Luxury, Retail, FMCG and Media News & Trends: Nov Week 5

Luxury, Retail, FMCG and Media News & Trends: Nov Week 5

Luxury, Retail, FMCG and Media News & Trends: Nov Week 5

 

1. Luxury and Retail Business Moves

i. Louis Vuitton Launches ‘Enigma’ Game on Discord

Louis Vuitton has launched an immersive digital game, Enigma, on Discord to celebrate its one-year presence on the platform. The game invites the 8,000-member community to solve daily mysteries and find Vivienne, the brand’s iconic mascot. Participants must work together to decipher clues each day, blending Louis Vuitton’s travel inspirations with gaming culture.

Takeaway: This initiative reflects the brand’s desire to deepen engagement with its community and expand its digital presence, especially within Web3 and NFT circles.

 

ii. Gucci Expands Leather Supply Chain with Acquisition of Colonna Group

Gucci completed the acquisition of the Colonna Group, a tannery with which it has partnered since 2001. A five-year non-competition agreement has been reached with the Colonna Group’s shareholders, ensuring exclusivity for Gucci in this segment. Its past acquisitions include:

  • Caravel (Tuscany): Full control was achieved in 2015. The tannery specialises in rare skins.
  • Luxury Tannery (Serbia): Acquired in 2013. The tannery specialises in fine leather processing.
  • France Croco (Normandy): Acquired in 2013. The tannery specialises in crocodile skins.

Takeaway: Gucci Logistica, a Kering subsidiary, had previously acquired a 51% stake in the Colonna Group in 2019. This full acquisition further solidifies Gucci’s control over its leather supply chain and aligns with Kering’s strategy of owning and controlling premier tanneries.

 

iii. Dior Sets Up Industrial Division to Boost Supply Chain Control

Dior established an industrial division to enhance production capacity and safeguard craftsmanship. Key appointments include:

  • Giorgio Striano, former COO of EssilorLuxottica, will join as Chief Industrial Officer on January 2, 2025. Based in Milan, he will oversee Dior’s industrial operations and join its executive committee. Striano brings extensive global manufacturing expertise from Procter & Gamble, Manuli Rubber, and EssilorLuxottica.
  • Nicolas Carré, a 23-year veteran of Louis Vuitton, will assume the role of Industrial Director for Leather Goods, Footwear, and Fashion Jewellery on December 1. Based in Florence, Carré will manage Dior’s key manufacturing processes and join the executive committee.

Takeaway: The moves align with the luxury industry’s strategic focus on supply chain control. It follows Dior’s pledge to integrate artisanal operations within its workshops after severing ties with subcontractors accused of unethical practices.

 

iv. Unilever Invests €100m to Boost In-House Fragrance Capabilities

Unilever is investing €100 million to establish in-house fragrance design and creation capabilities, enabling it to transition to a hybrid model. Unilever will leverage neuroscience, AI, and digital tools to identify fragrance trends and integrate them into its product lifecycle—from creation to market launch. Unilever is hiring perfumers in key markets (UK, US, and India) and has appointed Mathieu Lenoir, a veteran from Givaudan and Firmenich, as Global Creative Centre Director for Fragrance.

Takeaway: This approach gives the company greater control over product design and faster responses to market trends. It comes as Unilever seeks to accelerate growth and enhance productivity across its personal care and home care portfolio.

 

2. E-Commerce Business Moves

i. Alibaba-Backed Trendyol Explores $1b Funding

Alibaba Group-owned Turkish e-commerce giant Trendyol is exploring a $1 billion funding round to support its growth trajectory. Talks with potential investors are in the early stages, with no guarantee of a transaction.

  • Background: Founded in 2010 by Demet Mutlu, Trendyol is Turkey’s largest e-commerce platform and has expanded to markets like the Gulf region, achieving over 20% order growth in fiscal 2024.
  • Previous Funding: In 2021, it raised $1.5 billion, led by SoftBank, General Atlantic, and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, valuing the company at $16.5 billion.
  • Strategic Context: Trendyol operates under Alibaba’s International Digital Commerce Group alongside platforms like Lazada and AliExpress. The funding comes after Alibaba’s recent reshuffling of its leadership team.

 

3. People Moves

Michael Kors: Capri Holdings, the parent company of Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo, has announced that John Idol, CEO and chairman of Capri, is resuming leadership of Michael Kors. This follows the exit of Cedric Wilmotte as CEO after nearly two years. Concurrently, Philippa Newman has been promoted to chief product officer to spearhead product innovation. Design and merchandising will be consolidated under Newman, who will work closely with Michael Kors (chief creative officer) to refresh products for younger consumers.

Deceim: Nicola Kilner, co-founder of Deciem, is stepping down as CEO and handing over day-to-day operations to Jesper Rasmussen, who will be promoted to Global Brand President in December. Kilner, who co-founded the company in 2013 and sold a controlling stake to Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) in 2021, will focus on creative projects and family time while continuing to shape the company’s vision. Rasmussen has held leadership positions at ELC and L’Oréal. He will focus on expanding Deciem’s authority in ingredient-led skincare, fostering innovation, and furthering Deciem’s culture of agility.

Nike: Nike promoted Treasure Heinle, its Chief Talent Officer, to Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective January 6, 2025. She succeeds Monique Matheson, who is retiring after 26 years. Heinle will oversee Nike’s global HR strategy and people vision in her new role. Heinle joined Nike in 2012 as VP and HR Business Partner for North America. She has since held key roles in global operations and consumer teams. Before Nike, she held HR leadership positions at Danaher, Tektronix, and In-Focus.

