https://www.scmp.com/rss/505604/feed Daniel Langer is the CEO of the leading luxury, lifestyle and consumer brand strategy firm Équité (equitebrands.com), and the professor of luxury strategy and extreme value creation at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He consults some of the most iconic luxury brands in the world, is the author of several luxury management books, a frequent media commentator, a global keynote speaker, and holds luxury masterclasses in Europe, the USA, and Asia. Follow @drlanger on Twitter en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column The number of metaverse projects in luxury seems almost infinite. Practically every day there is a new initiative launched somewhere in the world, whether it’s an NFT collection, virtual real estate or a game. The challenge: many of these projects create no value and no desirability. For example, during the Super Bowl, one well-known brand created a metaverse event that was marketed in a significant way. Sadly, it was a party where, besides... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3189162/how-do-you-turn-nft-luxury-good-lvmhs-tiffany-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3189162/how-do-you-turn-nft-luxury-good-lvmhs-tiffany-co-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Aug 2022 10:00:22 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column Mercedes-Benz is back! I have been pleased to see the progress of the brand over the last two years. It has become much bolder, playing up its history, while moving forcefully into the future. I wrote in this column previously that, in my view, the Vision EQXX may be the company’s most important car ever because it’s not just an electric Mercedes, but a truly innovative take on the future of cars. In a recent Sotheby’s auction, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3188946/can-mercedes-benz-really-call-itself-haute-voiture-g?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3188946/can-mercedes-benz-really-call-itself-haute-voiture-g?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:17:36 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column Practically from the moment Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook decided to rebrand as Meta, its stock price plummeted. Some commentators were fast to blame the metaverse push for the loss of investor appetite. And, as The Financial Times reported, Meta just announced its first year-on-year quarterly revenue decline. In order to excite its audience, Meta will have to innovate instead of imitate, and differentiate instead of trying to be more TikTok than... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3187604/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-killing-instagram-too-many-ads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3187604/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-killing-instagram-too-many-ads?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:00:27 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column There is an unprecedented number of luxury brands and products these days. Brands seem to have increasingly complex portfolios: fashion brands now offer wearables; many have expanded their offers into streetwear; and NFTs, cryptocurrency and the blockchain have become the new playing field of many luxury brands. The metaverse is around the corner. The noise in luxury was never as deafening as it is now and it is relatively safe to assume we are just... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3166524/why-guccis-controversial-year-tiger-campaign-hit-mark-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3166524/why-guccis-controversial-year-tiger-campaign-hit-mark-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Feb 2022 09:07:26 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column No topic has both intrigued and scared the luxury industry recently as much as the metaverse. In the last two weeks alone, I had at least 20 independent discussions with different luxury brands either on how they should react to the emergence of the metaverse, or what implications it could have on strategy and leadership. While many luxury brands are strategising, tech platform companies are already making moves that will significantly impact... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3164939/what-facebook-and-microsofts-big-moves-tell-us-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3164939/what-facebook-and-microsofts-big-moves-tell-us-about?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Jan 2022 08:55:50 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column Every time I write articles about electric cars in the luxury industry, it triggers a huge controversy. Aficionados of petrol engines tell me that electric cars have no soul, that there is no sound, and that they will never be truly luxurious. I once got a death threat from a petrol enthusiast who told me I should be punished for being supportive of the electric car future. As someone who is extremely passionate about cars and owns both luxury... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3162510/why-mercedes-benz-eqxx-could-be-brands-most-important-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3162510/why-mercedes-benz-eqxx-could-be-brands-most-important-car?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:00:21 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column There was a time when luxury cars were head turners in a positive way. Sculptures on wheels. Objects of desire. Beautiful creations. Luxury car brands valued elegance and timelessness, even if they were idiosyncratic or disruptive. The premium and luxury sector was where innovation happened. Sports car brands were those that pushed the boundaries of speed, handling, acceleration and visceral experiences, and limousine makers excelled in comfort,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3159055/what-bmws-concept-xm-says-about-luxury-car-brands-electric?