Mary Valiakas’ Post

Gucci: A Masterclass in Branding 🤩 Gucci's meteoric rise from a struggling leather goods company to a global luxury juggernaut is nothing short of remarkable. As marketers and brand builders, there is a wealth of lessons we can glean from their journey. Some key takeaways: ✨Reinvention is key - Gucci completely transformed their image under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, pivoting from stuffy and outdated to fresh, unconventional and ultra-desirable. ✨Cherish your heritage - Gucci seamlessly blends their iconic codes and archives with modern sensibilities, staying true to their roots while evolving. ✨Cultivate a cult following - Gucci has developed a passionate, almost cult-like brand community that evangelizes the brand. Their exclusivity and scarcity models only amplify this. ✨Embrace the power of collaborations - Gucci's high-profile collaborations (Adidas, The North Face, etc.) have expanded their reach and relevance. There's so much we can learn from Gucci's mastery of branding. If you're looking to level up your brand, we are here for you. #BrandBuilding #Luxury #Gucci #Branding #Marketing #Collaboration #Fashion #Entrepreneur #BusinessTips

Gucci: A Masterclass in Branding 🤩 Gucci's meteoric rise from a struggling leather goods company to a global luxury juggernaut is nothing short of remarkable. As marketers and brand builders, there is a wealth of lessons we can glean from their journey. Some key takeaways: ✨Reinvention is key - Gucci completely transformed their image under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, pivoting from stuffy and outdated to fresh, unconventional and ultra-desirable. ✨Cherish your heritage - Gucci seamlessly blends their iconic codes and archives with modern sensibilities, staying true to their roots while evolving. ✨Cultivate a cult following - Gucci has developed a passionate, almost cult-like brand community that evangelizes the brand. Their exclusivity and scarcity models only amplify this. ✨Embrace the power of collaborations - Gucci's high-profile collaborations (Adidas, The North Face, etc.) have expanded their reach and relevance. There's so much we can learn from Gucci's mastery of branding. If you're looking to level up your brand, we are here for you. #BrandBuilding #Luxury #Gucci #Branding #Marketing #Collaboration #Fashion #Entrepreneur #BusinessTips

Gucci: Where luxury meets the future. ✨ From bold marketing strategies to redefining global trends, Gucci's impact is nothing short of iconic. Dive into the case study to see how this brand stays timeless while shaping tomorrow. #GucciMarketing #LuxuryInnovation #BrandPower #kiit #ksac #KrayaAndKuber #kiituniversity

🪐📉“Web3 isn’t profitable. The metaverse is dead.” No they aren’t, brands are just not using them right. We have all been witness to the rollercoaster luxury has been on in terms of innovation. NFTS, thousand dollar phygital collectibles, digital passports and much more. However, very few of these investments actually bring ROI. Many blame the technology, society’s lack of adoption, etc. But it is because we get projects such as THIS (the Gucci sneaker) that brands don’t see a return on their investment. Creating a surrealist looking shoe and naming it “cubed” with surrounding futuristic decor doesn’t make it “cutting edge” it simply delivers a clear message of “we don’t understand what we are doing but we are hoping something lands.” Web3. Blockchain. Phygital Collectives. And now AI. It isn’t about advertising to the public that you use these technologies and that they are what makes your product special. YOU. YOUR BRAND. Is what makes a product special. Gucci you are good enough already!! ❣️ 🧰⚙️Nonetheless, If you want to implement technological and innovative solutions here are some ideas: 1. Leverage AI and Blockchain technologies to efficient your supply chain ⛓️💥✨. As of right now only 30% of De Sarno’s collections are at Gucci stores… Wondering why sales aren’t rising? There is no product. 2. 🪩 Utilize Web3 to build a loyal community around Gucci. Few truly know the history (and I retirate - the entire story including Domenico and Tom Ford). Translate and share what Gucci’s values truly are. Web3 isn’t a place or a discord server. It’s a mindset. The ability to connect with your audience. 3. 📲Phygitals. First off find an enriching and iconic product (such as the Jackie). Build an exclusive offer around it. Boom! Gucci is truly one of my all time favorite brands. De Sarno is doing an impeccable job with his tailoring and restoring the tradition. While fashion is a industry that declares everything to go fast, in this case it isn’t about speed but about intention. Don’t change the magic that is already there. Find new ways to showcase it ☄️💥💫 #gucci #web3 #nfts #metaverse #genalpha #fashionnews #fashionindustry #fashionindustryupdates #fashionnews #fashionbusinessnews #kering #lvmh #luxury #luxurytech #fashiontech #web3fashion

Recently, we have been discussing Jaguar's strategy of completely changing their identity to meet a certain demand. If a brand is doing well, it is not going to feel the need to make major changes since the client base it is catering to resonates with its identity. It is only when the client has chosen to move on to something else, the brand feels the need to either reform itself to bring back the old glory and consequently the lost clientele or maybe transform into something completely new to shift their focus on a new client base. A shift so big often invites mixed reactions as in the case of Gucci, which under the creative direction of Alejandro Michelle became very different to what it was under Tom Ford. While Gucci was polished, minimalist and sharp with Tom Ford, it was gender fluid, maximalist and vintage with Alejandro Michelle, and both their tenures and creative leadership tended to work in favour of reforming Gucci and establishing it as a strong player in the luxury industry. Both transitions, although very different, have worked in Gucci's favour and enabled the brand to remain a formidable player in the luxury industry. Despite the inevitable debate and resistance surrounding these changes or the shift in the client base, Gucci has managed to remain profitable and culturally relevant by aligning with societal and market trends. #gucci #brandrepositioning #rebranding #jaguar #magicksite

