Influx Insights Tag Feed: luxury

is a phone the new watch?

Influx Insights — 2008-04-08T02:33:23Z

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

living in the statusphere

Influx Insights — 2007-11-15T22:15:29Z

For the global elite, $3.6 million buys you a New York home at 40 Bond complete with access to pet management services.

Apparently, most buyers own their own planes and will only use the apartment a few days a year.

See what $3.6 million gets you.

Posted by Ed Cotton

there are no bounds to conniseurship

Influx Insights — 2007-10-17T02:42:11Z

We've gotten used to flights of wine, tequila, whisky and even micro-brewed beer.

The fragmentation of premium luxury beverages and wrapping these up into on-premise sampling opportunities is widespread.

How about honey in a 9 Varietal Flight?

It seems extraordinary that there can be varitals of honey, but it shows just how far people can go with a little imagination. There's a huge opportunity for companies to satisfy the desire for authentic products, that can deliver talk and experience value.

In case you are interested, the honey is available from Bee Raw.

Via kitsunenoir

Posted by Ed Cotton

louis vuitton pushes the boundaries between art and commerce

Influx Insights — 2007-10-11T14:13:44Z

There once was a time when art sponsorship was a subtle thing; brands used to discretely put their logos onto the promotional materials and leave it at that.

Those were the days when art and commerce were kind of separate, in the last few years we’ve seen much more of coming together of the two worlds and perhaps the best example is the partnership between Japanese uber-artist Takasji Murakami and Louis Vuitton.

Murakami’s designs turned the Louis Vuitton brand into a pop sensation.

In 2006, he was interviewed by CNN and asked about the collaboration.

"TS: How did your collaboration with Louis Vuitton come about?

TM: If you look at Louis Vuitton's history, they've always been influenced by Japanese designs, such as the flowers on the kimono, ever since the 19th century. In a very natural way Louis Vuitton is in touch with Japanese culture. It's a very big turning point for me. Now I understand the fashion world a little bit. It's important because the European creative situation is very influenced by fashion and art and fashion are very closely linked."

The partnership between the two continues today and is celebrated at the artist’s upcoming exhibition at the LA MOCA.

For the event, Vuitton has created a “fleeting” store for the where luxury lovers will be able to get purchase and of course, just state at, the range of products from the Vuitton/Murakami collaboration.

It’s a very different kind of museum store and not without controversy.

Via Dezeen

Posted by Ed Cotton

the $1.7 million car

Influx Insights — 2007-04-19T00:14:57Z

If you were fortunate enough to have $1.7 million in spare change and the skills of a race car driver, Ferrari would have sold you an FFX (race ready Enzo) sadly the program is now sold out.

The car comes complete with its own pit crew and 6 races over a 2 year period. The FFXs were out in force at last week's Ferrari Challenge event at Infineon Raceway in Napa, California.

It's an amazing example of the ultimate in luxury brand experiences.