The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Jonas Tåhlin leads Moët Hennessy's global spirits business, overseeing prestigious Maisons such as Belvedere Vodka, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg single malt whiskies, and Volcan de mi Tierra Tequila. He also spearheaded the joint venture with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to launch SirDavis American whisky. Jonas joins Scott Kerr to discuss how Moët Hennessy is attacking the challenging spirits market, teaming up with Harrison Ford for Glenmorangie's new global campaign, Ardbeg veering off the whisky marketing playbook with a sci-fi graphic novel for whisky fans, working with Beyoncé to bring her SirDavis whisky project to life, and keeping its ultra-premium vodka and tequila brands vibrant in a polarized market. Plus: How Moët Hennessy is integrating into the LVMH x F1 racing partnership. Featuring: Jonas Tåhlin, President of Spirits Brands at Moët Hennessy (lvmh.com/en/our-maisons/wines-spirits) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr speaks with Stefano Peccatori, president & CEO of Rizzoli International Publications, the famed publishing house recognized for producing high-end illustrated books in fashion, architecture, art, and design. Stefano discusses how its Milanese founder Angelo Rizzoli went from poverty to successful book publisher to producing films like '8 1/2' by Federico Fellini. He also talks about how why Rizzoli is "not just a luxury brand, but part of the culture of luxury," positioning Rizzoli in a competitive high-end coffee table book market, why physical bookstores have seen a resurgence in popularity, and the story behind producing a 300-page monograph on Italian clothing label Stone Island. Plus: Working with prestigious luxury brands on tribute books Featuring: Stefano Peccatori, President & CEO of Rizzoli International Publications (rizzoliusa.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Matthew Upchurch is a prominent figure in the luxury travel industry as the CEO of Virtuoso, a leading global network of travel agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel. He sits down with Scott Kerr to talk about why he believes the power of human expertise, technology, and personal connection has positioned Virtuoso at the forefront of luxury travel's future. They also have a deep conversation about who today's luxury travelers are and what they want, the resurgence of the travel advisor, why AI in travel will be about "automating the predictable and humanizing the exceptional", and what defines true luxury hospitality today. Plus: Why Virtuoso Travel Week is considered the 'Fashion Week of travel'. Featuring: Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso (virtuoso.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Daniel Daggers, founder and CEO of DDRE Global and star of Netflix's luxury real estate reality show 'Buying London', sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss how the TV series has impacted his business, how his firm's revolutionizing the luxury property market in London and what's been dampening the sentiment among wealthy buyers. He also talks about who's snapping up London's high-end properties, where their wealth is coming from, and seeing the effects of the great wealth transfer play out in luxury real estate. Plus: Why social media has been a game changers for his firm Featuring: Daniel Daggers, CEO of DDRE Global (ddre.global) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Michael Savage, CEO of Space Perspective, a commercial spaceflight company that will take passengers to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere in a luxurious balloon-lifted capsule. Michael discusses the emerging space tourism market, what luxury services wealthy passengers will experience at 100,000 feet, successfully completing its first test flight, and how the company is striving to make space travel more accessible. He also talks about how Richard Branson became an investor in Space Perspective, teaming up with Mercedes-Maybach and why space is a new frontier for luxury brands. Plus: Responding to criticism about the environmental impact of space travel Featuring: Michael Savage, CEO of Space Perspective (spaceperspective.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss how the 163-year-old Florentine luxury watchmaker grew from supplying watches to the Italian Royal Navy to the brand of choice among Hollywood action stars and passionate watch enthusiasts. Jean-Marc also talks about its long-standing ties with maritime and its influence on design, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone accelerating the brand's popularity, how being acquired by the Richemont Group launched Panerai in the haute horlogerie territory, Panerai’s extreme watch experiences for VIPs, and engaging with the watchmaker's diehard fanbase (the 'Paneristi'). Plus: Panerai's strategic involvement the America's Cup and the Lunna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team. Featuring: Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Panerai (panerai.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of French high jewelry house Boucheron, to discuss how the company is preserving the innovation and creative design legacy of its founder Frédéric Boucheron and her push to revive the identity of the 166-year-old "sleeping" luxury brand. She also talks about how being a small and nimble company has enabled Kering-owned Boucheron to quickly bring boundary-pushing concepts to market, why her partnership with creative director Claire Choisne has been so successful, the rationale behind releasing two collections - with two distinct styles - each year, why high jewelry has been more resilient than other luxury investments, and its big foray into the US market with standalone stores. Plus: Why the red carpet is so important to Boucheron Featuring: Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, CEO of Boucheron (boucheron.