Do you think money can buy anything? Here are four things where having a lot of money isn't enough: 1. A Birkin bag from Hermès. Despite being highly demanded, acquiring a Birkin bag can be an odyssey. Hermès maintains its exclusivity by producing limited quantities and prioritizing long-standing clients. Want one? Start by building a relationship with Hermès, buy their socks and their towels, and maybe after spending quite some money in other items you might just get an invitation to purchase the bag. Clients of the French maison have reported that once they receive the opportunity to buy a Birkin, they cannot always choose its style and color. Hermès offers you the bag on their terms; you either take it or leave it. -- 2. Nike Air Mag "Back to the Future" Sneakers These sneakers are an ultra-rare collector's item, released in limited editions via auctions and raffles, often for charity. The exclusivity and connection to a beloved film make them a dream item for many. If you are extremely lucky to find them online, you will have to pay around $75,000 for the pair. However, having enough money to purchase them is not the main challenge. -- 3. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Watch Known as one of the world’s most complicated watches to manufacture, this piece of art is available only to those who have an established relationship with the brand or are recognized collectors. Again, the brand decides to whom it will sell. This level of exclusivity ensures that each piece is a treasured asset. -- 4. McLaren Group's Ultimate Series Cars McLaren's Ultimate Series is about more than just owning a supercar; it's about being part of an exclusive club. Prospective buyers need to demonstrate loyalty to the brand, often by owning other McLaren cars, and express their interest directly to the manufacturer. This scarcity strategy is quite common among luxury brands! Once you have a lot of money, what's the next step? The next step involves having ultra-exclusive items that most people on Earth, fellow millionaires included, will never own. 😉 -- If you enjoyed the post, hit the like button ❤️ Share it with your contacts ♻️ Follow me for more 🔔 #linkedin #investing #valueinvesting

Ever wonder Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Dior 'waste' millions on mass media ads, even though most people can't afford a $7,300 Stefano Ricci loafers? It's simple: luxury is a game of perception. Luxury brands sell exclusivity. But that exclusivity only works if everyone, rich or poor, understands the value. That’s why they need mass media to hit the masses. #LuxuryMarketing #BrandPerception #MassMedia #BrandStrategy

What can Kering Group can do to turn Gucci around quickly? I think Gucci suffers from the issue not having a clear defined USP to the market, without a plan to directly attract customers from a different pillars. They have the Tennis Star Jannik Sinner carrying Gucci bags on court and generated quite a bit of earned media. However, there is nothing else that Gucci has painted to drive new customers as well as the high end level repeated customers. Whether it's because their design is full of monograms and doesn't sync with the quiet luxury trend is not the core issue. People are having difficulty connecting with Gucci regarding their heritage, craftsman ship, and being bespoke. Also, the Gucci beauty line fails to attract the young generation to be their brand users and start developing an affiliate to the brand. Gucci is at a crossing path whether they would be able to jump the hurdle to reinvent itself. It's totally doable. Burberry has done it and turn things around. Tom Ford successfully turned Gucci around in mid 1990s and drove an explosive growth during his helm. Gucci now needs to reevaluate that their core values are, what type of customers that they really want to attract, and what should be the entry points to drive new customers. They also need to rethink their entire creative and media strategy to be bold and do something different to make people fall in love with them again. The last thing I want to see is a demise of Gucci like what GUESS?, Inc. has suffered globally. If you know anyone working at Kering or Gucci HQ, I would love to have a chat. #luxurymarketing #strategy #gucci #kering https://lnkd.in/gkJSE7M8

🚨 Big News in Luxury: Gucci's Leadership Shake-up! 🚨 Kering has just appointed Stefano Cantino as Gucci's new CEO. What does this mean for the iconic brand? Key Takeaways: ▶️ Gucci's been struggling: Sales and profits down sharply in H1 2024 ▶️ Cantino brings valuable experience from Louis Vuitton and Prada ▶️ Challenge: Reviving a €10bn brand amid luxury market downturn What Cantino Might Bring: ▶️ Fresh perspective from rival brands ▶️ Strong background in communications, image making and marketing ▶️ Potential to bridge Gucci's theatrical past with a more timeless future I suppose the big question on everyone's minds is can Cantino navigate Gucci's transition while: ▶️ Appealing to both younger and top-tier wealthy shoppers? ▶️ Reviving performance in crucial markets like China? ▶️ Balancing innovation with Gucci's heritage? This move signals Kering's commitment to turning Gucci around. It's a pivotal moment for the brand and the luxury industry at large. And let's not forget, in the world of luxury, a rockstar CEO paired with a knockout creative director can be pure magic – it's like your dream sandwich combination, but with a lot more glamour and a much bigger price tag! What do you think? Can Cantino be the catalyst Gucci needs? In "The Luxpreneur," I dive into these juicy luxury brand shake-ups and how to nail that perfect balance of creativity and business smarts. Gucci's situation is a prime example of the tightrope walk luxury brands face. Want the inside scoop on thriving in the glitzy world of luxury? Grab a copy of "The Luxpreneur" here: tinyurl.com/yeert22u #Gucci #LuxuryBrands #LeadershipTransition #FashionIndustry #TheLuxpreneur

Why Gucci needs drastic change. Today’s Gucci is a bland shadow of its former self. To turn its fortunes around, the brand must confront its internal mistakes and return to its core identity. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g9ZZMwXi #LuxuryCruxx #LuxuryConnect