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Luxury On Air
Understanding what’s on the horizon in the luxury industry
Luxury On Air explores the trends, innovations and personalities defining and redefining the luxury industry. Delving into the real-world, theoretical and strategic implications of running and growing luxury brands in our ever-changing world, this podcast brings together global thought leaders, academics, business leaders, brands and retailers.
Hosted by Karine Szegedi and Felicitas Morhart, Luxury On Air is brought to you by Deloitte Switzerland and the Swiss Center for Luxury Research at HEC Lausanne (UNIL). Karine and Felicitas bring their knowledge of the luxury industry from two very different vantage points - the worlds of consulting and academia – to discuss, analyse and hypothesise such transformational topics including:
- The evolution of luxury consumption and its implications for the future
- Successful growth strategies amid changing consumer, societal and economic trends
- The notion of materialism in an increasingly dematerialised world
- Reconciling the in-person shopping experience with the convenience of e-commerce
- The innovations helping brands become more sustainable, accountable and responsible
- Balancing authentic, aspirational and accessible messaging
- The outlook of the industry and the situation in emerging economies, including China
With renowned guests from global fashion houses, watch brands, automobile manufacturers, high-end retailers and consumer behaviour experts, Luxury On Air is a must listen for those want to understand what’s on the horizon in the luxury industry.
Luxury On Air is available on all major podcast platforms, you can listen to each of our episodes below and subscribe via your preferred podcast platform.
Listen and subscribe to the Luxury On Air podcast
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Episode 24: Is use of neuroscience in luxury retail a trend to last?
Valentin von Arnim, General Manager of Iris von Arnim a Germany-based luxury knitwear brand and Caroline Grauel, of Deloitte Neuroscience Institute join Karine Szegedi to discuss how to leverage neuroscience by measuring unconscious motivations and decision-making processes of customers engaging with luxury retail brands.
Episode 23: Greening watches and jewellery – collaborating for a tangible impact
Karine Szegedi speaks to Iris Van Der Veken, Executive Director of the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030, an initiative set up by Cartier and Kering guided by the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact and 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the mission of accelerating positive impact on climate resilience, preservation of resources, and fostering inclusiveness in the luxury industry. They discuss ecosystems of collaboration, fair labour practices, the role of CEOs and regulatory frameworks that brands and companies can leverage to achieve targets and gain insights on their supply chain, procurement practices and governance.
Episode 22: Is Junk Kouture the new couture?
Karine Szegedi speaks Katie Brill, director of Partnerships and Communications at Junk Kouture, a fashion education platform for youth creative expression through a recycled fashion competition. They discuss fashion trends, sustainability, waste, circularity, couture’s next generation and the power of creativity to turn any material into a runway, red-carpet or ready-to-wear look.
Episode 21: Superyachts – Floating into the next level of hospitality
Felicitas Morhart speaks to Samuel Chamberlain, Vice President of Business Development at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD and Joint Owner/Operator of Four Seasons Yachts. They discuss luxury hospitality’s new trend of brand experience extensions, specifically the new Four Seasons Yacht concept and the development of these hybrid superyachts, as well as high net-worth client behaviours and expectations of luxury hospitality and travel.
Episode 20: A virtual economy in Monaco’s metaverse
Felicitas speaks with Manila Di Giovanni, Founder and CEO of DWorld VR about experiencing real life in the metaverse. They discuss how and why DWorld built the first ever virtual twin of Monaco and the world's first virtual economy which includes retail, tourism, real estate, yachting, events and hospitality.
Episode 19: Is jewellery the next big thing in luxury?
Karine speaks to Max Fawcett, Head of Jewellery at Christie’s in Geneva, the world’s most renowned global auction house. In this episode, they discuss live and online auctions, customer demographics and market trends as well as Christie’s portfolio of global services from art appraisals and art financing to international real estate and bespoke private sales.
Episode 18: Around the world with bespoke luxury hotels
Karine speaks with Shannon Knapp, CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World to discuss luxury travel and hotel trends, the power of hyperpersonalisation and digitisation and its effect on hospitality services, expectations for diverse client-experiences, as well as new areas for luxury hotel expansion based on consumer demand.
Episode 17: From tradition to innovation – luxury’s response to Generative AI
Karine speaks with Varvn Aryacetas, AI Strategy Leader, Deloitte UK and Fabien Lopez, Innovation Director, Deloitte Switzerland to discuss luxury’s response to Generative AI (GenAI). They discuss the disruption of emerging technologies, how it affects both customers and the brand, and highlight specific examples of how GenAI has already been adopted by global brands in the luxury industry.
Episode 16: Boutique-style department stores: dusty or dreamy?
Karine speaks with Paolo Pitton, Co-CEO Bongénie Grieder, part of the Brunschwig Group to discuss if boutique style departments stores are a thing of the past or if they have a bright future ahead. They discuss online versus online retail experiences, tradition versus innovation, family owned businesses, the importance of human connection, values, passion and purpose.
