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Tag: Vertu

  • Vertu’s first duty-free store opens in Sanya ahead of global roll-out

    Vertu’s first duty-free store opens in Sanya ahead of global roll-out

    VERTU, the world’s premier luxury mobile phone brand, has unveiled its strategic plan to establish duty-free stores worldwide. Following the recent opening of their duty-free store in Sanya, VERTU is set to revolutionize the duty-free shopping experience for global travelers.

    VERTU’s duty-free store, located at Sanya International Duty Free Complex, is scheduled to open its doors on July 1, 2023. Positioned at B Zone, Ground Floor, next to Tiffany, this store will serve as a hallmark destination for discerning travelers seeking the finest in luxury mobile devices.

    In line with their commitment to providing unparalleled service and exclusivity, VERTU offers a range of key features and highlights that make them stand out in the market. Let’s take a closer look:
    VERTU- Brand debuts its pop-up store with CDFG in duty free channel.

    VERTU’s duty-free stores serve as a platform to showcase the brand’s commitment to excellence and luxury as well as cater to the unique needs of luxury travelers.The stores provide a captivating environment for customers to immerse themselves in the world of VERTU, surrounded by the finest craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.

    VERTU prides itself as the world’s only luxury mobile phone brand to offer a dedicated British private butler concierge service. Customers can enjoy a truly unique experience with their own personal assistant, catering to their every need and ensuring an extraordinary level of service.

    VERTU’s duty-free store introduces the highly anticipated METAVERTU, the world’s first WEB3 phone. Combining the power of blockchain and decentralized applications, this revolutionary device offers unparalleled security, privacy, and connectivity.

    VERTU’s duty-free store presents the exclusive IVERTU collection, a range of limited edition devices available only through duty-free channels. These meticulously crafted phones showcase VERTU’s dedication to creating unique and unforgettable luxury experiences. IVERTU, as the one of the most popular models, has undergone updates in hardware, software, and aesthetics. The metallic V logo has been upgraded to a sleek black finish, enhancing its tactile appeal, and the leather components have been enhanced for a fuller and better feel.

    In a groundbreaking move, VERTU unveils its first AI experience store within the duty-free outlet. Customers can explore the fusion of technology and luxury as they interact with VERTU’s cutting-edge AI assistant V-GPT.Unlike Apple’s App Store version, METAVERTU allows free and unlimited usage of ChatGPT without paying a subscription fee. Accessible via MetaSpace, METAVERTU grants users a comprehensive set of functionalities, including seamless one-click login, unlimited conversations at no cost (in contrast to the paid model on other platforms), and voice input for user queries.

    With its Global Duty-Free And Travel Retail market strategy, VERTU aims to establish a strong presence in key travel hubs worldwide. By offering unparalleled luxury, personalized service, and exclusive products, VERTU continues to redefine the mobile phone industry and elevate the standards of luxury living.

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  • Luxury cellphone Vertu returns to Vietnam

    Luxury cellphone Vertu returns to Vietnam

    After a two-year hiatus, British luxury phone maker Vertu has announced resumption of sales at its Ho Chi Minh City store next month. Vertu Vietnam, a local unit of the phone maker, said genuine Vertu phones will once again be sold in Vietnam, first from an District 1 outlet in Ho Chi Minh City in October, then a Hanoi outlet the following month.

    Vertu luxury cell phones had been sold in Vietnam since 2006 by electronics distributor FPT Trading, formerly known as FPT Telecom Products Distribution Co., Ltd., through three outlets in Vietnam. In late 2017, the stores closed after Vertu ceased production in the U.K.

    The company had filed for bankruptcy in its home country, having racked up debts of some £138 million, but its business was still thriving in Vietnam.

    A representative of FPT Trading said that when Vertu’s U.K. factory was shut down, customers in Vietnam were still ordering its super-luxury phones.

    Vertu will now distribute its phones through Vertu Vietnam, a Hanoi headquartered company established in May 2019.

    Before Vertu announced its return to Vietnam, traders had observed that demand for Vertu handsets in the country had never died down.

    “Normally, we rarely see Vertu phones, but in events or places with lots of rich people, you can find 80-90 percent of them using them. For them, the latest technology is not a top priority. They use Vertu because of the phone’s anti-tapping protection features, the brand name and the fact it is crafted from luxury materials,” said Nguyen Phi Dung, a dealer in luxury hand-carried Vertu phones.

    Models that cost between VND100–150 million ($4,300 – $6,450) used to be the most popular, but customers have even bought handsets costing VND500 million to over VND1 billion ($21,500 – $43,000), Dung added.

    Vertu was founded by Finnish phone-maker Nokia in 1998, but changed hands several times later. In 2012, it was sold to Swedish investment corporation EQT; and in 2015 to Hong-Kong based investment fund Godin Holdings.

    In March 2017, Vertu was sold to Baferton Ltd., owned by Turkish businessman Hakan Uzan. However, just four months later, Uzan had to close Vertu’s U.K. factories, having failed to save it from bankruptcy.

    However, in October last year, Vertu made an unexpected return to China with a new Aster P, priced at $5,167 for black and white models, and $14,146 for its yellow model.

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  • Vertu eyes China

    Vertu eyes China

    Luxury phone brand Vertu says its new Hong Kong investor will allow the brand to embark on its next growth phase – into Mainland China.

    Vertu will continue to operate its global business from its UK Headquarters with new partner, Godin Holdings, a Hong Kong based company backed by a group of international investors. This move will support accelerated growth for Vertu and maximise its ‘Luxury Tech’ market leadership position.

    Since shipping its first phone in 2002, Vertu had sold around 450,000 devices worldwide, with an average selling price of around £5000 per handset last year.

    “Godin brings with it a significant understanding of the world’s fastest developing luxury market, China, as well as an ability to help with the technical development of a future range of industry leading Vertu products,” the company said in a statement.

    Vertu runs 70 of its own boutique retail stores and is sold through 430 partner stores in 66 countries. It is not yet clear if the brand will expand in China through its own store network of partner with an existing retailer.

    The new investment has led to a management shakeup with CEO Massimiliano Pogliani stepping down after three years

    As part of the new investment, a number of changes have taken place within Vertu’s management, replaced by Billy Crotty. Justine Rouch, COO and Davide Vassena, VP product and marketing, have both also left the company.

    Crotty says the company has a clear vision for the next phase of its growth.

    “Vertu is regarded as the clear leader in the luxury mobile category; a company with a strong USP, brand equity, product roadmap and established retail network; the ‘Handmade in England’ aspect of Vertu is appreciated globally as a particularly valuable, fundamental brand strength.

    “Godin Holdings’ investment will allow Vertu to maintain its leadership position within the luxury technology industry and to expand its already world class product portfolio.

    “Mainland China is a key market for Vertu, alongside its other pan-Asian and European business. All in all, the Godin team are perfectly placed to offer both investment into the company, as well as mobile technology industry expertise and contacts. Godin believes that significant growth opportunities lie ahead for Vertu, within specific markets as well as through new product developments.”

    A key part of Vertu’s future is the launch of Vertu Club, explains Crotty.

    “Vertu Club will be the umbrella for the evolution of our on-device and off-device services. Our aim is to ramp up the already very close relationship we enjoy with our customers through Concierge, Life and Certainty apps, in order that it can inform, to an ever increasing degree, not only the portfolio of services we offer, but the manner in which we do so, in order that we create a world class personal service, unattainable in any other format than that which can be achieved by being a member of the Vertu Club.”