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3159055/what-bmws-concept-xm-says-about-luxury-car-brands-electric?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:05:59 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column A recent brand strategy workshop with a luxury brand in a five star luxury hotel opened the eyes of my client on what luxury really is. Our first reaction was a combination of quality, craftsmanship, creativity and a refined ambience or design. But the hotel itself presented an excellent learning opportunity as well. How personal chefs became Covid-19’s must-have luxury comfort We decided to start the workshop with an early working lunch. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3155850/why-luxury-hotels-and-restaurants-fail-deliver-memorable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3155850/why-luxury-hotels-and-restaurants-fail-deliver-memorable?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:08:51 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column There are few cars that have been more defining of a category than the Mercedes SL. From the 1950s through to the 90s, the SL was the epitome of elegant luxury – a design icon not just reflecting the design cues of the time, but defining them. Simply electric: Mercedes is bringing sexy back with the EQS The Mercedes-Benz 1956 Gullwing 300 SL is one of the most beautiful and desired cars on the planet, fetching prices of two million dollars and more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3154801/why-isnt-redesigned-2022-mercedes-amg-sl-electric-new-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3154801/why-isnt-redesigned-2022-mercedes-amg-sl-electric-new-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Nov 2021 04:40:30 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. For many companies, Gen Z seems like a distant reality. “Our customers are not Gen Z,” is something I hear all the time. “So why should we even consider them? We sell to an older demographic,” are conclusions that many managers reach. Hollywood glamour? More like Hallyu glamour – luxury brands turn to K-pop Many luxury brands are looking the other way when it comes to Gen Z, or they think that catering to this demographic means selling... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3151434/why-todays-luxury-brands-may-not-survive-gen-z-while-louis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3151434/why-todays-luxury-brands-may-not-survive-gen-z-while-louis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Oct 2021 01:00:31 +0000 This is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. Mercedes and BMW once were the undisputed leaders in luxury cars. Their flagship products, the S-class and the 7 Series, were leaders in innovation for decades. Hence, when customers wanted to buy the ultimate luxury, other than the ultra-luxurious Bentley and Rolls-Royce, which are seldom considered practical daily driving cars, the choice was between these two brands. Over the last two decades, the dynamic changed. Audi went upmarket and became... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3148939/how-bmw-and-mercedes-benz-rediscovered-their-luxurious-roots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3148939/how-bmw-and-mercedes-benz-rediscovered-their-luxurious-roots?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Sep 2021 07:00:19 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. The value in luxury brands lies in the ability to tell stories. The best luxury brands are excellent at this. In my doctoral thesis “Decoding Luxury”, written about a decade ago, I showed how the Added Luxury Value that a brand provides its customers depends on the perception of that brand as being “luxury”. The latter depends a large extent on the brand story. The “glam” factor can be key – making something appear extraordinary and outside... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146451/does-k-pop-have-more-selling-power-hollywood-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146451/does-k-pop-have-more-selling-power-hollywood-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:50:34 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column Lamborghini has always been a brand all about the extreme. And that makes it one of the most luxurious brands in the world. One of the most iconic cars of all time was the Lamborghini Miura, launched in 1966. For many, it is still one of the most spectacular sports cars ever made. The film where the cars outshine the stars – yes, it’s Fast and Furious 9 When the time came to develop a successor, Ferruccio Lamborghini’s brief was to develop a car... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3145595/lamborghini-countach-2021-supercar-reborn-50-years-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3145595/lamborghini-countach-2021-supercar-reborn-50-years-after?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:56:39 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. A little more than two years ago, I visited the Mercedes-Benz stands at two of the world’s most important car shows: Geneva and Seoul. In Geneva, I recall a stand dedicated to electro mobility, including a bar with wireless charging stations. The message: Mercedes goes electric. The catch: none of the cars shown were fully electric, or if they were, they were not for sale. Instead, as Swiss law demands, the petrol-driven cars on the stand had to be... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3144805/mercedes-bringing-sexy-back-its-electric-eqs-first-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3144805/mercedes-bringing-sexy-back-its-electric-eqs-first-more?