The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Legendary fashion designer Norma Kamali joins Scott Kerr to talk about the journey of running her own business for over 50 years, her enthusiasm for technology, and her continuous drive to learn and create. Famously known for her innovative designs like the "sleeping bag" coat and "parachute dress", Kamali, now 78, discusses her approach to designing clothes that are timeless, why she embraced e-commerce before the rest of the fashion industry, and building a custom AI tool to preserve her design legacy. She also talks about how the 80s AIDS epidemic inspired her to put health and wellness at the heart of her brand and what the key is to building a strong brand identity. Plus: Why Norma Kamali returned her Apple Vision Pro soon after she purchased itFeaturing: Norma Kamali, Fashion Designer and Owner of Norma Kamali, Inc. (normakamali.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Antoine Pin, managing director of Bulgari's watch division, sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss the realities of the shifting luxury watch market, how the brand is aiming to win the battle for the wrists of wealthy buyers, and the artistic inspiration behind some of the new luxury timepieces that mark the 140th anniversary of the storied Roman jewelry house. Antoine also talks about why gold is a hallmark element of Bulgari and the current trend towards yellow gold timepieces, why the brand introduced a collection of watches that incorporate the original design sketches on the dials, and why multi-brand watch retailers are a key part of its long-term strategy. Plus: Antoine announces Bulgari's new world's thinnest watch unveiled at Watches and Wonders and why the brand keeps creating ultra-thin watches.Featuring: Antoine Pin, Managing Director of the Bulgari Watch Division (bulgari.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks to Raphael Sauleau, CEO of IYC (The International Yacht Company), one of the world’s largest superyacht brokerages, about the health of the luxury yacht market and the shifting buyer demographic. Raphael discusses his main strategic focus since joining as CEO in 2022, how he's navigating a market reversal after the post-pandemic yacht-buying boom, the rising influence of wealthy Millennial yacht owners, and fashion designers taking on superyacht projects. He also talks about how "quiet luxury" hit the superyacht market, why more UHNW owners are adding fitness facilities on their boats, and the role of strategic partnerships with luxury brands in IYC's growth. Plus: How the role of yacht broker has evolved in the new digital era and yachting influencers Featuring:  Raphael Sauleau, CEO of IYC (The International Yacht Company) (iyc.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks to Simon Kim, owner and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the brand behind the highly acclaimed Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in New York City, Miami, and Singapore as well as the newly opened high-end fried chicken and Champagne concept Coqodaq. Kim, who came to the U.S. from Korea at age 13, talks about what's driving Americas' sharp demand for Korean cuisine and his journey to fulfilling his lifelong dream of opening a game-changing Korean restaurant. He also talks about what he learned about fine dining hospitality from working for the world's best chefs and opening (and closing) his very first restaurant. He discusses the economics of running a Michelin star restaurant and the importance of having a great restaurant culture. Plus: How being a restaurateur has changed the way he thinks about food and his customersFeaturing: Simon Kim, Owner and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management (gracioushm.com, cotekoreansteakhouse.com, coqodaq.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Greg Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Timbers Company, a leading luxury vacation homes and rentals company that offers the ability for HNWIs to buy whole and fractional ownership in vacation properties in the world's top destinations. Greg discusses how Timbers Company strives to deliver the same top-of-the-strata services and opulent experiences to its wealthy co-owners as ultra-luxury hotels, why the wrenching correction in the second-homes market didn't impact Timbers' business, creating a culture of hospitality excellence through creative solutions, and why the 'experiential luxury' trend compliments its business model. Plus: Big luxury travel themes for the coming yearFeaturing: Greg Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Timbers Company (timberscompany.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with John Gerhardt, global creative director at Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits business of luxury giant LVMH. Gerhardt, a TIME Magazine "Design 100" honoree when he was at luxury retailer Holt Renfrew, discusses his role as the Moët Hennessy brand lead and partnering with the twenty-seven Maisons, how Moët Hennessy is re-evaluating its creative approach in a challenging market, and how its heritage brands are speaking to a new generation of drinkers. He also talks about the strategies behind some of the rebranding and new product efforts he's been involved in. From refreshing the Chandon sparkling wine brand, to rebranding a 200-year-old French vineyard to launching MH's first-ever cocktail bar in Paris. Plus: What the luxury fashion industry can learn from high-end wines and spiritsFeaturing: John Gerhardt, Global Creative Director at Moët Hennessy (lvmh.com/houses/wines-spirits)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

