Posted by Leonard Steinberg, president of Compass, on March 21st, 2015 New Yorkers like to think of themselves as innovative, individualistic and original: unfortunately many of them often follow trends like a herd of sheep. An article in this weekends Wall Street Journal showcases how a world once possessed by owning an Hermes Kelly bag,… [Read More]
HERMES SOARS – LUXURY BUYERS PAY A PREMIUM FOR REAL QUALITY
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on April 28th, 2014 The super-luxury market is alive and well as witnessed by Hermes’ forecast-beating 14.7% rise in like-for-like first-quarter sales on Tuesday, driven by strong demand for its ultra high quality fashion and leather goods. Sales in Japan, one of its biggest markets, were boosted by purchases ahead of… [Read More]
HERMES POSTS STRONG SALES GAINS, YET GROWTH COOLS AS DOLLAR STRENGTHENS
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on April 22nd, 2013 Uber-luxury goods conglomerate Hermes posted its slowest pace of quarterly growth since 2009 as currency headwinds weighed on revenues, reporting a 10% rise in sales to 856.8 million euros. Last year, growth for a number of high-end names cooled as shoppers, notably in China, moved away from more mass… [Read More]
MORE PROOF OF LUXOFLATION: HERMES FOURTH QUARTER SALES SOAR 22%
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on February 11th, 2013 Hermes posted its 4th quarter results for 2012: the maker of uber-luxury, hyper-priced fashion goods and accessories showed sales increased 22%. Rolls-Royce has achieved its best sales in its 108-year history, with the world’s mega-rich buying up 3,575 Phantom and Ghost models during 2012. More evidence that the… [Read More]
IS LUXOFLATION SET TO SURGE IN 2013?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on January 3rd, 2013 Bloomberg reported that the worlds billionaire’s net worth surged in 2012, some by as much as twenty percent. Does this imply a sharp escalation in LUXOFLATION, our measure of the pricing inflation we have identified in the super luxury markets? I think it’s very likely. Already we… [Read More]
HAPPY, HEALTHY 2013 WITH SOME REAL ESTATE LESSONS FROM CAPE TOWN
Posted by Leonard Steinberg in January 1st, 2013 I am blogging from sunny Cape Town, South Africa……my place of birth and still possibly the most beautiful place anywhere…….and while far removed from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, I have learned many lessons, or have been reminded of some from the past……so here goes: 1) Beauty… [Read More]
HERMES SALES RISE 18.2%: SUPER-LUXE IS STRONGEST
Posted on November 7, 2011 So you thought the world’s luxury market was in trouble? Think again. French luxury group Hermes raised its full-year sales forecast on Friday after third-quarter growth beat its initial target, pulled by buoyant demand for the 174-year-old brand in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The maker of 10,000-euro leather bags… [Read More]
GLOBAL CENTER GATED UBER-COMMUNITIES
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 12th, 2011 As the political climate shifts to a more conservative stance, and the almost certainty that Rick Perry will be the next USA president, the super-wealthy will continue to seek out homes within communities that protect and separate them from the increasingly volatile outside world. These gilded, gated… [Read More]
2007 RETURNS?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on March 18, 2011 The number of millionaires is almost at the level of those in 2007 reports the Wall Street Journal to-day. Bidding wars are back. There is a shortage of un-affordable housing. Kelly bags are wait listed at Hermes. Manhattan luxury pricing is breaking some records on even some… [Read More]
THE TWO USA ECONOMIES: HERMES vs. H+M
In to-day’s New York Post, a story talks about the mounting evidence that there are two US economies operating side by side. They are correct. While Main Street consumers struggle with high unemployment and mainstream retailers are forced to mark down merchandise to spark even mid-single digit sales gains, the luxury market is enjoying flush… [Read More]