Prada CEO Says it Aims to Double Business in China in Medium Term

A mannequin is pictured in a giant ornament in a Christmas  display window at the Prada store on on 5th Avenue in Manhattan in New York City, US, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
A mannequin is pictured in a giant ornament in a Christmas display window at the Prada store on on 5th Avenue in Manhattan in New York City, US, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
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Prada CEO Says it Aims to Double Business in China in Medium Term

A mannequin is pictured in a giant ornament in a Christmas  display window at the Prada store on on 5th Avenue in Manhattan in New York City, US, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
A mannequin is pictured in a giant ornament in a Christmas display window at the Prada store on on 5th Avenue in Manhattan in New York City, US, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Prada has ambitions to double its business in China over the medium term, Gianfranco D'Attis, chief executive of the Italian luxury fashion house's flagship brand, said on Wednesday.
"That means increasing our investments," D'Attis said in a group interview in Shanghai.
Prada will have bigger stores, more local products and more events in China, he added.
D'Attis, a former Dior executive who took the helm of the Prada brand in January, also said that it hoped to develop a hospitality concept as part of its worldwide distribution strategy, including in China, possibly in 2024-2025, Reuters reported.
The group, whose brands also include classic English shoemaker Church's, reported a 10% rise in third quarter revenues in November, saying that a strong performance in Asia and Europe helped to compensate for weakness in the Americas.



Kering Posts 11% Drop in Q2 Sales, Sees Weak Second Half

The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
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Kering Posts 11% Drop in Q2 Sales, Sees Weak Second Half

The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)

Kering reported a bigger-than-expected drop in second-quarter sales and forecast a weak second half, as the French luxury group struggles to revive its key label Gucci and worries grow about a prolonged downturn in high-end spending.

Sales at the French luxury group which owns labels Gucci, Boucheron and Balenciaga, fell to 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion), an 11% drop on an organic basis, which strips out currency effects and acquisitions.

The figure was below analyst expectations for a 9% drop, according to a Visible Alpha consensus.

It also said second-half operating income could fall by around 30%, following a 42% drop in the first half.

Sales at Gucci fell 19%, showing no improvement from the first quarter, and below analyst expectations for a 16% decline, according to a Visible Alpha consensus.

Kering has been revamping Gucci, the century-old Italian fashion house which accounts for half of group sales and two-thirds of profit.

Minimalist designs from new creative director Sabato de Sarno, which began trickling into stores earlier this year, are key to the design reset and push upmarket, in a bid to cater to wealthier clients who are more immune to economic headwinds.

Kering chief financial officer Armelle Poulou told reporters that the designs had been well received and the rollout was on track.

But the efforts have been complicated by a downturn in the global luxury market, while China's rebound - traditionally Gucci's most coveted market - was clouded by a property crisis and high youth unemployment as Western markets came down from a post-pandemic splurge.

Earnings from sector bellwether LVMH on Tuesday missed expectations as sales rose 1%, offering few signs that a pickup is around the corner, sending shares in luxury goods companies down on Wednesday. Kering traded at its lowest level since 2017.