Chanel Says no for Online Sales

The Chanel logo is seen in a shop in downtown Rome. (Reuters)
The Chanel logo is seen in a shop in downtown Rome. (Reuters)
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Chanel Says no for Online Sales

The Chanel logo is seen in a shop in downtown Rome. (Reuters)
The Chanel logo is seen in a shop in downtown Rome. (Reuters)

France’s Chanel has no immediate plans for online sales of its coveted outfits or handbags, making it one of the fashion world’s last hold-outs as rivals experiment with websites to win over new clients.

Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion at Chanel, said the house will draw the line there for the foreseeable future.

According to Reuters, Pavlovsky told a Vogue conference in Paris: “If you give everything to everyone straight away, I think you lose that exclusivity. I’m not saying we won’t try it one day, but if we do it will be because we’ll really think there’s some added value.”

The label, known for its tweed suits and $4,300-plus quilted leather bags, already sells perfumes online, like its Chanel No. 5, as well as eyeglasses and beauty products.

Web sales will make up some 10 percent of revenues in the luxury goods market this year, which projects they could reach 25 percent by 2025, according to consultancy Bain.

Pavlovsky said that Chanel’s out-of-step attitude was not a drag on the business, adding that the label, founded by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in 1910, was reaching an increasingly young audience and had waiting lists for best-selling bags.

According to figures filed with the Amsterdam exchange, Chanel’s net profit fell nearly 35 percent in 2016 and sales dropped 9 percent to $5.7 billion. Most major rivals have enjoyed a sales bounce in 2017.

But buyers want to try on the clothes, Pavlovsky said, adding that the business would look into providing “e-services” to allow buyers to reserve items online or make store appointments.

“Every time I’m in China I meet clients who come and say, ‘whatever you do don’t do e-commerce. The day you do it for us this won’t be exclusive anymore’,” Pavlovsky stated.



Aroya Cruises Launches First Voyage in the Mediterranean

The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
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Aroya Cruises Launches First Voyage in the Mediterranean

The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA

Aroya Cruises, a subsidiary of Cruise Saudi and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, has announced the launch of its inaugural Mediterranean voyage on June 28, offering guests a fully integrated tourism experience inspired by authentic Arab hospitality, across some of the world’s most prominent cruise destinations.

The AROYA, the cruise line’s flagship vessel, set sail from its Mediterranean homeport at Galataport in Istanbul on a seven-night journey visiting key destinations including Athens, Souda Bay, and Mykonos in Greece, followed by Bodrum in Türkiye, before returning to Istanbul on July 5.

Building on the success of its inaugural Red Sea season, Aroya Cruises will continue operating Mediterranean voyages through mid-September 2025, offering diverse itineraries ranging from six to seven nights. Destinations include Marmaris, Rhodes, Alexandria, and several other prominent coastal cities in Türkiye, Greece, and Egypt.

The ship features world-class facilities and services, including a main pool area, a theater with daily entertainment, and a wellness center offering therapeutic treatments, spa services, a beauty clinic, and a fitness club.

Guests can also enjoy a wide range of activities tailored for all family members, such as an adventure zone, sports complex, water park, and one of the largest kids’ areas aboard any cruise ship. Culinary offerings include 12 restaurants and 17 cafés, serving a curated mix of Saudi and international cuisines.

President of Aroya Cruises Dr. Joerg Rudolph expressed pride in the company’s first Mediterranean voyage, noting that this milestone comes just six months after the launch of its cruise operations.

He emphasized that the cruise line’s expansion into top European destinations aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to support tourism sector growth.