DID YOU KNOW… The story behind Louboutin's red soles?

Most of you ladies are probably familiar with designer Christian Louboutin – and might even own a pair or two of his sumptuous shoes. The red leather soles on his high heels are his ultimate trademark, but how did he first think of including them onto his designs?  While many might think that Louboutin was inspired by his childhood cabaret passion, there’s actually a little bit more to the story.

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Think Tank: How Luxury Brands Can Stay Ahead in the Age of Amazon

By Jason Grunberg for WWD

“During an earnings call in 2016, Jean-Jacques Guiony, the chief financial officer of LVMH — the luxury conglomerate whose brands include Louis Vuitton, Dior and Bulgari — said, “there is no way we can do business with them.” By “them,” Guiony meant Amazon, a company he believed to be the antithesis of what a luxury retail experience should be. Three years later, all three of those brands have their own Amazon stores. As do Chanel, Gucci and Tiffany & Co.”

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How Luxury Brands Remain Relevant To Millenials And Gen Z

By Jeff Fromm, for Forbes 

"What we are observing today is a new paradigm: to successfully engage Millennials and Gen Z consumers, brands have to act in an inclusive, engaging and open manner. This requires a great deal of flexibility in communications, tone of voice, social media behavior. It all starts from within. Instead of asking themselves how to sell to these customers, brands should try and become “friends” with those new generations of consumers, participate in their lives through relevant channels and speak their language."

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Luxury Brands Are Becoming Big Players In The E-Commerce Game

By Tom Popomaronis for Forbes.com

Would you hit the “Buy Now” button with a reputable online seller if the price tag for your purchase was worth tens of thousands of dollars?

That’s exactly what watchmaker Vacheron Constatin hopes shoppers will do. As Bloomberg News reports via Internet Retailer, the Geneva-based company announced earlier this month that it’s going to partner with New York-based website Hodinkee to sell its Cornes de Vache 1955 timepieces online only. Each of the 36 limited-edition watches sells for $45,000. The release represents the first time in the brand’s 260-year history that the watchmaker will sell exclusively through the Internet.

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'Made in the USA' is a tough promise for luxury brands to make

By Christina Gustafson for CNBC
"Standing in the lobby of New York City's Trump Tower last month, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault told reporters that the Louis Vuitton brand will expand its manufacturing in the U.S., potentially setting up a factory in the Carolinas or Texas.

Yet even as President Donald Trump pressures other businesses to ramp up their American-based production, experts agree that the "Made in the USA" movement is unlikely to take hold in the luxury sector anytime soon."

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How luxury brands are responding to increased consumer demand

By Tom Lees for Mumbrella.com
"When supply meets demand does demand slow or cease? In this guest post, Tom Lees looks at how luxury brands maintain the delicate balance between hard to get and too accessible...In the past, luxury brands controlled the supply to effect subsequent demand. This approach helped maintain status. However, the digital world is changing how consumers consider and perceive luxury with implications on how brands manage and maintain their market position. Instagram pages now share and promote luxury lifestyles – expanding the accessibility to wider audiences, democratising what used to only be attainable by few."

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Luxury Retail: The Folly of the Discount

"When you discount your luxury product, the perceived value deteriorates and so does your ability to charge a premium. Suddenly, more customers are wearing the same purse, the underlying value has not changed significantly, but the perceived value certainly has. A true luxury goods retailer should never discount their products; especially their flagship products. In fact, discounting is a disservice to customers. Why punish your customers who value the product and are willing to pay full price?"

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QuietC.net Launched

Quiet C Holdings was founded by Louis Sterchi, a former Carlyle Group associate, to invest in businesses in times of stress and opportunity. DC-based Quiet C will consider just about any kind of business for partial or full acquisition - perfect for business owners who are looking to retire and pass on the company to strong management. See the ultra simple site at quietc.net.

The image underlying the website is called Midmorning/Silver, 1988 by famed photographer Joel Meyerowitz.

Excuses, excuses. Luxury prices at a tipping point

BY KRYSTINA GUSTAFSON for CNBC

"The value of a discretionary item rests in the eye of the beholder—particularly in the high-end luxury market, where price tags rely more on a shopper's aspirations than on the product's actual worth. As a result, luxury brands including Hermes and Louis Vuitton have been marking up prices over the past few years, as rising stock markets, improving home values and an overall stronger economy make the rich even richer. But are high-end brands in danger of alienating wealthy shoppers, who are increasingly spending their fortunes on experience-driven purchases such as travel?"

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