuing its crackdown on counterfeiters, this time against a social media influencer they claim was selling fake Cartier bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

    The online retail giant said on Wednesday that it filed two joint lawsuits with Cartier against an unnamed social media influencer and eight businesses for allegedly promoting counterfeits on social media and other websites that were then sold on Amazon. The lawsuits were filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging the businesses conspired together to sell counterfeits and falsely advertise them as real, infringing on Cartier’s trademarks, avoiding Amazon’s anti-counterfeiting detection tools and violating Amazon’s policies, according to the companies.

    While items on Amazon were non-branded and listed with generic product descriptions to avoid detection by Amazon’s anti-counterfeit policies, the ads linking to the Amazon product pages used the Cartier brand name to sell the allegedly fake bracelets, necklaces and earrings, according to the companies. For instance, a counterfeit of the Cartier Love bracelet was listed on Amazon as “Women’s Fashion Classic Screw Love Titanium Steel Bracelet”.

    Amazon has put more effort into detecting and removing counterfeit sellers from the site. According to the company’s second Brand Protection Report, published in 2022, Amazon stopped over 2.5 million attempts from bad actors to create new selling counts, down over 6 million compared to the previous year. The company also increased the number of brands on its Brand Registry tool, which detects infringements, leading to a 25 per cent decrease in infringements compared to the previous year.

    Amazon has also begun working directly with luxury brands to remove fake products from its site; last February, Amazon filed two joint lawsuits with Ferragamo against counterfeiters, and in April, the companies said Chinese authorities had conducted an investigation and seized the counterfeit products. In June 2020, Amazon filed its first joint lawsuit with Valentino against New York-based Kaitlyn Pan Group for allegedly counterfeiting the brand’s Rockstud shoes, though the case was settled in January 2021.

    “By using social media to promote counterfeits, bad actors undermine trust and mislead customers,” said Kebharu Smith, associate general counsel and director of the Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit, in a statement. “Amazon will keep investing and innovating to stay ahead of counterfeiters and working with brands and law enforcement to hold bad actors accountable. We don’t just want to chase them away from Amazon — we want to stop them for good.”

    Amazon has been making efforts to break into the luxury market: earlier this month, it rolled out its Luxury Stores concept to the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain after launching it two years ago with Oscar de la Renta and Roland Mouret, among others. However, experts say that the widespread selling of counterfeits and dupes by third-party sellers on the platform is holding the e-commerce behemoth back from elevating its position.

    By publicising its condemnation of counterfeits, Amazon wants to signal its trustworthiness to the luxury sector. “Amazon is deeply committed to protecting brands’ intellectual property and strictly prohibits counterfeit products in its stores,” the company said in a statement, adding that it invested $900 million and employed 12,000 people to protect against counterfeits in 2021.

  • Cartier unveils Oceania flagship in Sydney CBD

    Cartier unveils Oceania flagship in Sydney CBD

    French luxury Maison, Cartier, has announced a new Oceania flagship boutique in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The flagship will be located at the 388 George Street Pavilion Building, on the corner of King Street and George Street, occupying approximately 783m2 on the Ground Floor and Level 1.

    388 George Street sits on one of Sydney’s busiest intersections on what is fast becoming the George Street Boulevard. Opening in Spring 2022, the new Cartier Oceania flagship is set to become a space of luxury reimagined.

    The contemporary landmark, with a modern architectural façade, features a custom-designed curved sandstone and translucent exterior. The Maison’s arrival at this location continues the momentum of the newly pedestrianized George Street becoming a major luxury precinct in the Sydney CBD.

    “After enjoying a longstanding presence in Australia for more than 45 years, the announcement of our new Oceania flagship marks a thrilling new chapter in the relationship between Cartier and Australians. The new Oceania flagship will merge Parisian elegance whilst paying tribute to Australia’s rich culture and natural beauty, featuring the savoir-faire and style Cartier is renowned for around the world. We look forward to welcoming our clients and offering them a unique experience full of discovery,” said Alban du Mesnil, Managing Director of Cartier Oceania.

    To celebrate the impending opening, Cartier has engaged Melbourne 3D artist Paul Milinski to animate the façade with an expression of his singular creativity. Milinski will create a unique art installation, The Australian Dreamscapes, that will evolve quarterly until the boutique opens, enlivening the streets of Sydney with a journey through Australian landscapes.

