A recent survey states that
global millionaires have increased to 8.2 million. So, whats the market for
luxury products?
''Luxury' is a broader segment
than what anyone can define. It includes various products ranging from clothes,
footwear, jewellery, watches, leather goods, and many others. Global luxury
market is now undergoing rapid transformation. Industry analysts predict the
market to grow and reach $2 trillion USD by 2010, of which US alone will constitute 50% of the worldwide market.
Luxury market is currently on the
growth trajectory and is seeing a continuous exuberance. Many aspects
contribute to the dynamism of the market. Changes in the income level of the
people, increasing families with dual income, and transformations in the
preferences, and life style of the consumers have attributed to this change. Strong
polarizations of the buyers for specific products also influence the market. Individual,
personalized, high-touch and a highly customized marketing satisfying the needs
of the customers lure them to buy the products.
Luxury Apparels and Designer
wears:
Global market for luxury
apparels is seeing a growth of 15% per annum. This is higher comparatively over
the growth of other apparels. Growth will be fuelled by various countries with
growing economies whose consumption for luxury products outweigh salary and
luxury options. EU and US will continue to set global trends.
Fashionable designer wears are no
longer available only for celebrities. Fashion trends are now global due to the
awareness created by media, and globalization, moving beyond class and social
status. The segment is benefited by increase in disposable incomes,
postponement of marriage, and growing number of individual families with dual
income. Even people who are not from the creamer sections of the society will
try to have a couple of signature luxury apparels in their wardrobes.
Key Players of the Luxury
Segment:
Luxury brand owners are actively
gearing up to meet the challenges of the ongoing recession, and the competition
for the coming year. Middle East sees good potential for luxury products with a
predicted growth rate of 2%. Giorgio Armani and Gucci are the most desirable
brands followed by Versace, and Christian Dior. Polo Ralph, Coach, Louis
Vuitton, Couture, and Tiffany & Co, are a few more prominent brands in the
market. Brands are reassessing their market strategies to take tackle the down
turn and come out even stronger than before.
However growth prospects the
industry sees, still, the industry is not an unmixed blessing. The impact of
global turmoil, the pangs of financial crisis has affected the luxury market as
well. High operational costs and intense competition due to globalization pose
a real threat to the luxury retailers. To ride the tide, brands cut their
overhead costs, while retailers are investing in the products of customers
choice with a hope of recovery.
Worldwide market for luxury items
is expected to reach a prominent position in the global arena, and is further
anticipated to remain so, as affluent customers have enough money, and time to
indulge themselves in opulence.
References:
- http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com
- http://www.ameinfo.com
- www.nucifora.com