The importance of resolutions

Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank announces ECCIA Presidency and priorities for the coming months

‘Setting intentions’ appears to have replaced ‘making resolutions’ this New Year. I see the appeal of the former - ‘intention’ offers a lot more wiggle room than ‘resolution’, a word that brings with it a sense of firm commitment. But what is the road to hell paved with? Exactly. Good intentions. I say we vote for old school resolutions and tackle 2024 head on, loins girded and resolutions made, full of purpose and determination.

Firmness of purpose is a quality I see in all Walpole’s members: when British luxury commits, it does so wholeheartedly – one of the many reasons my heart soared when I saw the results of our latest McKinsey sustainability study examining the progress they have all been making in this crucial area since the launch of the Walpole British Luxury Sustainability Manifesto exactly four years ago. I said at the Manifesto’s launch, ‘true luxury only comes with a clean conscience’, and it's been an extraordinary privilege to bear witness to the resolve with which our members have embraced luxury’s role as a custodian of both people and planet in the ensuing years.

I know that accelerating sustainability progress is a key 2024 resolution for many in the sector, not least in the context of the slew of regulations coming out of Brussels connected to the European Green Deal. Proposals that particularly affect luxury brands include those on PPWR and Eco-Design - and, despite Brexit, these kinds of changes will affect many British brands with a supply chain or a customer base in the EU.

Speaking of which, one of Walpole’s unique strengths is its membership of ECCIA, the European Creative and Cultural Industries Alliance, an umbrella organisation of the seven luxury associations across Europe, together representing more than 600 luxury brands in Brussels. Throughout recent years when political turbulence has created numerous challenges for business, Walpole’s participation in ECCIA has ensured British luxury brands have a seat at the table, and a voice in Europe. The powerful ties forged through ECCIA and the collaboration, shared interests and willingness to unite as businesses beyond national boundaries strengthens the work of each of the individual associations respectively and reinforces the luxury sector as a whole as an incredible Anglo-European powerhouse.

From January 2024, Walpole will take over the Presidency of ECCIA from Altagamma and Michael Ward, Walpole’s Chairman, and I would like to thank Altagamma President,  Matteo Bruno Lunelli and Altagamma CEO,  Stefania Lazzaroni for their achievements during their Presidency, not least leading the wide-ranging Bain study into High-End Tourism, among many other successes. For the next two years, Walpole will have the privilege of overseeing ECCIA’s work in Brussels on the main policy priorities: brand protection in general and protection of intellectual property in particular; trade and tourism; sustainability and ESG aligned to the European Green Deal.

In addition, I am determined (notice that New Year resolve?) that in the UK our Presidency can demonstrate how important and beneficial it is that the luxury business model is deeply integrated across Europe and shine a light on how the flows of investment, trade, supply chains and culture moves in both directions across the channel, contributing to an industry worth €1.5tr globally.

In parallel with ECCIA’s work in the EU, Walpole has focused on the UK’s trading relationship with EU member states since the 2021 UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into effect - and, for example, we were greatly relieved to have secured luxury’s right to selective distribution in the UK post Brexit, something we had, as ECCIA, fought very hard for in the EU, given how essential it is to the luxury business model. We have published a number of policy recommendations for our own government, outlined in our new Trading with Europe report and we are mindful the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will be reviewed in 2026. I’m particularly keen to work towards reducing the friction for brands on a number of specific and technical issues. 

Walpole’s Presidency of ECCIA offers an opportunity to reinforce with stakeholders on both sides of the channel the importance of avoiding unnecessary regulatory divergence between the UK and EU, and importantly, after the signing of the Windsor Framework, the goodwill exists both in our own government and in Brussels to work together to help resolve some of the challenges for business.

I was very encouraged by the Minister for Investment, Lord Johnson’s, openness to the issues raised by members at a roundtable at the end of last year and I am keen for members at the early stages of their exporting journey to join Malcolm Offord , Minister for Exports, on the morning of 23rd January for a Walpole roundtable to discuss the successes and challenges businesses have faced on their exporting journeys, and how the Government can offer practical support.

And do, please, look out for the formal and detailed announcement of Walpole’s ECCIA presidency later this week across Walpole's content channels.

– Helen Brocklebank (Chief Executive, Walpole )