Luxury Trends 2009

Luxury Institute's Wealth and Luxury Trends -- 2009 and Beyond
Beyond the "Deer in the Headlines" Fear Factor


Last update: 11:00 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2008
NEW YORK, NY, Oct 28, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- As the Luxury industry enters 2009, some luxury executives look like deer caught in the headlines -- paralyzed by the terrifying headlines and by declining sales. Yet, genuine luxury purveyors know that luxury is, and always has been, a cyclical business. They see 2009, and beyond, as a golden opportunity to deliver on the luxury fundamentals, to radically innovate, continuously adapt their offerings and business models, and position their brands for long-term leadership. Here are some trends we predict for 2009 and beyond:
1.) Traditional Luxury Dramatically Accelerates its Internet Activities in Response to Innovators
The Luxury Institute has been presenting the empirical case directly from the voice of the wealthy consumer for luxury brands to make their websites the centerpiece of their online and offline strategies since 2006. Nevertheless, the traditional luxury industry has been slow to adopt Web 2.0. Meanwhile, innovators such as Gilt, Ideeli, A Small World, Portero, Vivre, Couture Lab and several off-the-radar players such as Bespoke Global, are gaining traction online via membership models, global communities, and by aggregating categories of bespoke luxury designers and producers in one-stop-shop destinations. Their economics will become much more compelling as the economic downturn makes opening stores and traditional advertising economically challenging.
Look for all types of traditional luxury goods and services providers to begin to imitate the techniques of these luxury innovators, or to acquire them.
2.) Luxury Awakens to the Influence of Generations X and Y on Technological Adoption and M-Commerce
According to a Luxury Institute WealthSurvey of luxury consumers and mobile device usage, 22% of consumers have executed a transaction via a mobile device, while 21% have made a payment via mobile. Those doing so tend to be under 45 years-of-age, but significantly wealthier, with HH net-worth at $5+ million.
Luxury should be leading M-Commerce innovation since it creates an enhanced experience for all customer segments. Generation X and Y shoppers are influencing the lightning speed with which consumers of all ages, including boomers, are embracing mobile technology for on-the-go entertainment, search, and transactions. Look for a few luxury innovators to make a more serious effort to experiment with M-Commerce in 2009, especially internationally, as luxury quickly discovers that it must seriously address the mobile needs of the wealthy constituents of Generation X and Generation Y, as well as the mobile needs of Boomers.
3.) Price Does Matter. Luxury will Appeal to the Rational Brain Again
In the recent boom, some in the luxury industry, and their cheerleaders, deluded themselves into believing that the more expensive an item, the greater its appeal to the wealthy, regardless of quality, functionality and service experience. University research suggested that the more expensive a consumer was told an item was, regardless of the fact that it was the same quality as a much lower priced item, the more the happy chemicals in the brain approached a state of bliss.
In times of economic crisis, that high can only last so long. Most of the wealthy are self-made, and have sacrificed to earn every cent while delivering great quality and service to their own customers. Like their customers, they use both sides of their brains to make luxury purchasing decisions. One empirical example: an October 2008 Luxury Institute WealthSurvey shows that when it comes to luxury travel, the top two factors influencing vacation destination decisions are: scenery and nature (58%), and cost (56%). So, it's back to value-added luxury fundamentals in 2009.
4.) High-End Philanthropy Phase Three: Doing Good Becomes a Way to Salvage Reputation for Discredited Wealthy
In 2007 we noted that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet's entry into big-league philanthropy created the "alms race" we had predicted. Many billionaires followed. In 2008 we noted that their participation, and the trend they started, created a new level of scrutiny for ineffective philanthropies to deliver results. While this trend continues, we now also expect many discredited Wall Street executives to turn a new leaf in an effort to save family legacies and reputations and get into the high-end philanthropy game. It's not much fun for kids to have the wealthiest parents in private school when everyone knows they made their money in a Ponzi scheme that brought the world economy to its knees.
Repentant wealthy executives have begun to carve out new family legacies by engaging in serious philanthropy. The search for redemption is part of the human journey and the attempt by these super-talented executives to make a difference in world-class problems will be embraced.
5.) Luxury will Embrace Corporate Social Responsibility as a Critical Component of the Business Model, not Just a Slogan
For several years, the Luxury Institute's impartial research has documented the rise in relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility. Luxury Institute surveys document that wealthy consumers have increased their preference for socially responsible brands from 51% in 2006 to 57% last year. Expect that number to rise dramatically by 2009.
The global crisis of confidence in governmental, financial and other institutions will drive luxury consumers to demand that luxury brands serve not just them, but society as a whole. They will require luxury brands to be ethical with all constituents, charitable in ways that make a difference to their beneficiaries, and eco-friendly in ways that can be documented. It might mean we will see, among other changes, a reversal in luxury charity events where 80% of proceeds go to lavish fun for the attendees and 20% to the beneficiaries.
The good news is that these enlightened practices will elevate luxury to a new level in the eyes of all of its constituents, including young aspirationals, who are even more sensitive about these practices than their elders.
6.) Classic Luxury Spending and Selective Indulgence Coexist, Guided by Trusted Advisors
In the midst of this financial crisis, and the populist backlash on unearned financial services wealth, many wealthy consumers are a bit confused and feeling a tad defensive about luxury, even if they have money to spend. Consequently, many wealthy consumers will opt for classic luxury that is unique and exclusive, with exquisite artistic design, craftsmanship, and quality, delivered with impeccable service. They still covet their favorite Lamborghini sports cars, Judith Leiber handbags, Christian Louboutin shoes, Harry Winston jewelry, and Ritz-Carlton experiences. That's good, because luxury spending has a strong and positive multiplier economic effect on society.
At the same time, they are selectively looking for a few playful indulgences in their favorite categories that they can enjoy in privacy with family and friends. Personal shoppers, travel agents, realtors, car dealers, interior designers and others who have earned the ironclad trust of clients over the years will have the advantage of curating customer experiences that indulge, but don't overreach, for their loyal clients.
7.) Trust, Authentication, Validation and Certification Become Part of the Luxury Lexicon
The financial meltdown has its roots in a crisis of confidence that began in real estate as far back as 2006. Trust in credit ratings institutions such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's, and in quasi-governmental institutions such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and in financial institutions such as AIG, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and even Goldman Sachs, has declined precipitously, as indicated by their financial results and stock prices. Several paid the ultimate price for this lack of trust.
Luxury too, is down, partly because some purveyors have forgotten what true luxury means to the customer. As online communities, social networks and ratings hubs dot the Internet landscape, expect luxury consumers to look extensively to their own trusted peers for guidance on what is, and, what is not, true luxury. These now-wiser consumers, who are reeling from loss of net-worth and income, will scrutinize luxury brands far more carefully going forward, and will rely on authenticated, validated and certified ratings to make purchasing decisions. They will expect luxury brands to be transparent, and to independently authenticate claims, such as country of origin, quality, customer referrals, and social responsibility, like never before.
Finally, in these troubled times, many experts will herald the death of luxury. If you are a true luxury purveyor, you will not flinch. You will do what true luxury purveyors have done for hundreds of years in up, and down, cycles: execute the fundamentals as inspired and defined by your customers' needs and desires, consistently and extraordinarily well. Men and women who achieve the best will always seek the best of everything. That is why luxury has brands that span centuries, while most other industries don't.
Milton Pedraza
CEO
Luxury Institute, LLC New York City

www.LuxuryInstitute.com