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:13:54 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. This year, with travel restrictions easing and in-person meetings and events recommencing, I had several opportunities to travel first class overseas from the US and stay in luxury hotels. All of these experiences provided case studies of how the luxury travel and hospitality industry has changed in the face of Covid-19. BTS’ runway debut? 4 hot K-pop looks of the moment While I understand that certain protocols have to change during a pandemic,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3144065/covid-19-protocols-are-spoiling-my-luxury-travel-experience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3144065/covid-19-protocols-are-spoiling-my-luxury-travel-experience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 05:42:43 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury Column. The Olympic Games is the greatest sporting event in the world, with millions ordinarily flocking into stadiums and billions tuning in from every corner of the Earth. Every four years the summer (and winter) games act to define the future of the host cities, with billions of dollars invested in infrastructure and the entire world taking notes. In the realm of international sports, there is nothing bigger, more extreme, more admired ... or more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3142047/olympics-2020-can-sports-oldest-brand-survive-furore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3142047/olympics-2020-can-sports-oldest-brand-survive-furore?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jul 2021 03:47:49 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column. True luxury is always extreme. Extreme rarity. Extreme dedication. Extreme craftsmanship. And extreme experiences. To the point where a true luxury experience can be called a once-in-a-lifetime experience. How to put the ‘luxury’ in luxury hotel … hint: it's not about fluffy towels In the 1950s and 1960s, the emergence of intercontinental flights made a trip from New York to London or Paris to Shanghai such a special occurrence, especially in first... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3141232/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-space-luxurys-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3141232/jeff-bezos-elon-musk-and-richard-branson-space-luxurys-new?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:05:42 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column. Bugatti was the ultimate hyper car even before the term hyper car was created. Founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Bugatti made a name for itself from the onset for winning races and creating stunningly beautiful cars. When Ettore Bugatti died in 1947, the brand vanished with only around 8,000 cars built, among those the iconic Type 57 SC Atlantic, for many the most beautiful car ever made. To call it a car would not give it justice. A piece of art seems... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3140326/why-bugattis-sale-marks-end-petrol-cars-porsche-takes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3140326/why-bugattis-sale-marks-end-petrol-cars-porsche-takes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:20:03 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column. In a recent masterclass for luxury hospitality, I tried an exercise. I asked the participants to name three hotels in any part of the world. Their first choice was in Dubai, the second in Paris, the third in the Maldives. (Almost) the final frontier: hotels to set you dreaming of the stars All three properties position themselves in the luxury space and all of them were priced above US$500 per night. I asked the group to open the three hotel... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3139578/dubai-paris-maldives-luxury-hotels-everywhere-memories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3139578/dubai-paris-maldives-luxury-hotels-everywhere-memories?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jul 2021 07:23:14 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury Column. In 2012, when I moved from Europe to the US, one of the first things I bought was a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim. It was a transformational purchase. It deepened my love of motorbikes. And it opened a new world – being the proud owner of a Harley. It was love at first sight. I did not plan to buy a motorbike, I was just curious to experience the legendary brand. When I entered the showroom on a weekday evening, I saw the bike and the desire... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3138555/harley-davidson-livewire-can-americas-most-iconic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3138555/harley-davidson-livewire-can-americas-most-iconic?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jun 2021 06:02:43 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. To many, luxury is about exclusivity, rarity and unique craftsmanship. And, as I have pointed out in many of my previous columns, luxury brands create extreme value through their brand story. This makes luxury brands particularly protective of their brand equity. It may therefore seem surprising that recently a significant number of luxury brands have collaborated with other brands or artists. Gucci collaborated with Exo’s “Human Gucci” Kai (of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3137670/are-these-luxury-brand-collaborations-truly-disruptive-or?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3137670/are-these-luxury-brand-collaborations-truly-disruptive-or?