In this encore episode from March 14, 2023, Scott Kerr sits down with Anish Melwani, chairman & CEO of LVMH for North America to discuss the evolving relationship between luxury and the US consumer and why LVMH is well positioned to navigate through economic uncertainty. He also talks about price increase trends, why luxury is connected to our identity, the role of the physical store and measuring customer impact, the relationship between the maison's creative and business leaders, and the latest on the Aura Blockchain Consortium. Plus: How LVMH approaches Web3 and the metaverseFeaturing: Anish Melwani, Chairman & CEO of LVMH for North America (lvmh.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr speaks to Pascal Féraud, Executive Chef at DUCASSE Paris, the restaurant group for world renowned chef Alain Ducasse. Pascal discusses his career working as a top chef in many of Alain Ducasse's emblematic fine dining restaurants including Le Louis XV in Monaco and Le Jules Verne located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Pascal also talks about the Ducasse philosophy that's shared across the Group's extensive global empire of restaurants, adjusting his approach for American tastes and habits when he worked in Los Angeles, how the role of executive chef has changed over the years, Ducasse's haute chocolate universe, fine dining trends, and the impact of advanced technology on his kitchens. Plus: The challenges that come with operating a high-end restaurant in the Eiffel TowerFeaturing: Pascal Féraud, Executive Chef at DUCASSE Paris (ducasse-paris.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Roland Herlory, CEO of luxury swimwear brand Vilebrequin, sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss how the company began as a love story in the early '70s and grew into an iconic global brand. Roland talks about why taking the helm of Vilebrequin after 23 years at Hermès was the "most beautiful gift" in his professional life, why its physical stores will play an even more important role in the company's growth, and how the brand's distinctive product and positioning helps withstand increased competitive pressures in the luxury swimwear category. He also discusses Vilebrequin's approach to brand extensions and why it embraces collabs with artists in a big way. Plus: Sustainability and protecting the oceans has become an essential part of Vilebrequin's work way before consumers demanded it.Featuring: Roland Herlory, CEO of Vilebrequin (vilebrequin.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Eugene Tutunikov, CEO of SwissWatchExpo, one of the leading online global retailers of pre-owned luxury watches, to give his perspective on the recent slowdown in the secondary watch market and the outlook for next year. He also talks about coming to the U.S. with his family from Ukraine and realizing the American Dream with the success of his company, navigating the luxury watch demand slowdown, the impact of Rolex's certified pre-owned watch program on his business, the new consumer segments leading the upswing in luxury watch sales, and the watch collaboration explosion. Plus: The key drivers will be to take pre-owned luxury watch market from $24 billion to $35 billion by 2026Featuring: Eugene Tutunikov, CEO of SwissWatchExpo (swisswatchexpo.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Sophie Brocart, CEO of Patou, the iconic French luxury couture house founded by Jean Patou in 1914 and acquired by LVMH in 2018. Sophie discusses how she and artistic director Guillaume Henry have revived the storied fashion label after being dormant for thirty years, why Jean Patou was a pioneer and his rivalry with Coco Chanel, and where LVMH saw the opportunity in resurrecting the maison. She also talks about the business strategy for growing the brand, moving beyond a wholesale model, and partnering with Fairly Made on a traceability solution. Plus: Why Patou has been a rich training ground for top fashion talent like Karl Lagerfeld and Christian LacroixFeaturing: Sophie Brocart, CEO of Patou (patou.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Jamie Ritchie, chief operating officer at BlockBar, a direct-to-consumer NFT platform for high-end wine & spirits. Ritchie, who joined earlier this year from Sotheby's where he was worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s wine and spirits, discusses BlockBar's asset-backed NFT business model and how it's transforming the ultra-premium spirits business. He also talks about growing its audience beyond millennial cryptoenthsiasts, how spirits brand partners have leveraged the community aspect of NFTs, interesting NFT drops from Glenfiddich and Midleton Very Rare, and exploring the fractional ownership space. Plus: Getting more wine brands on board with the direct-to-consumer NFT marketplace.Featuring: Jamie Ritchie, Chief Operating Officer at BlockBar (blockbar.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Piero Braga, the CEO of Slowear, the high-end Italian fashion company whose portfolio of brands include Incotex, Zanone, Glanshirt and Montedoro. Braga, a seasoned executive who recently joined from Gucci, discusses Slowear's 'durable fashion' philosophy, his key priorities for the company and the avenues for growth, and the challenges that come with leading a group of brands versus a single one. He also talks about where menswear fashion is going, the mindset of the Slowear customer, creating relevance to younger clientele, and its long-term physical store strategy. Plus: An update on becoming a B Corp.Featuring: Piero Braga, CEO of Slowear (slowear.