Episode 15: Shaking things up - how Chrono24 has disrupted the luxury watch industry
Karine speaks with Tim Stracke, co-CEO & Founder of luxury watch marketplace Chrono24 to gain a digital perspective of the luxury watch industry. They discuss the consumer behaviours in an online marketplace, authenticity of buyers and sellers, opportunities for pre-owned watches and global market trends.
Episode 14: Breaking down blockchain
Karine speaks with Daniela Ott, General-Secretary of Aura Blockchain Consortium about how luxury brands worldwide are using blockchain solutions to provide supply chain transparency and traceability through RFID tags, NFTs and QR codes, and in turn increasing consumer trust in the luxury market.
Episode 13: Well versed in the metaverse
Felicitas speaks to Dr. Fabio Duma, Head of Luxury & Creative Industries at Zurich University of Applied Sciences about the business potential of NFTs, whether luxury brands are prepared for the metaverse and how this new reality will disrupt traditional brands.
Episode 12: Brand evolution with Bally
Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, talks to Karine about transforming a brand steeped in tradition, both creatively and digitally, how Bally is redesigning retail strategy, responding to changing customer expectations and why ‘Made in Switzerland’ will always be part of Bally’s DNA.
Episode 11: Trailblazers in the watch industry
Ben Clymer, Founder and Executive Chairman of HODINKEE and Thomas Baillod, Founder of BA111OD Watch Concept join Karine Szegedi to discuss how they are shaking up this traditional industry when it comes to retail models and product innovation, and the importance of cultivating a community.
Episode 10: The changing nature of luxury travel
In this episode, Karine is joined by Amanda Elder, Chief Commercial Officer of Kempinski Hotels and Paul Gardiner, CEO of Mantis Collection to discuss how luxury hospitality brands are adapting given the challenges posed by the pandemic, changing consumer demands and a greater focus on sustainability.
Episode 9: Making geek chic – the fusion of luxury and pop culture
Felicitas speaks to Professor Rob Kozinets about why luxury brands associate themselves with popular culture icons from comic book characters to cult Netflix series. The two discuss why consumers look to these artistic, yet unlikely couplings, as a way to find meaning and purpose for their own values and identity.
Episode 8: Emerging trends and intergenerational views towards luxury in India
In this episode, Dr. Michael Grampp heads southeast to India. He speaks to consumers from Baby Boomers to Generation Z to get their views on the meaning of luxury, the importance of a brand’s provenance and how sustainability influences consumer behaviour across generations. Felicitas joins Michael to provide her observation on the emerging trends and intergenerational insight.
Episode 7: The Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study 2021
In this episode, Michael Grampp interviews Karine Szegedi and Jules Boudrand, authors of the Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study, about some of this year’s key findings. From optimistic industry prospects and the pre-owned market professionalising to the influence of Chinese consumers and Millennials’ & Gen Z’s views about watches, the trio discusses how many players in the industry are adapting their business strategies to new realities.
Episode 6: Consumer trends in China and the definition of luxury
Felicitas speaks to Dr. Yajin Wang, Associate Professor of Marketing at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), about the differences between Eastern and Western consumer trends. They discuss why the traditional customer journey is obsolete, how brands can adapt to changing market dynamics in mainland China and why exclusivity is no longer the essence of luxury for Chinese consumers.
Episode 5: Pursuing a digital path – Richemont’s experience in China
In this episode Karine talks to Frank Vivier, Chief Transformation Officer at Richemont, about what luxury brands, and brands in general, can learn from the organisational agility of tech companies, including the use data and technologies. The two also discuss why the purchase of luxury goods is bound by emotion. Frank finally gives examples as to why the digital nation of China is an incubator for future of shopping trends.
Episode 4: Sustainability and innovation at Breitling
Although luxury goods are built to last, the notions of consumption and sustainability can seem incompatible in the long run. In this episode, Georges Kern, CEO of the Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling discusses his company’s sustainability journey, the role innovation plays and his own thoughts on a sustainable future.
Episode 3: Building and growing luxury brands: the example of Porsche
Build it and they will come is no longer a given for luxury brands given changing consumer behaviours and shifts towards more sustainable consumption. In this episode, Sebastian Ackermann, Brand Management and Marketing Strategy at Porsche, talks to Felicitas about the need for contemporary brand management and how Porsche is expanding their customer base through product innovation, a drive towards electrification and flexible ownership models.
Episode 2: Liquid luxury
Felicitas takes us to London in this episode to interview Giana Eckhardt from King’s Business School and Fleura Bardhi from Cass Business School. Founders of the notion of “Liquid luxury” Giana and Fleura discuss what this more transient form of consumption means, the societal, cultural and market drivers of this concept, and the impact it has on traditional luxury products, brand loyalty and the democratisation of luxury.
Episode 1: The evolving nature of luxury
This inaugural episode, hosted by Cristina D'Agostino, editor-in-chief of “Luxury Tribune” welcomes Karine Szegedi and Felicitas Morhart, the visionaries behind and future hosts of Luxury On Air. The trio discuss the inspiration behind the podcast, give a preview of the themes being covered in upcoming episodes and talk about the evolving nature of luxury.
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