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jun 2021 08:38:25 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column There is no consumer group that creates so many misconceptions as Gen Z, those customers that are currently under 25 years old. A common idea is that members of Generation Z have no brand loyalty. Some experts apparently think they are difficult to address because they just shop around and look for deals; brands don’t matter to them. In a recent discussion among experts, one commentator even stated that, according to her findings, the new... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3136769/gucci-and-louis-vuitton-reach-gen-z-through-influencers-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3136769/gucci-and-louis-vuitton-reach-gen-z-through-influencers-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jun 2021 07:31:10 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column To many people in Europe or North America, the word “Hainan” would draw a complete blank. The smallest and southernmost province in China, it is comprised of Hainan island, the largest and most populated island in China, along with various smaller islands. Are Hermès, Dior and Louis Vuitton too cheap? Luxury labels lose billions by not adding the brand story to the sticker price Hainan is often referred to domestically as the “Hawaii of China”... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3135888/will-chinas-hainan-island-kill-duty-free-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3135888/will-chinas-hainan-island-kill-duty-free-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:14:21 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column The iPhone changed the world more than almost any other product did before. We already had mobile phones, but the iPhone changed how we interact with a mobile device, what we can do with it, and how we access information. An iPhone is much more than a phone. It is a connection to the cloud, linking us to an ever-growing wealth of data, people, applications and computing power. It’s like connecting a super computer to our brains, using our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3135145/why-are-luxury-iphone-accessories-costlier-apple-phone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3135145/why-are-luxury-iphone-accessories-costlier-apple-phone?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 May 2021 02:45:01 +0000 How would you price a luxury handbag? Let’s say, you apply artistry, craftsmanship and the finest ethically sourced leathers. So should you price the bag for US$200, US$500, US$1,000 or even US$10,000? Or imagine you are developing a new electric car brand, about to compete in the luxury car space. What should be the price? Or imagine you are curating an art collection. How to price it? What about an NFT for a unique digital artwork? If I could launch my brand again, I would double the price, at... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3134212/are-hermes-dior-and-louis-vuitton-goods-too-cheap-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3134212/are-hermes-dior-and-louis-vuitton-goods-too-cheap-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 May 2021 01:00:20 +0000 Asia’s largest art fair Art Basel Hong Kong returns in a new form this year. This edition is taking place in a hybrid format, a mix of physical exhibits, events and performances as well a new digital initiative. Art Basel Live: Hong Kong will include online viewing rooms, a programme of special events, as well as live broadcasts and virtual walk-throughs for those unable to visit in person. I will be one such virtual attendee this year, after being a regular visitor in the past, and once hosting... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3134196/art-basel-hong-kong-how-artists-are-being-energised?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3134196/art-basel-hong-kong-how-artists-are-being-energised?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 May 2021 08:46:56 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column When Exo’s Kai, one of the most successful K-pop stars of all time, recently debuted his eponymous solo EP, Gucci sent him and his team a coffee cart. The Italian fashion brand wanted to make sure that their most visible brand ambassador’s caffeinated well-being was guaranteed. The cart had two banners, one stating, “Congratulations to human Gucci, Kai, on his first solo album! Eat it deliciously while savouring it (Mmmh-mi).” The second simply said:... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3133317/blackpinks-human-chanel-jennie-vs-exos-human-gucci-kai-what?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3133317/blackpinks-human-chanel-jennie-vs-exos-human-gucci-kai-what?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 May 2021 06:39:10 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column … A recent and thought-provoking article by Kaitlyn Tiffany in The Atlantic raises the prospect of a worrying social media trend: “The internet has decided that Pfizer is significantly cooler than Moderna – but why?” The article describes a growing tendency, particularly on TikTok, to rank the vaccines according to their cool factor. Here’s how Apple, Peloton and China’s Keep are disrupting fitness and apparel markets Sad new for me, as it turns out,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3132608/why-pfizer-hot-person-vaccine-moderna-johnson-and-sinovac?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3132608/why-pfizer-hot-person-vaccine-moderna-johnson-and-sinovac?