    Danny Poljak, Executive Vice President & Co-Head of Brookfield Properties, said: “388 George Street continues to set new benchmarks for the Sydney CBD and we are delighted it will now provide an anchor point for the city’s new luxury retail precinct. Cartier is one of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands and realises our vision for the retail space of this development.”

    Nicole Quagliata, Fund Manager, OIPP, said: “Cartier is a fantastic addition for 388 George Street, and we are thrilled to welcome this iconic, luxury brand to their new flagship store. The addition of Cartier to 388 George Street continues to elevate the ground plane and pavilion, bringing outstanding tenant amenity, and solidifying the building as a premium retail destination for the Sydney CBD.

    The ground plane and pavilion building was designed by architects FJMT and provides five levels of commercial and retail space, a rooftop bar and flagship retail stores including Bally and Locali. It was designed to complement the rich history of the site, incorporating a custom-designed curved sandstone and glass façade inspired by the topography of the surrounding CBD landscape.

    The property is owned and was developed by Brookfield Properties and Oxford Investa Property Partners (OIPP) as part of a $200 million transformation of the site that completed in November last year.

  • Cartier unveils complex, wooden-fronted Osaka store

    Cartier unveils complex, wooden-fronted Osaka store

    Cartier has reopened its flagship in Ginza, Tokyo following extensive renovations. The flagship store covers a surface of 10,764-square-feet.

    The Ginza boutique houses the luxury jewelry company’s men’s and women’s watch collections on the first floor, diamonds, including engagement rings, contemporary designs, and special orders, on the second floor, and fashion accessories and leather goods on the lower level. Interior designer Bruno Moinard created unique spaces for each floor, with the first floor featuring brown tones and soft hues of beige, gold, and champagne, and the second floor featuring feminine contrasting hues of ivory and champagne.

    The façade, which was designed by Sylvain Dubuisson, was constructed in two sections with the lower part being a dark brown, orange-toned granite stone façade inspired by the company’s boutique in Paris on Rue de la Paix, and the second section featuring Japanese screens, or Shoji, made from traditional paper and wood cuts arranged to resemble a Japanese cedar, or Sugi, which is Japan’s national tree.

    Cartier first entered the Asia market in 1970 in Hong Kong and later opened in Singapore in 1973. The jewelry company opened a boutique in Ginza in 1991 and opened the flagship in 2003, which introduced Cartier’s interior design concept by Moinard. The boutique was renovated and reopened in 2007, and it reopens again after being renovated for two years.

  • Nissan Appoints Guillaume Cartier Chairperson Of The AMIEO Region

    Nissan Appoints Guillaume Cartier Chairperson Of The AMIEO Region

    Nissan Motor announced Guillaume Cartier as its new Chairperson for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region. Effective April 1st, Cartier will lead all Nissan operations in the region, which covers more than 140 markets across four continents with a population of around 3.8 billion people, representing more than 30 percent of global vehicle sales.

    With over 25 years’ experience at Nissan and in the Alliance in global and regional leadership positions, Cartier will lead the new region as the Nissan NEXT transformation plan continues to gather pace and with key models in Europe including Qashqai and Ariya launching soon, and as the brand continues to grow in the AMIO markets, thanks to a powerful vehicle line-up ranging from the iconic Patrol to the recently launched Magnite in India.

    Cartier said: “I am thrilled to be leading this culturally rich and diverse region into a period of unprecedented change for the automotive industry and with a refreshed range of Nissan models and technologies coming to the market.”

    Currently Vice-Chairperson of the AMIEO region and AMI President, Cartier first joined Nissan in 1995 as after-sales manager and went on to hold a number of senior management positions in the Alliance, including AMI Chairperson, head of the Global Datsun Business Unit, Executive Officer and Senior Vice President for Mitsubishi Motors, and Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Europe. Cartier will report to the vice-chief performance officer and chief quality officer, Christian Vandenhende. Cartier will replace Gianluca De Ficchy, who served for three years as Chairperson of Nissan Europe and latterly of the expanded AMIEO region.

  • Cartier and Asia help Richemont quarterly sales rise 5 per cent

    Cartier and Asia help Richemont quarterly sales rise 5 per cent

    Richemont, maker of brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, on Wednesday posted a 5% increase in quarterly sales led by strong growth at its jewelry brands in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

    Luxury watch sales have contracted sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the jewelry category led by Richemont’s Cartier brand has fared better, motivating LVMH’s recent acquisition of U.S. jeweler Tiffany.