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Stefano Giacomelli, CEO of Tivoli Group, the Florentine company that produces leather goods for some of the world's most well known fashion and luxury brands. Stefano discusses the company's adaptable business model and why its "beyond craftsmanship" credo is an important part of Tivoli Group's success. He also talks about why the leather goods industry will continue to thrive despite the softening luxury market, how AI and craftsmanship can collaborate successfully, navigating the challenges of the labor shortage, Tivoli Group's sustainability practices, and why it acquired the 135-year-old British luxury leather goods brand Smythson. Plus: Is the new face of "Made in Italy" about scale and power?Featuring: Stefano Giacomelli, CEO of Tivoli Group (www.tivoligroup.it)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Leona Qi, President U.S. of VistaJet  to discuss white-hot private business aviation sector and why VistaJet's unique 'asset-free' business model has helped drive record growth. She also talks about the ways VistaJet curates top-of-the-strata voyages for its high-spending members, why creating an incredible on-board dining experience is a key strategy for company, how feedback from its pilots and crew inspired a number of in-flight family-oriented programs, and the future of private aviation. Plus: Why the share of female private jet passengers has doubled in the last few yearsFeaturing: Leona Qi, President U.S. of VistaJet (vistajet.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Chuck Cashman, chief revenue officer at MarineMax, the world's largest yacht retailer. Chuck talks about how Covid-19 made superyachts a hot commodity among the ultra-rich and why it hasn't cooled down. He also discusses super-charging MarineMax's global position in yachting through a number of high-profile acquisitions, millennial superyacht owners and how they're shaping the industry, why superyachts are getting bigger, the most notable onboard perks, and why entry level yacht buyers are reconsidering their purchases. Plus: Autonomous yachts and other trendsFeaturing: Chuck Cashman, Chief Revenue Officer at MarineMax (marinemax.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comThis episode is sponsored by Ulysse NardinListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

In this encore episode from June 7, 2022, Michael Kliger, CEO of multi-brand luxury fashion e-tailer Mytheresa, talks with Scott Kerr about how its focus on curation, content and service has been driving the company's success. Michael also discusses why Mytheresa fills the void in the current US luxury retail landscape, its unique customer-centric approach, why it expanded into luxury home and lifestyle products, exploring the beauty category potential, and how it uses AI to identify and market to loyal customers. Plus: Why he sees luxury goods continuing to thrive despite the current headwinds.Featuring: Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa (mytheresa.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr is joined by Jeff Lotman, owner and CEO of iconic luxury retailer Fred Segal. He is also CEO of brand licensing agency Global Icons, which acquired Fred Segal in 2018. Jeff discusses the influence that Fred Segal had on the culture and where he saw the business opportunity in breathing new life into the 60-year-old Los Angeles lifestyle brand. He also talks about making the brand relevant to young people, finding undiscovered brands for Fred Segal stores, bringing back its infamous Jean Bar, and launching its first in-house collection inspired by Los Angeles neighborhoods. Plus: Jeff takes us into the "misunderstood" world of brand licensing.Featuring: Jeff Lotman, Owner and CEO of Fred Segal (fredsegal.com, globalicons.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Carrie Baker, president of Toronto-based luxury outerwear company Canada Goose, whose signature coats and parkas are commonly spotted on Hollywood celebrities and affluent urban consumers. Carrie discusses how the six-decade-old family-owned business, once a brand worn exclusively by Canadian rangers and arctic explorers evolved into a $1 billion global luxury lifestyle brand. She also talks about its commitment to remaining a “Made in Canada” brand, how winter wear became a hot category, why the brand is all-in on brick-and-mortar, expanding its offerings into non-parka products, putting a focus on the female consumer, and why it finally went fur-free. Plus: How Canada Goose is approaching Web3 Featuring: Carrie Baker, President of Canada Goose (canadagoose.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comThis episode is sponsored by Ulysse NardinListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

David Hurley, Deputy CEO of top international luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland Group joins Scott Kerr to discuss what's been driving the rampant demand for Swiss luxury timepieces over the last few years and how long the boom will continue. He also talks about the state of the company's five-year global expansion plan, how the UK-based Watches of Switzerland gained a foothold in the US, playing offense in Europe's growth, why its multichannel business model of mono-brand and multi-brand boutiques has been so successful, and the rise of independent Swiss luxury watch brands. Plus: How new consumer segments (e.g., young people, women) have changed the way Watches of Switzerland does businessFeaturing: David Hurley, Deputy CEO of Watches of Switzerland Group (watchesofswitzerland.com)Host:Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast:The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_incEmail: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comThis episode is sponsored by Ulysse NardinListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!