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It must be pretty tough playing in the watch market these days.

Most people under the age of 30 are using their mobile phones as a replacement and aren't even wearing a watch at all.

At first glance, it appears this might be what TAG Heuer is thinking with the launch of its new phone.

However, instead of trying to appeal to the teen and twenty something crowd, the luxury watch maker's new phone costs around $6,000 and is going for the niche uber luxury market.

It remains to be seen how other players in the watch market respond.

Do the luxury brands extend their brands into a new category?

    Where would that leave Nokia's Vertu?

Do the lower cost manufacturers move into the low cost phone business?

    Could they compete with Sony and Nokia?


Posted by Ed Cotton The well-known Swedish fashion company H&M enters a new phase. H&M always followed the same route: cheap trendy fashion. Now they enter a new phase. By buying the upcoming Swedish fashion company Fabric Scandinavien (behind brands like Sunday Sun , Cheap Monday . HM enters a new role as a venture capitalist. Before HM had to produce products to get revenues, now (with acquisitions) they have to control the portfolio of stocks.
 
This could be a boring, dangerous and reactive way to go. Before they were forced to lead and forge a path, now they can just look and follow. In the long run, this could be a problem: when you fall back and get satisfied, the world around seems to fade away.
 
The acquisition strategy marks a shift from H&M’s old approach of launching sub brands (or rather sub companies in another category such as COS
 
Where will it end for H&M? Will it become the new PPR ?

By Claes Foxerus. You can find more writing from Claes here.  He’s also the co-founder and editor of The David Report . And, for those of you looking for Swedish Planning connections Claes is the man, he is the co-founder and secretary of the Swedish APG.
 



Posted by Ed Cotton

Posted by Ed Cotton Department stores have been trying for years to turn their private label offerings into real brands.

Most attempts have failed because they are just names with no deeper meanings making it impossible for them to compete with the genuine article.

JC Penny clearly understood the weakness in this approach and went outside to the brand master, Ralph Lauren to create its latest offering, American Living.

What's interesting about this concept, is although it has touches of Lauren's style all over it, he's created another world for the department store. Lauren's past success has been driven by the clever balancing act between present and past, His ideas were classical, but they were always believable in a contemporary context.

American Living is different, it's unabashed in highlighting the past as its inspiration. The web site suggests that the concept is anchored around the General Store and is rooted in a time when American's were practical, had a sense of humor and dreamed of a better life. This is no daily commute from the suburbs.

It's fascinating to see such a shift to the past in a country that's usually so wrapped up in the future.

Something has changed and perhaps the future no longer looks so bright.

In such a world, we are going to cling to the icons of the past for re-assurance and confirmation of who we are and where we stand.

American Living is just one example of the nostalgia for the past that America is now craving in everything from its cars to its politicians.

It's a force that cannot be ignored.


Posted by Ed Cotton Spike's played with fire and skateboards, now he goes one step beyond. 


Posted by Ed Cotton Uniqlo continues to push the envelope - mixing utility clothing with cool brands, art and ideas.

This time it's a partnership with Pantone for cashmere sweaters.

Posted by Ed Cotton