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 May 2021 05:49:52 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column The luxury industry is undergoing a big reinvention: getting ready for Generation Z. Looking at the brands that exceeded the expectations of analysts in their Q1 earning calls – namely Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès and Gucci – they have a couple of things in common: a strong appeal to Chinese consumers and a strong appeal to young consumers. How Blackpink’s Jennie, Rosé, Lisa and Jisoo were chosen for Chanel, Saint Laurent, Celine and Dior In... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3131516/why-k-pops-bts-and-exo-are-working-louis-vuitton-and-gucci?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3131516/why-k-pops-bts-and-exo-are-working-louis-vuitton-and-gucci?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:51:22 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column Whenever I hear people telling me that something will never happen, it’s often appears almost a guarantee that it will come true – and sooner rather than later. Two years ago, before the pandemic, I visited the Geneva Motor Show and wrote an article about the Chinese car company BAIC, one of the five largest Chinese automotive groups, as they debuted the Arcfox brand. They showcased an electric supercar designed by the legendary Walter de... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3130622/auto-shanghais-tesla-killers-ev-launches-nio-xpeng-and-geely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3130622/auto-shanghais-tesla-killers-ev-launches-nio-xpeng-and-geely?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:47:32 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column We are living in a world accelerating at an accelerating rate. While most brands are still operating traditional business models, some brands are disrupting entire industries. One model with extremely powerful disruption potential is the platform model. Is Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoe really a Nike Air Max 97 knock-off? Platforms allow customers to interact with a brand on a regular basis by consuming a variety of services and experiences. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3129823/apple-peloton-and-chinas-keep-are-disrupting-fitness-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3129823/apple-peloton-and-chinas-keep-are-disrupting-fitness-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:22:54 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. If one thing is for certain, it is that things change all the time. In nature, when ecosystems change permanently, species that adapt best not only survive, but actually thrive. Those who try to resist the change disappear, especially when the change is significant and abrupt. I stayed in 50 hotels in 2019 and don’t remember any of them Nature is brutal in its survival of the fittest and so are markets. When consumers don’t find what they are... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3129191/apple-watch-really-better-swiss-timepiece-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3129191/apple-watch-really-better-swiss-timepiece-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:02:07 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury column. I invite you to do this simple exercise: think of all of the hotel experiences you’ve had in the last three years. How many do you remember? How many blew your mind? How many made you want to come back for more? Now do the same exercise for restaurant visits – let’s say over the last 12 months (Covid-19 allowing, depending on where you are of course). How many do you remember? I mean really remember, specifically for the magical experience... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3127960/i-stayed-50-hotels-2019-and-dont-remember-any-them-why-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3127960/i-stayed-50-hotels-2019-and-dont-remember-any-them-why-high?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:27 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. When Christie’s sold one of the most expensive artworks of all time by a living artist for US$69.3 million, many could not believe the outcome – including, apparently, the artist who created it and the auction house that sold it. Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days, a virtual collection of 5,000 images, was listed at just US$1,000 for the initial bid. Never before has a piece of art exploded in value by nearly 7,000 times in a matter of minutes... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3126956/beeples-us69-million-nft-art-sale-what-brands-can-learn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3126956/beeples-us69-million-nft-art-sale-what-brands-can-learn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Mar 2021 08:28:17 +0000 This article is part of Style’s Inside Luxury Column Luxury brands pride themselves on delivering one-of-a-kind experiences. Especially the people-to-people experiences that they claim set them apart. There is no fancy hotel that won’t tell you on their website or in their advertising how wonderful the service will be and how magical you will feel. But when was the last time you got an unbelievable, memorable, dreamlike experience after visiting a hotel or restaurant? Which classic Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3125870/will-gen-z-forget-most-luxury-hotels-and-fine-dining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3125870/will-gen-z-forget-most-luxury-hotels-and-fine-dining?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Mar 2021 02:00:15 +0000 Scientists argue over how long it takes to form a habit – some say as little as 21 days, others two months or more – but it’s safe to say a year of working differently, living differently and interacting differently will leave its mark on future behaviours and preferences. Memo to luxury brands: ignore the needs of Gen Zers at your peril The question is: what does this mean for the future of luxury? With a global luxury market showing its deepest dip over the last 30 years or more during 2020,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3124977/how-health-quality-life-and-social-responsibility-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3124977/how-health-quality-life-and-social-responsibility-are?