The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Roland Herlory, CEO of luxury swimwear brand Vilebrequin, sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss how the company began as a love story in the early '70s and grew into an iconic global brand. Roland talks about why taking the helm of Vilebrequin after 23 years at Hermès was the "most beautiful gift" in his professional life, why its physical stores will play an even more important role in the company's growth, and how the brand's distinctive product and positioning helps withstand increased competitive pressures in the luxury swimwear category. He also discusses Vilebrequin's approach to brand extensions and why it embraces collabs with artists in a big way. Plus: Sustainability and protecting the oceans has become an essential part of Vilebrequin's work way before consumers demanded it.Featuring: Roland Herlory, CEO of Vilebrequin (vilebrequin.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: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Eugene Tutunikov, CEO of SwissWatchExpo, one of the leading online global retailers of pre-owned luxury watches, to give his perspective on the recent slowdown in the secondary watch market and the outlook for next year. He also talks about coming to the U.S. with his family from Ukraine and realizing the American Dream with the success of his company, navigating the luxury watch demand slowdown, the impact of Rolex's certified pre-owned watch program on his business, the new consumer segments leading the upswing in luxury watch sales, and the watch collaboration explosion. Plus: The key drivers will be to take pre-owned luxury watch market from $24 billion to $35 billion by 2026Featuring: Eugene Tutunikov, CEO of SwissWatchExpo (swisswatchexpo.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: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Sophie Brocart, CEO of Patou, the iconic French luxury couture house founded by Jean Patou in 1914 and acquired by LVMH in 2018. Sophie discusses how she and artistic director Guillaume Henry have revived the storied fashion label after being dormant for thirty years, why Jean Patou was a pioneer and his rivalry with Coco Chanel, and where LVMH saw the opportunity in resurrecting the maison. She also talks about the business strategy for growing the brand, moving beyond a wholesale model, and partnering with Fairly Made on a traceability solution. Plus: Why Patou has been a rich training ground for top fashion talent like Karl Lagerfeld and Christian LacroixFeaturing: Sophie Brocart, CEO of Patou (patou.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: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Jamie Ritchie, chief operating officer at BlockBar, a direct-to-consumer NFT platform for high-end wine & spirits. Ritchie, who joined earlier this year from Sotheby's where he was worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s wine and spirits, discusses BlockBar's asset-backed NFT business model and how it's transforming the ultra-premium spirits business. He also talks about growing its audience beyond millennial cryptoenthsiasts, how spirits brand partners have leveraged the community aspect of NFTs, interesting NFT drops from Glenfiddich and Midleton Very Rare, and exploring the fractional ownership space. Plus: Getting more wine brands on board with the direct-to-consumer NFT marketplace.Featuring: Jamie Ritchie, Chief Operating Officer at BlockBar (blockbar.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: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Piero Braga, the CEO of Slowear, the high-end Italian fashion company whose portfolio of brands include Incotex, Zanone, Glanshirt and Montedoro. Braga, a seasoned executive who recently joined from Gucci, discusses Slowear's 'durable fashion' philosophy, his key priorities for the company and the avenues for growth, and the challenges that come with leading a group of brands versus a single one. He also talks about where menswear fashion is going, the mindset of the Slowear customer, creating relevance to younger clientele, and its long-term physical store strategy. Plus: An update on becoming a B Corp.Featuring: Piero Braga, CEO of Slowear (slowear.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: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Stefano Giacomelli, CEO of Tivoli Group, the Florentine company that produces leather goods for some of the world's most well known fashion and luxury brands. Stefano discusses the company's adaptable business model and why its "beyond craftsmanship" credo is an important part of Tivoli Group's success. He also talks about why the leather goods industry will continue to thrive despite the softening luxury market, how AI and craftsmanship can collaborate successfully, navigating the challenges of the labor shortage, Tivoli Group's sustainability practices, and why it acquired the 135-year-old British luxury leather goods brand Smythson. Plus: Is the new face of "Made in Italy" about scale and power?Featuring: Stefano Giacomelli, CEO of Tivoli Group (www.tivoligroup.it)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, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Leona Qi, President U.S. of VistaJet  to discuss white-hot private business aviation sector and why VistaJet's unique 'asset-free' business model has helped drive record growth. She also talks about the ways VistaJet curates top-of-the-strata voyages for its high-spending members, why creating an incredible on-board dining experience is a key strategy for company, how feedback from its pilots and crew inspired a number of in-flight family-oriented programs, and the future of private aviation. Plus: Why the share of female private jet passengers has doubled in the last few yearsFeaturing: Leona Qi, President U.S. of VistaJet (vistajet.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, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Chuck Cashman, chief revenue officer at MarineMax, the world's largest yacht retailer. Chuck talks about how Covid-19 made superyachts a hot commodity among the ultra-rich and why it hasn't cooled down. He also discusses super-charging MarineMax's global position in yachting through a number of high-profile acquisitions, millennial superyacht owners and how they're shaping the industry, why superyachts are getting bigger, the most notable onboard perks, and why entry level yacht buyers are reconsidering their purchases. Plus: Autonomous yachts and other trendsFeaturing: Chuck Cashman, Chief Revenue Officer at MarineMax (marinemax.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, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comThis episode is sponsored by Ulysse NardinListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

In this encore episode from June 7, 2022, Michael Kliger, CEO of multi-brand luxury fashion e-tailer Mytheresa, talks with Scott Kerr about how its focus on curation, content and service has been driving the company's success. Michael also discusses why Mytheresa fills the void in the current US luxury retail landscape, its unique customer-centric approach, why it expanded into luxury home and lifestyle products, exploring the beauty category potential, and how it uses AI to identify and market to loyal customers. Plus: Why he sees luxury goods continuing to thrive despite the current headwinds.Featuring: Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa (mytheresa.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, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr is joined by Jeff Lotman, owner and CEO of iconic luxury retailer Fred Segal. He is also CEO of brand licensing agency Global Icons, which acquired Fred Segal in 2018. Jeff discusses the influence that Fred Segal had on the culture and where he saw the business opportunity in breathing new life into the 60-year-old Los Angeles lifestyle brand. He also talks about making the brand relevant to young people, finding undiscovered brands for Fred Segal stores, bringing back its infamous Jean Bar, and launching its first in-house collection inspired by Los Angeles neighborhoods. Plus: Jeff takes us into the "misunderstood" world of brand licensing.Featuring: Jeff Lotman, Owner and CEO of Fred Segal (fredsegal.com, globalicons.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, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!