PVH Corp: PVH Corp., the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, has appointed Jesper Andersen, CFO of the Lego Group, to its board of directors and its audit and risk management committee. Andersen has over 25 years of global leadership experience in finance, including roles at Upfield, Beiersdorf, and Colgate-Palmolive, where he led initiatives across Europe, Asia, and North America. At Lego, Andersen has been instrumental in driving the brand’s growth, leveraging financial expertise and data-driven strategies to expand its portfolio’s reach and relevance.

Gucci: As part of its ongoing leadership reshuffle, Gucci has promoted Francesco Falai to chief people officer, effective January 1, succeeding Luca Bozzo. This coincides with Stefano Cantino’s replacement of Jean-François Palus as CEO. Falai began his career in leather goods and later worked in sales at Salvatore Ferragamo. He spent 12 years at Prada, culminating as global HR head for Church’s. Falai then joined Gucci in 2017 to lead HR for retail and omnichannel functions, gradually expanding his scope.

Vipshop: Fan Li, Senior Director of Operations at VIP.com (Vipshop), has recently resigned and his next career move is currently unknown. Fan Li previously held senior roles at Alibaba, where he served as a Senior Product Expert reporting to the General Manager of the Alipay Merchant Digitisation Division. At Alibaba, he held a P9 rank. After leaving Alibaba in December 2020, Fan joined Kuaishou as a product lead.

 

4. Marketing & Advertising

i. OpenAI Mulls Launching Web Brower with Chatbot

OpenAI is exploring the creation of a web browser integrated with its chatbot technology, potentially positioning itself as a competitor to Google’s dominance in the search and browser markets. The company has discussed its search product with developers from companies like Conde Nast, Redfin, Eventbrite, and Priceline and has also considered powering AI features on Samsung devices. This move follows OpenAI’s launch of SearchGPT and comes amid Alphabet’s efforts to strengthen its AI capabilities with its own generative AI chatbot, Gemini.

Takeaway: While OpenAI is not yet close to launching a browser, the consideration highlights the growing competition in the AI and search sectors. OpenAI has also partnered with Apple to power the AI features of its new devices. The developments come as Google faces increasing scrutiny over its dominance in the browser market.

 

ii. Google Features WhatsApp ‘Conversation Started’ Conversion Action

Google Ads launched a new “conversation started” conversion action that allows advertisers to track when users engage with WhatsApp message assets in ads. When a user clicks on a message asset in an ad, they are directed to WhatsApp to start a conversation with the business, and Google logs this as a conversion.

Takeaway: This update helps businesses better measure customer engagement and optimise campaigns using message-based ads, particularly in regions where WhatsApp is widely used (e.g., Argentina, India, Brazil, Singapore). The feature is currently in beta and may not be available to all advertisers yet.

 

iii. Google Features AI Sales Assistant in Search Results

Google introduced an AI-powered Sales Assistant in search results, which could significantly transform e-commerce SEO. Still in testing, tis feature places a virtual sales assistant directly beneath organic search listings. It offers product comparisons, recommendations, and a carousel of relevant products without users needing to leave the search page. As the assistant evolves, it could affect SEO by pulling product information from a variety of sources, which might lead to a loss of control over brand messaging if product details aren’t rich enough.

Takeaway: To adapt, businesses need to rethink their SEO strategy to optimise for this new AI-driven SERP experience. Key steps include:

  • Content SEO: Ensure product descriptions are detailed and compelling to be featured by the AI assistant.
  • Image Optimisation: Use product images that educate and sell the product, as visual elements will be crucial for user decisions.
  • Collaborative Strategy: Work closely with merchandising and other teams to refine product content and images that meet AI criteria.
  • Operational SEO: Align SEO practices across departments, ensuring smooth content creation workflows.
  • Structured Data: Leverage schema markup to provide search engines with detailed product information.

In the face of Google’s AI Sales Assistant, focusing on content depth, user experience, and inter-departmental collaboration is essential to maintain visibility and market share.

 

iv. DOJ’s Push to Sell Chrome Sparks Industry Debate on the Future of Web

The US Department of Justice’s proposal to force Google to sell its Chrome browser has stirred industry debate, with tech experts and marketers raising concerns about unintended consequences. Key proposals include:

  • Divesting Chrome;
  • Ending the Apple partnership;
  • Sharing proprietary data, and
  • Banning new browser/search investments for five to 10 years.

Takeaway: With a 66.68% global market share, Chrome is critical to Google’s ecosystem.

Advertisers have warned of potential censorship and manipulation if Chrome is sold to new owners as well as the fear of market fragmentation in a more challenging advertising environment. There are also speculations about whether smaller companies can acquire Chrome or if large tech firms will maintain the status quo. The DOJ’s push could reshape the digital landscape, but its potential effects on competition, privacy, and innovation remain highly uncertain.

 

Discover More Industry Trends with JC

For the latest industry trends or to explore new career opportunities, connect with our luxury & retail recruitment consultants for a chat. With executive search firms in Singapore and China, and operations in key business hubs like Hong Kong, you can count on our team for timely access to regional insights that can create synergy for your career and operations.

For employers: Beyond the luxury, retail and consumer goods industry, we also have dedicated desks for several sectors that enables us to meet your varied recruitment needs:

Image Credits:

  • Bloomberg
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