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:57:53 +0000 In many of my columns, publications and classes, I have compared luxury with love. What inspired me to use this analogy was a seminar I organised for a luxury car brand in Tokyo. At the start of the workshop, I asked each participant to share a personal story about what luxury means to them. One participant smiled when she pointed at her Hermès Birkin bag and, almost a little shy because of the attention of her colleagues towards the pricey bag, said: “I never really like to buy expensive... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3124014/how-luxury-brands-gucci-versace-and-mercedes-benz-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3124014/how-luxury-brands-gucci-versace-and-mercedes-benz-are?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Mar 2021 04:37:15 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. Last week I was chatting with the CEO of a Korean luxury skincare brand who lives in the United States and is originally from Seoul. I asked about the differences in culture between her Korean and American consumers, and she immediately lit up, smiled, and answered: “For Koreans, it is all about how we look. It is an investment in our future, in our life, in our success.” A strong statement that might not ring true for everyone, but which explains... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3123101/why-k-pop-idols-are-new-faces-global-luxury-blackpinks-lisa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3123101/why-k-pop-idols-are-new-faces-global-luxury-blackpinks-lisa?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Feb 2021 08:21:05 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of Style’s Luxury Column. Mercedes recently announced the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS. The company website states that “The GLS represents the peak of SUV luxury. But to earn Mercedes-Maybach badge, even this superlative vehicle needed to reach new heights.” Mercedes has changed its strategy significantly at recent Maybach launches compared to earlier, failed, approaches. When Mercedes first brought the almost forgotten brand back in 2002, it tried a stand-alone approach. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3122143/what-mercedes-can-learn-louis-vuitton-about-storytelling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3122143/what-mercedes-can-learn-louis-vuitton-about-storytelling?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Feb 2021 08:00:18 +0000 This article is part of Style’s luxury column. The pandemic has disrupted the luxury industry like never before. However, there is a much deeper shift that many brands still underestimate. It’s led by Gen Z consumers – those under 25. “They don’t buy us yet, why should we care”, “They don’t have the money”, “They have still other preferences, in a few years they will purchase our products”, “They are weird.” The list of reductive, foolish misconceptions I’ve overheard goes on and on. This... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3121310/luxury-brands-just-dont-understand-gen-z-and-its-killing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3121310/luxury-brands-just-dont-understand-gen-z-and-its-killing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:00:11 +0000 This is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. We are just a few days away from the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Rat will end and the Year of the Ox will begin. Since the ox is hard working and methodological, 2021 is supposed to be a year where hard work will be rewarded. This suggests a promising silver lining to many luxury brands that struggled in 2020. But not so fast! The Chinese luxury market was firing on all cylinders all along. It grew by almost 50 per cent in 2020, to be worth more... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3120401/what-does-year-ox-mean-luxury-markets-china-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3120401/what-does-year-ox-mean-luxury-markets-china-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Feb 2021 02:00:17 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. In recent years, a new ritual has emerged for luxury brands: creating capsule collections for Lunar New Year. The dependency on Chinese customers has never been higher than now. The demand for luxury brands plummeted in North America and Europe during the pandemic, but the Chinese luxury market is at an all-time high. Winning in China is a must for Western luxury brands. So not surprisingly 2021 seems to be the year where Lunar New Year... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3119475/are-luxury-brands-doing-enough-lunar-new-year-capsule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3119475/are-luxury-brands-doing-enough-lunar-new-year-capsule?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jan 2021 02:00:19 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Luxury Column. Over the last few months, I audited several premium and luxury car brands including Bentley, Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. The results were worrisome for the incumbent car brands: the experiences that they reported were practically all the same. Even worse, nothing about the experiences were luxurious or created any lasting memory. Why is this so dangerous? Cars already look and feel increasingly similar. This is driven in part by emission... