Jewelry Maker Pandora Bets on ‘Gen Z’ to Boost Sales

The Pandora logo is seen in jewelry shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
The Pandora logo is seen in jewelry shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
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Jewelry Maker Pandora Bets on ‘Gen Z’ to Boost Sales

The Pandora logo is seen in jewelry shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
The Pandora logo is seen in jewelry shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)

Danish jewelry maker Pandora plans to produce edgy pieces to attract young shoppers and significantly boost sales in the United States and China to meet a revenue growth target of 6-8% over 2021-2023 it announced on Tuesday.

The world’s largest jewelry maker by production capacity said it was also targeting an operating profit margin of 25-27% in 2023 and boosted its ongoing share buyback, driving its shares up more than 4%.

Pandora has looked to refresh its image to appeal to the so-called “Gen Z” - people aged six to 25 whom Bank of America says represents some 2.5 billion people who make up 32% of the global population, followed by “Millenials” aged 25 to 40 at 22%.

"If you look at Generation Z and Millenials, by 2025 they are expected to constitute over 60% of the luxury consumption in the world so we need to sharpen our pens," CEO Alexander Lacik told Reuters.

The company generates 70% of its sales from its Moment platform based on silver bracelets with collectable charms but is hoping to build a new growth pillar with pieces catering to younger people.

It will soon launch more pieces in its Pandora Me collection, which has previously been promoted by English actor and model Millie Bobby Brown, and is both cheaper and has a more raw look than conventional pieces with for example safety brooches or chains.

Lacik took over the helm in 2019 after the previous CEO was ousted following several profit warnings and a lack of new innovative products.

A top priority for Lacik is to gain a foothold in China, the world’s largest jewelry market, where its brand penetration is still very low.

Pandora said it aims to triple revenue in China compared to 2019 levels and double sales in the United States.

To meet demand, it will invest 1 billion Danish crowns ($159 million) in expanding its manufacturing capacity by around 60%, or 80 million pieces of jewelry annually, by building a new factory in Vietnam and expanding its existing plants in Thailand



Boohoo Names Finley as CEO against Frasers Demand to Pick Mike Ashley

FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a smartphone showing the Boohoo app in front of the Boohoo logo on display in this illustration taken September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a smartphone showing the Boohoo app in front of the Boohoo logo on display in this illustration taken September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Boohoo Names Finley as CEO against Frasers Demand to Pick Mike Ashley

FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a smartphone showing the Boohoo app in front of the Boohoo logo on display in this illustration taken September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a smartphone showing the Boohoo app in front of the Boohoo logo on display in this illustration taken September 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

British online fashion retailer Boohoo on Friday appointed Dan Finley as its new CEO, effective immediately, in a blow to top investor Frasers which had attempted to appoint its controlling shareholder Mike Ashley to the role.
Boohoo's shares rose 3% on the news of the appointment of Finley, who is currently head of Boohoo's digital department store unit Debenhams and who will replace John Lyttle.
Frasers last week requisitioned a general meeting at Boohoo to appoint British entrepreneur Ashley as CEO. A week prior, Boohoo had said Lyttle would step down and also announced a strategic review that could see it broken up.
Controlled by Ashley, the British sportswear and apparel retailer is Boohoo's biggest shareholder with a stake of about 27%.
Boohoo's board was unanimous in its decision to appoint Finley as CEO, the company's Deputy Chairman Alistair McGeorge said in a statement.
Frasers did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment.
Under Finley's leadership, Debenhams has a gross merchandise value (GMV) annual run rate of about 800 million pounds ($1.03 billion) due to a capital-light and cash generative model, Boohoo said.
Analysts at Jefferies said the GMV was well ahead of the brokerage's estimate earlier this year of about 400 million pounds.
Boohoo, in response to Frasers last week, had said it was willing to discuss board representation but that there needed to be "appropriate governance" to protect its commercial position.
Boohoo had noted that Frasers also owns a 23.6% stake in ASOS, which operates in similar markets to both Boohoo and Frasers.
Frasers also owns stakes in the likes of British luxury brand Mulberry, where a takeover attempt by Frasers failed last month, and British electronics retailer AO World .
It also invested 150 million pounds in Debenhams, which went out of business in 2021 and was bought by Boohoo out of administration.