The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Scott Kerr is joined by Martin de Dreuille, global vice president of marketing for iconic French premium vodka brand Grey Goose. Martin discusses why the super premium vodka market is surging in popularity, facing challenges from the fast-growing whisky and tequila categories, how the brand has evolved with the changing nature of luxury, why it was time for a brand refresh and new creative platform in 2019, the newest "Viva Le Martini" campaign, the role of disruptive local activations in telling the Grey Goose story, and the brand's expanding Web3 marketing investment. Plus: How Grey Goose was born out of a collaboration between a French cognac cellar master and an American entrepreneur Featuring: Martin de Dreuille, Global Vice President of Marketing at Grey Goose (greygoose.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr sits down with Michelle Freyre, global brand president of Clinique, one of the top players in the prestige beauty market and part of The Estée Lauder Companies' portfolio of brands. Her brand oversight also extends to Origins. Michelle discusses joining Clinique at the start of the pandemic and the challenges of navigating through an altered beauty industry. She also talks about competing against indie and D2C disruptor brands, why the iconic Clinique brand is so popular with Gen Z consumers, harnessing the power of TikTok, how its virtual services and digital investments have been paying off, and the company's commitment to diverse representation in its marketing campaigns and in the workplace. Plus: How Clinique is putting a spotlight on underrepresented identities in the metaverse Featuring: Michelle Freyre, Global Brand President at Clinique and Origins (clinique.com and origins.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Famed Japanese luxury jewelry brand Mikimoto is the world leader in cultured pearls. Kentaro Nishimura, chief operating officer at Mikimoto America joins Scott Kerr to discuss the resurgence of pearls and how the 129-year-old Mikimoto brand has gained its worldwide reputation. Kentaro talks about Mikomoto's unique process of cultivating pearls, competing with other jewelers, partnering with avant-garde fashion label Comme des Garçons, why more men are wearing pearl jewelry, and how the aesthetics of its new NYC flagship store pays tribute to the sea. Plus: Are cultured pearls good for the environment? Featuring: Kentaro Nishimura, Chief Operating Officer at Mikimoto America (mikimoto.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr sits down with Paul Altieri, CEO and founder of Bob's Watches, the leading online buyer and seller of pre-owned luxury watches. Paul discusses the booming secondhand luxury watch market, being a first mover in a competitive segment, why resale prices have been falling after skyrocketing growth, what's really driving the Rolex shortage, the process of authenticating pre-owned Rolex watches, and the shifting consumer behavior and demographics that are driving the market. Plus: Why Rolex is an "affordable luxury." Featuring: Paul Altieri, Founder and CEO of Bob's Watches (bobswatches.com); Paul Altieri blog (paulaltieri.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

In this encore episode of The Luxury Item podcast (published on October 5, 2021), Yves Saint Laurent Beauty U.S. General Manager Laetitia Raoust talks with Scott Kerr about shifting beauty customer habits, online sales strategies and key brand initiatives. Laetitia dives into the importance of Gen Z customers to YSL Beauty and how it's courting them with the launch of its NU collection of makeup-skincare hybrid products. She also discusses how YSL Beauty is using influencers and social media to win over younger audiences, the halo effect of the Yves Saint Laurent brand legacy, the evolving definition of what luxury means in beauty, exploring new tech platforms for the brand, sustainability initiatives, and the strategy behind its buzz-worthy pop-up shops. Plus: Why YSL Beauty is obsessed with "consumer-centricity." Featuring: Laetitia Raoust, General Manager of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty U.S. (yslbeauty.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

In this encore episode of The Luxury Item (published November 30, 2021) Scott Kerr is joined by Andrew Haarsager, head of Cartier's Retail Innovation Lab, to discuss how it designs and tests new forms of retail experiences for the French luxury jeweler and watchmaker, both in and beyond the boutique. Andrew also talks about Cartier's approach to the role of retail in this new world, creating an in-store vitrine to display holograms of select high jewelry pieces, working with Cartier's internal 'Liaison' program for sales associates, why heritage brands must learn to speak in new ways to younger consumers, and why Cartier is not jumping so quickly into the avatar economy. Plus: What the luxury boutique will look like in 10 years Featuring: Andrew Haarsager, Head of Retail Innovation Lab at Cartier (cartier.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

In this encore episode of The Luxury Item (published February 15, 2022), Stefano Canali, president and CEO at Italian luxury menswear brand Canali, talks about how the 88-year-old company is shaping its future with new investments and innovations. Stefano discusses the inspiration behind its F/W22 collection, why formalwear is not dead despite the pandemic-induced working-from-homewear shift, the lessons learned from past challenges that helped him navigate the company though the COVID-19 crisis, and how the company's founding values and Italian DNA continue to drive its vision and style. He also points to a full slate of major projects in 2022 including re-platforming its e-commerce, a new store concept, a more robust CRM program and expansion in China. Plus: Thoughts on Canali entering the metaverse any time soon Featuring: Stefano Canali, President and Chief Executive Officer at Canali (canali.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Newsletter: brilliantcut.substack.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Silvio Ursini, Bulgari Group executive vice president in charge of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts division joins Scott Kerr to discuss the steady and calculated expansion of the Italian jeweler's ultra-luxury hotels. Silvio talks about the recent opening of its seventh property in Paris and breaking from the usual clichés of Parisian architecture, how ultra high net worth customers are keeping its hotel business strong, and approaching each hotel as "jewels." He also discusses the upside of being "outsider" in the hotel industry and exploring Web3 opportunities. Plus: Why fashion brands often fail in the hospitality business Featuring: Silvio Ursini, Bulgari Group Executive Vice President, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts (bulgarihotels.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr sits down with Radha Arora, president and chief development officer at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, to discuss what it means to be an ultra-luxury hotel today and why the brand's "Sense of Place" philosophy is more relevant to 'affluent explorers' in a post-pandemic world. Radha also talks about Rosewood's ambitious global growth strategy, the summer resurgence in business despite the air travel mess, the slow return of the business traveler, shifts in luxury hotel guest expectations, and its creative strategy to manage labor challenges. Plus: Rosewood's transformation of New York's iconic Carlyle Hotel and launch of Carlyle & Co. membership clubs. Featuring: Radha Arora, President and Chief Development Officer at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts (rosewoodhotels.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Sarah Davis, founder and president of leading luxury goods reseller Fashionphile, sits down with Scott Kerr for an in-depth discussion on the booming luxury resale market and the enormous success of the brand. Sarah talks about Fashionphile's rigorous authentication process, distinguishing itself from other luxury resellers, the pandemic's shot in the arm for resale, the flourishing partnership with Neiman Marcus, Gen Z trends that are fueling resale growth, and how luxury fashion house price hikes on signature handbags have impacted resale pricng dynamics. Plus: Why secondhand goods will play a significantly larger role in the future luxury fashion landscape. Featuring: Sarah Davis, Founder and President of Fashionphile (fashionphile.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, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!