    Richemont, the world’s second-biggest luxury group behind LVMH, said sales at constant exchange rates grew 5% in the company’s third-quarter, while sales at current rates rose 1% to 4.19 billion euros ($5.09 billion).

    The Geneva-based group did not give an outlook.

    Shares were indicated to open 3.2% higher, according to pre-market data by bank Julius Baer.

    It said it had seen strong growth in Asia Pacific with China up 80%, while Dubai in the Middle East had benefited from resumed tourist spending. Europe declined 20%, hit by the absence of tourism and store closures, and the Americas stagnated.

    Jewelry brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels posted 14% growth, while watch brands were down 4%.

    “Richemont’s Xmas quarter was clearly ahead of expectations, which was mainly due to strong growth in Jewellery Maisons, which is also the main earnings contributor,” Vontobel analyst Rene Weber said, recommending to buy the stock.

    Kepler Cheuvreux’s Jon Cox said declines in Europe were also less than feared. “There is clearly an appetite for luxury given pent-up demand,” he said.

  • Cartier opens Sanya flagship

    Cartier opens Sanya flagship

    Cartier has teamed up with China Duty Free Group to unveil its new-look boutique at Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex.

    The Cartier Sanya boutique features an activation pad, which plays a “central” role in the concept, bringing the boutique “to life” for new launches and gatherings.

    In the brand’s first-ever rollout of a new waiting lounge concept, guests at the shop are welcomed in a décor featuring subtle shades of champagne and wood details, accompanied by curled walls in a rectangular space.

    To mark the boutique’s opening Cartier has curated pieces including the Panthère de Cartier Jewellery Collection – as modelled by actress and singer Victoria Song at the opening event – as well as a number of other highly sought-after signature Panthère de Cartier pieces.

    They include the Révélation d’une Panthère Watch, La Panthère Watch, Panthère de Cartier Necklace, Panthère de Cartier Ring, and Pasha de Cartier skeleton steel watch.

  • Cartier flagship opens on Tmall Luxury Pavilion

    Cartier flagship opens on Tmall Luxury Pavilion

    Cartier flagship has opened on Alibaba’s premium Tmall Luxury Pavilion, becoming the first Richemont-owned business to launch a standalone boutique on the site.

    “The Tmall Flagship boutique marks a milestone within the Maison’s longstanding presence in China, reflecting the inheritance of the pioneering spirit embedded in the Maison’s DNA,” said Cyrille Vigneron, president and CEO at Cartier International.

    He said the Cartier flagship’s launch will provide significant opportunities for the brand to embrace China’s fast-moving retail environment in order to further strengthen its commitment to Chinese clients, given the increasingly complex e-commerce landscape of the market.

    Besides a wide collection of jewelry, timepieces, and accessories, the Cartier flagship on Tmall features the global debut of two exclusive collections: the Juste un Clou small model bracelet with diamonds and the Guirlande chain wallet bag.

    The brand offers special services including red box engravings and door-to-door Cartier Bellboy delivery services for the first 288 clients.

    To celebrate the launch, Cartier Tmall has created a hashtag #Let’s Cartier on Weibo and unveiled its grand opening ceremony this February with Tmall Super Brand Day.

  • Cartier boutique opens at Hong Kong International Airport

    Cartier boutique opens at Hong Kong International Airport

    French luxury goods house Cartier has partnered with King Power Global Development to open the doors of its reimagined boutique at Hong Kong International Airport.

    Conceived by Parisian artist and interior designer Bruno Moinard and located in the same shopping area, the Cartier HKIA boutique is the third in the world to follow the Maison’s latest airport-specific architectural concept.

    The see-through facade marks a considerable change in the overall decor, unveiling only one main entrance post-renovations. Traditional windows are replaced by vertical panels that play with lights, verticality and contrasts of the display. The boutique interior has been designed with practicality in mind, allowing for easy access and seamless retail experience. Marble flooring runs all around the boutique as an invitation for travelers and suitcases to navigate through jewelry counters. A dedicated “icon bar” area gives access to the Maison’s most “iconic” creations.