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3116934/luxury-vs-electric-cars-bmw-mercedes-and-audi-cant-keep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3116934/luxury-vs-electric-cars-bmw-mercedes-and-audi-cant-keep?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:00:15 +0000 In March 2019, I visited the Geneva Motor Show. My first event there was the world premiere of the Pininfarina Battista, a US$2 million electric hypercar, but my train from Paris was delayed and I arrived at the fancy Hotel President Wilson, site of the event, already late. When the doorman opened the taxi door, I experienced something I did not expect: I was greeted by name. Given the hundreds of people arriving at the hotel that day, I never expected this. Even more, the doorman knew I was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3114550/when-your-name-becomes-ultimate-luxury-why-brands-should?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3114550/when-your-name-becomes-ultimate-luxury-why-brands-should?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Dec 2020 10:04:55 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column Pricing a luxury is one of the most elusive managerial tasks. This is especially true for services. From a customer perspective, services are produced in the moment of consumption. This makes it very challenging to understand the added luxury value (ALV) that drives the willingness to pay. Let’s first start with ALV. In my view, it is one of the most fascinating concepts in managing luxury. Sadly, it’s often neglected, which can lead to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3112555/one-pricing-mistake-luxury-services-make-misunderstanding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3112555/one-pricing-mistake-luxury-services-make-misunderstanding?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Dec 2020 07:13:40 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. Boeing was once one of the most admired brands in the world. If there is such a thing as a luxury brand for commercial aircraft, Boeing was it. Loved by pilots and passengers alike, their bread and butter 737 aircraft became the bestselling commercial plane in the world. With the possible exception of Concorde, the company’s iconic 747 was seen by many as the most beautifully designed aircraft of all time. Dubbed “Queen of the Skies”, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3111442/boeing-737-max-allowed-fly-again-can-aviation-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3111442/boeing-737-max-allowed-fly-again-can-aviation-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Nov 2020 05:13:24 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. Fakes are as old as luxury brands themselves. Famously, the more complicated Louis Vuitton monogram was created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton (son of Louis) in an effort to trounce those who were attempting to counterfeit his father’s original bags, which had already acquired cult status. Despite many of the in-person “fake markets” having now been eliminated across the world, the fake problem has nevertheless become even more threatening for... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3110536/fake-louis-vuitton-bags-imitation-hermes-birkins-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3110536/fake-louis-vuitton-bags-imitation-hermes-birkins-how?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:00:24 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column. Traditionally, most luxury products were sold out of physical stores – from luxury boutiques and flagships, to high-end car dealerships and art galleries. But as we all know by now, the pandemic has only accelerated the trend towards online and digital sales, and in a digital world, the rules of the game change dramatically. What many brands omit is that the brand experience needs to be seamless in all aspects, including the delivery. This... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3109353/luxury-brands-need-rethink-delivery-digital-age-because?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3109353/luxury-brands-need-rethink-delivery-digital-age-because?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:28:00 +0000 This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column October saw a grim resurgence of Covid-19 in the USA and Europe. New lockdowns and restrictions in France, the UK and Germany, among other countries, are a precursor of what is to be expected in many places around the world, once hopeful that they had a grip on the pandemic. Much of 2021 will be impacted by coronavirus and this will have significant effects on luxury categories. IMS Hong Kong and Équité has been conducting a consumer... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3108800/kim-kardashians-private-island-birthday-new-normal-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3108800/kim-kardashians-private-island-birthday-new-normal-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Nov 2020 06:00:25 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column In an Inside Luxury column from earlier this year, I looked into the reasons why alcohol-free mocktails often cost more than their alcoholic counterparts, and why they have become a Gen Z favourite. One reason was that many of these drinks “provide a spice-induced energy kick instead of the numbing tiredness so many people feel when they have an alcoholic drink.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3107457/alcohol-out-fashion-and-mocktails-are-having-moment-heres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3107457/alcohol-out-fashion-and-mocktails-are-having-moment-heres?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Oct 2020 00:00:18 +0000