The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Scott Kerr sits down with Uma Subramanian, CEO of Aero, which is a newly launched luxury semi-private air travel service from Uber co-founder Garrett Camp. Subramanian, an aerospace engineer veteran, discusses the gap Aero fills between private aviation and flying on a luxurious commercial airline, why she thinks Aero is the "perfect solution for the post-COVID world," and how discovering the way people book air travel made Aero rethink its mobile app strategy. She also talks about building the Aero brand from scratch, creating "talk-worthiness" experiences around its services, and the company's green solutions in a non eco-friendly industry. Plus: Why Aero's planes are painted completely in black Featuring: Uma Subramanian, CEO of Aero Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Scott Kerr talks with Maximilian Riedel, President and CEO of Riedel, which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of luxury glassware designed specifically for wine or spirits. Sitting at the helm of a company with 265 years of heritage, 11th generation Riedel discusses how it continues to innovate in a competitive wine glass market and how the uptick in premium alcohol sales during the pandemic drove more consumers to purchase high-end glassware. He also shares Riedel's philosophy for designing its glassware, how its digital strategy has transformed the business, and the company's sustainability practices. Plus: Riedel creates a glass specifically for drinking Coca-Cola Featuring: Maximilian Riedel, President and CEO of Riedel Crystal Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Scott Kerr sits down with Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas. Claquin heads the North and Latin American expansion of Kering’s 12 iconic luxury houses including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Venetta, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga. Claquin discusses how the luxury conglomerate nurtures a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to stay agile and creative, and how its signature "Empower Imagination" permeates through each of the brands. He also talks about how the pandemic has put distance selling and virtual shopping in the spotlight, and why physical stores need to be a destination for human connection and education. Plus: Claquin shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges the luxury industry faces as the market returns, the luxury industry's response to social issues, and Kering's position as a sustainability leader. Featuring: Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Scott Kerr talks with Zornitza Stefanova, Founder and CEO of BSPK, a global clienteling platform for luxury brands that personalizes the shopping experience between sales associate and customer.  Stefanova, recently named one of Luxury Daily's "Luxury Women to Watch 2021", discusses how she saw a gap in the way luxury brands were using technology to drive customer engagement and retention that drove her to create the BSPK platform. She also talks about how COVID exposed the luxury leaders and laggards in digital, why the "human touch" element can be great differentiator for brands, and what luxury shoppers want when they return to physical stores. Plus: Why both emotional intelligence and tech savvy skills are critical for today's sales associatesFeaturing: Zornitza Stefanova, Founder and CEO of BSPK (bspk.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsultingEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comNewsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Scott Kerr talks with Natural Diamond Council CEO David Kellie about how the $80 billion diamond industry is regaining its sparkle thanks to stuck-at-home consumers and "emotional asset" seekers. He also discusses how the pandemic ignited new and faster ways of doing business, the importance of understanding consumer sentiment, the radical digital transformation of the diamond industry, and the NDC's new program offering $1 million to BIPOC designers. Plus: New insights on why Millennials and Gen Z are buying diamonds Featuring: David Kellie, Chief Executive Officer of the Natural Diamond Council (naturaldiamonds.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Rémy Cointreau USA Chief Executive Officer Ian McLernon sits down with The Luxury Item's Scott Kerr to discuss navigating the French wine & spirits company through a world of "volatility, uncertainty, chaos, and ambiguity" and which alcohol industry trends will persist amidst a slow return to pre-covid life. McLernon talks about the expansion of Rémy Cointreau's e-commerce strategy, including its partnership with online alcohol delivery service Drizly and launch of an immersive "e-boutique" for its high-end Louis XIII cognac; how centuries-old legacy brands "innovate" and why sustainability is instilled in everything they do. Plus: The story behind Cointreau's "Love Letter" ad in the Super Bowl Featuring: Ian McLernon, Chief Executive Officer of Rémy Cointreau USA (remy-cointreau.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting (silvertoneconsulting.com) About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Alessandro Farmeschi, CEO Americas at Lamborghini talks with The Luxury Item's Scott Kerr about the factors contributing to the Italian luxury sports-car company's record-breaking 2020 sales, and why its best-selling Urus "super-sport utility vehicle" has changed the perception of Lamborghini. Farmeschi also discusses how Lamborghini's strategic focus on digital marketing has paid off in areas like social media, virtual reality, video, and CRM. He also talks about Lamborghini's collaborations with LEGO and Supreme, shifts in owner demographics, and why Lamborghini isn't jumping on the Bitcoin bandwagon yet. Plus: Will the upcoming Tesla Roadster be a threat? Featuring: Alessandro Farmeschi, Chief Executive Officer Americas at Automobili Lamborghini (lamborghini.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting (silvertoneconsulting.com) About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

François-Xavier Hotier, President of Ulysse Nardin Americas talks with The Luxury Item's Scott Kerr about how the 175-year-old Swiss luxury watch brand has shown resilience through the crisis and the accelerated transformation of the industry. Hotier discusses the importance of Kering's acquisition of Ulysse Nardin, his role of maintaining desirability for the brand, its new digital platforms to reach younger buyers, and the shifting attitudes and behaviors of luxury watch customers. He also explains Ulysse Nardin's unique approach to participating in luxury watch auctions, and why the brand is committed to sustainability and ocean conservation. Plus: Ulysse Nardin will never release a smartwatch Featuring: François-Xavier Hotier, President of Ulysse Nardin Americas Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Laurence Lim Dally, Founder and Managing Director, Cherry Blossoms Intercultural Branding talks with Scott Kerr about what it means to be feminine in China today and what luxury marketers can do to resonate with the new generation of Chinese women. Lim Dally discusses how she launched her agency to help brands to improve their cultural intelligence, how Chinese femininities are evolving, the cultural gap between China and the West, and the emerging "loneliness economy" as well as other important microtrends in China that luxury marketers should be aware of. Plus: How Western luxury brands should approach their messaging during Chinese New Year Featuring: Laurence Lim Dally, Founder & Managing Director, Cherry Blossoms Intercultural Branding Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com

Scott Kerr sits down with Nadia Tuma-Weldon, senior vice president of McCann Worldgroup's Truth Central, its global intelligence unit — she also leads the company's global luxury practice. Tuma-Weldon was recently named as one of the "Luxury Women to Watch in 2021" by Luxury Daily and she joined the podcast to talk about the changing luxury consumer. Tuma-Weldon talks about how Truth Central helps clients understand "enduring truths" that shape consumer behaviors and attitudes and how a Tastemakers Council at McCann fueled the launch of the global luxury practice. She also discusses why luxury is an antidote to these unprecedented times, why affluent consumers have gravitated to "the bottom of the luxury hierarchy model" during the crisis, and how luxury brands can play a role in the wellness ecosystem. Plus: Why Tuma-Weldon takes issue with the whole "experiences" versus "things" debate. Featuring: Nadia Tuma-Weldon is SVP, Director of Truth Central at McCann Worldgroup Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertoneconsulting Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com