    King Power Global Development is a Joint Venture

  • The Clash De Cartier Studio pop up to visit Singapore

    The Clash De Cartier Studio pop up to visit Singapore

    French luxury goods conglomerate Cartier is launching its Clash De Cartier Studio experience pop-up in Singapore at STPI from November 15 to 17.

    The one-weekend-only event will be the brand’s first and largest ever pop-up activation within the Southeast Asian country. An Asia Tatler report noted “the pop-up invites guests to discover their own alter ego as they explore the experiential space,” and that it will “feature similar themes of literature, music and art, albeit with subtle references to the locality” as did the original installation when first launched in Paris earlier this year.

    Visitors to the pop-up will be guided to either the “Bookstore” or “Record Store” to receive personalised Haiku poems typed out by typewriter or listen to a special Clash de Cartier playlist in futuristic “sound showers” respectively.

    The pop-up also features a cafe lounge area with clashing Eastern and Western decor.

  • Cartier Capsule Exhibition “Into the Wild” opens doors in Macau

    Cartier Capsule Exhibition “Into the Wild” opens doors in Macau

    Cartier has partnered with DFS Group to open the first-ever Cartier Capsule Exhibition ‘Into the Wild’ in Macau City of Dreams, featuring the Panthere de Cartier

    The Cartier Capsule Exhibition presents three main “universes”, including The Design, The Salon and The Community.

    An animated jewelry designer table and jewelry creations are on display at The Design area while The Salon has a photo backdrop and recollection honoring the ‘panther woman’ Jeanne Toussaint. The Community is a digital wall where celebrities incarnate the wild spirit of Panthere.

    A WeChat mini-program allows visitors to play interactive ‘missions’ or capture personalized Panthere memories. Inside the Into the Wild exhibition, windows and counters with the panther icon are displayed to highlight new Panthere de Cartier Jewellery and Watch creations.

    Cartier and DFS Group jointly hosted the opening event for Into the Wild yesterday. The exhibition will take place until December 31 at T Galleria By DFS City of Dreams.

  • Richemont Group sales soars after YNAP acquisitions

    Richemont Group sales soars after YNAP acquisitions

    Richemont Group sales soared 24 per cent in December quarter, to €3.915 billion. It was largely down to the inclusion of online acquisitions Yoox-Net-A-Porter (YNAP) and Watchfinder, which were consolidated into the group’s accounts on May 1 and June 1, respectively. But even excluding that, the sales growth was still strong at 5 per cent by constant exchange rates.

    By region, European sales accelerated at twice the rate of Asia, up 35 per cent at constant exchange rates, with Asia Pacific – still the company’s largest single geographic market – up by 17 per cent.

    Sales in Europe reached €1.147 billion in the quarter, and in Asia €1.389 billion. Sales in the Americas surged 41 per cent to €801 million and in Japan by 14 per cent to €344 million.

    The only market where Richemont failed to perform was the Middle East and Africa, where sales slipped 3 per cent to €234 million.

    The company’s largest category, jewellery maisons, recorded 8 per cent growth to €1.985 billion, while Richemont said YNAP posted double-digit growth across all regions and solid performances across all its categories. Watchfinder’s sales expanded “more moderately”.

    Excluding the new online business unit, Richemont Group sales grew in all regions, with the exception of the Middle East and Europe. During the latter part of the quarter, sales in Europe were affected by social unrest in France which impacted tourism and led to store closures for six consecutive Saturdays. The disposal of Lancel in June also impacted the year-on-year comparison.

    A 10 per cent increase in sales in Asia Pacific reflected double-digit sales growth in Mainland China and good increases in other main markets. Sales growth in Hong Kong slowed, primarily due to the strength of the Hong Kong dollar versus the renminbi that resulted in lower tourist spending.

    In Japan, a 7 per cent expansion in sales was fuelled by continued domestic and tourist spending as well as the impact of newly opened directly operated boutiques.

    Sales in the Americas rose by 9 per cent, primarily driven by the jewellery maisons.

    Of Richemont’s many brands, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels led the way, increasing sales by 8 per cent, driven by jewellery and watches.

    Richemont operates in four business areas: jewellery maisons, being Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; specialist watchmakers, being A. Lange & Sohne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; online distributors, being YNAP and Watchfinder; and other businesses, including Alfred Dunhill, Azzedine Alaïa, Chloe, Montblanc and Peter Millar.