OFF THE SHELVES
The most powerfully printed Ferragamo collection in recent memory has bloomed in boutiques from coast to coast - and further West in Hawaii! The spectacular Spring 2012 collection is a floral bouquet that ties togetherpre and main collections, taking those solid chic pieces to another level. If you are going to sell this Spring collection to fashion clients - these first moments of May is the moment to capitalize on full price shoppers looking for that chic Summer wardrobe. Getting one floral piece of RTW in front of every shoe and handbag client should be your goal. Tell that fashionable next customer "Let me show you something". Then lead her to a dressing room where you just placed three pieces of RTW that would work with that new bag or shoe she that she has been falling in love with. What better season to introduce Ferragamo RTW to those who haven't experienced it before? These prints and shapes won't be seen again, and with the limited production quantities they are truly collectible pieces. In 10 years, the fashion flock will be screaming about the "vintage Ferragamo" floral prints! If your store doesn't carry RTW, then introduce another category full of color like shoes, handbags, or scarves!
This past weekend in Hawaii, the boutique at the Royal Hawaiin was also in full bloom! With a charity event benefiting a prominent cancer center, the local clientele from both Ala Moana and Royal Hawaiin boutiques were out in force to celebreat the Spring 2012 Runway Collection and the arrival of Ferragamo Fine Jewelry! The amazing Ferragamo visual team outdid themselves with an impeccable presentation of the Spring Runway Collection and floral displays that would even make florists in Hawaii jealous! It's one thing to see a collection on the glamorous runway of a Milan fashion show, but to see it brought to life with such perfection is a treat. Email every client and friend and show them the state of the art (and FUN!) Ferragamo Trunshow Website. This is a priceless marketing tool, and after clicking around at home she is bound to come to your store to see the bags, shoes, and dresses in person! Many thanks to Valerie Sylvester and Shane Matsuda & their teams for being such gracious hosts last weekend. MAHALO!!
LEGACY OF LUXURY
ICONS! The DNA of any fashion house is expressed in a handful of symbols known as icons. The brands icons should be the first words or images that come to mind when it's name is mentioned.
Ferragamo has had the good fortune of creating luxury fashion goods for almost 85 years. In that time, the unique style that Salvatore created has come to represent many things to so many Women and Men around the world. The Gancini, the Vara Bow, the Sofia Bag, the Wedge Heel, The Audrey - these are just a few of the iconic Ferragamo symbols that Women dream about year after year, and now generation after generation. Brand icons themselves have now become fashion accessories via charm bracelets, a fashion trend that is here to stay. A charm bracelet is one of the most timeless fashion accessories. Women of all ages love to dangle these playful little ornaments from their wrist. Playful and cute on a little girl, or downright seductive on a beautiful woman - charm bracelets are for all ages.
Jewelry was once a completely separate category from fashion. Jewels were only bought from houses like Tiffany, Harry Winston, & Van Cleef & Arpels. Well - times have changed! Costume & Fine Jewelry are now a natural extension of a fashion brand. A fashion customer might be just as likely to purchase a bangle bracelet or a diamond ring as they would a dress or a pair of shoes. While most brands can add low cost costume jewelry made in China, few can produce those items in Italy. Fewer still can afford to introduce Fine Jewelry. The cost to create a fine jewelry collection is staggering. The ability for Ferragamo to have launched Fine Jewelry is truly something to be proud of. We should be talking about FJ to EVERY customer that buys a piece of Ferragamo fashion. There are few items as prestigious as a piece of fine jewelry. ** As a gift, it is one of the most limited edition pieces she will ever receive.** In the meantime, introduce costume jewelry to your next client. Keep in mind that 95% of the jewelry you have ever seen from Chanel is all costume. All those little CC earrings women wear are part of the Costume Jewelry collection, not FJ. Have you sold a piece of CJ this month? If not, it's your loss - because clients are buying similar items from the other major fashion brands. This whimsical charm bracelet in boutiques now is sure to make her smile, and so will the price at $390. That is half of what a customer would pay for something this detailed at a fashion competitor. CHARMING!
FERRAGAMO TIME
Another week and another chic fashion event hosted by Ferragamo, benifitting a worthwhile charity! What is more sophisticated than creating ways to encourage luxury shoppers to help local charities? I have never worked with a company that has more charitable events than Ferragamo! Last month, Riverside was once again host to a super successful benefit for a prominent New Jersey based Hospital. In fact, the most famous actress in the history of daytime television even agreed to co-host the event. Susan Lucci was RED CARPET ready in Ferragamo. Thank you to Rita McAdoo and her team for making everyone feel like a red-carpet walker. Thank you also once again to the Ferragamo visual team, who made the Riverside boutique look like a Hollywood Premiere! Fitting as the event was the re-launch of the RED CARPET shoe program. On the heels (pun intended) of dressing the most famous women of 2012, Ferragamo RED CARPET re-launches with more colors, more styles, and even MTO handbags to make her special night a red carpet memory. But don't think that this program should just be utilized only by brides or gala attendees. EVERY shoe fanatic should be excited about this unique opportunity that is NOT offered by other fashion houses. With a huge selection of colors, suggest this program to your next shoe or handbag client. Of course brides in the U.S. are a natural, but it is even more fun (and has less pressure of timing) to help an excited shoe shopper create her own "perfect" pair of heels! Talk with your manager today about how to plan a pair for your best customer. **Don't hesitate to suggest the program to Men as a great gift for the ladies for the coming Holiday seaons. ** Guys will LOVE the idea of having figured out what to buy this early in the year! Are you ready for your close up?