Chasing the Bling: A Chinese Trend
HONG KONG, December 10, 2014 — With luxury brands having to face an overwhelming reality of an influx of Chinese consumers, how the industry and different corporations tailor their marketing towards this trend remains an interesting topic today. Based on his book, The Bling Dynasty: Why the Reign of Chinese Luxury Shoppers Has Only Just Begun, Erwan Rambourg, Co-Head of the Global Consumer and Retail Equity Research at HSBC, Hong Kong, analyzed the behavior and condition of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and several others in response to the growing trend of Chinese shoppers.
With the Chinese accounting for a bit more than 1/3 of luxury sales, Rambourg predicted that the numbers will continue to grow and the Chinese will become dominant with 50% or more shares in luxury consumption. One important question raised is that whether the Chinese consumption behavior will change to become like the Japanese or the American. "If the Chinese were to become similar to the Japanese, you wouldn't have any growth anymore, because the Japanese have moved away from the sector," Rambourg remarked. He also addressed some of the paradox facing luxury brands to maintain exclusivity while fulfilling the increasing demands of larger consumer groups. As Chinese luxury consumption occurs more often abroad than at home, Rambourg continually stressed for investors and retailers to "think Chinese, not China," when grappling with this growing trend.
Event information: The Bling Dynasty: Why the Reign of Chinese Luxury Shoppers Has Only Just Begun
Video: Watch the complete program (1 hr., 17 min.)