The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
NEW YORK, United States — Tiffany & Co , which is being bought by Louis Vuitton owner LVMH , on Thursday estimated sales growth of 1 percent to 3 percent during the holidays, with the biggest contribution coming from China and a recovery in the Americas.
Last year, holiday sales in Asia-Pacific and the Americas fell 3 percent and 1 percent respectively, which Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Bogliolo attributed to a slowdown in tourism and softening demand among locals in its home market.
"We continued to see the Chinese Mainland drive our overall sales growth with a strong double-digit increase, offset by the persisting declines in the Hong Kong market and, to a lesser degree, Japan," Bogliolo said on Thursday.
"We are happy to see sales growth in the Americas, a momentum shift in the region," he added.
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Luxury retailers including Tiffany depend on China's burgeoning middle class that has found an appetite for expensive jewelry and handbags, as consumer demand remains subdued in the United States and Europe due to various geopolitical reasons.
Slowing growth in China, mainly due to its prolonged trade war with the United States and a stronger dollar, has impacted sales for Tiffany, which relies on tourists from the world's second-largest economy.
Net sales in Asia-Pacific for the interim holiday period from Nov. 1 to Christmas Eve rose about 5 percent to 7 percent, the company said. In the Americas, Tiffany expects net sales growth of 2 percent to 4 percent.
Sales in Japan, however, fell 9 percent to 11 percent during the period, hurt by the recent increase in the consumption tax.
By Nivedita Balu; editor: Vinay Dwivedi
The luxury goods maker is seeking pricing harmonisation across the globe, and adjusts prices in different markets to ensure that the company is”fair to all [its] clients everywhere,” CEO Leena Nair said.
Hermes saw Chinese buyers snap up its luxury products as the Kelly bag maker showed its resilience amid a broader slowdown in demand for the sector.
The group’s flagship Prada brand grew more slowly but remained resilient in the face of a sector-wide slowdown, with retail sales up 7 percent.
The guidance was issued as the French group released first-quarter sales that confirmed forecasts for a slowdown. Weak demand in China and poor performance at flagship Gucci are weighing on the group.