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks to Andrea Zagato and his wife Marella Rivolta Zagato, the powerhouse duo leading the legendary Italian design house and coachbuilding company Zagato. CEO Andrea Zagato discusses how his grandfather Ugo grew a small coach build company in Milan more than a century ago into a top name in automotive design and forging long-standing partnerships with Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, and many others. They both talk about why Zagato renews itself every 10 years, its 'rationalist' design philosophy, creating automotive 'works of art' for wealthy clients, the challenges and opportunities of the electrification era, and using ambassadors rather than dealers to promote its projects. Plus: The story behind Ugo Zagato's creative partnership and friendship with Enzo Ferrari Featuring: Andrea Zagato and Marella Rivolta Zagato, Zagato (zagato.it) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Amy Smilovic, founder and creative director behind popular contemporary fashion brand Tibi, and whose personal style ethos of 'creative pragmatism' has amassed a large devoted following. Amy discusses launching Tibi nearly thirty years ago in Hong Kong and how it gained traction in the US, what motivated her to later pivot Tibi's visual design and eventually 'completely disrupt' the brand. She also talks about how the idea of 'creative pragmatism' was born out of during Covid-19 lockdown and why it's turned into a movement, why having a direct line to customers on social media has been a game changer, and what's been the biggest contributor to her brand's longevity. Plus: Why the US department store model is broken Featuring: Amy Smilovic, Founder and Creative Director of Tibi (tibi.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr sits down with Douglas Taylor, CEO of Bruichladdich, the legendary whisky distillery located on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. Douglas discusses the demise and rise of the 143-year-old Bruichladdich Distillery and why the brand is positioned as the 'antidote' to the whisky industry norm. He also talks the distillery's visionary and progressive approach to creating a diverse portfolio of peated and unpeated Scotch whiskies, why it also got into the gin business, the challenges and opportunities of taking over the leadership from a founding CEO, and Bruichladdich's achievements in sustainability. Plus: Is the Scotch whisky market slowdown here to stay? Featuring: Douglas Taylor, CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery (bruichladdich.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr is joined by Robert Ettinger, CEO and Chairman of Ettinger, the nearly century-old British luxury leather goods company known for its high-quality, bespoke products and traditional manufacturing methods. As the third generation to take over the business that bears his family name, Robert talks about the brand's journey to becoming one of the most renowned names in leather goods. He also discusses how being granted the prestigious Royal Warrant by the Prince of Wales was a game changer for Ettinger, what goes into developing an idea for a collection, why Japan is its biggest global market, and Ettinger's collaboration with the hit Netflix series "The Gentlemen." Plus: What it means to be "quintessentially British"? Featuring: Robert Ettinger, CEO and Chairman of Ettinger (ettinger.co.uk) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Lukas Czinger, founder, president and CEO of American hypercar manufacturer Czinger Vehicles. Founded along with his father Kevin Czinger in 2019, Lukas discusses how their 3D-printed '21C' hypercar is catalyzing a new age of designing and building cars. He also talks about why Czinger launched with a $2 million hypercar in an already saturated market, smashing production car lap records, targeting ultra-wealthy owners, and how Czinger positions itself against iconic luxury car brands with illustrious racing histories. Plus: Could its proprietary Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) be used to manufacture luxury goods? Featuring: Lukas Czinger, Founder, President and CEO of Czinger Vehicles (czinger.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Samina Virk, North America CEO of leading luxury fashion resale platform Vestiaire Collective, speaks with Scott Kerr about how relying on the company's core values has helped it thrive over the last 15 years. Samina talks about fast-tracking growth in the US, the company's path to profitability and possible IPO, its crowdfunding campaign, the importance of building trust through advanced authentication, and its AI-powered search engine. She also discusses its partnership with hit Netflix series 'Emily in Paris.' Plus: Does transparency influence consumer perceptions of the true value of luxury products? Featuring: Samina Virk, North America CEO of Vestiaire Collective (vestiairecollective.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Benoit de Clerck, CEO of Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Zenith, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the 160-year-old brand and his vision for continued growth. He also talks about what brought him over from Panerai to LVMH Watches to lead Zenith, why Zenith's El Primero watch movement is regarded as one of the world’s best and most accurate, how Zenith has been faring through a slumping luxury watch market, and how it's bringing more younger watch buyers and women into the brand. Plus: Why Zenith was the first Swiss watchmaking manufacture to open itself to the public. Featuring: Benoit de Clerck, CEO of Zenith (zenith-watches.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Andrea DeMarco, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one of the world's leading luxury cruise lines, to discuss why the cruise industry is booming at record highs and why more new-to-cruise guests are wealthy Gen Xers and luxury hotel side travelers. She also talks about why Regent Seven Seas puts itself in ultra-luxury category, how it competes against the slew of new luxury hotel brand yachts, what goes into creating luxury cruise itineraries that appeal to UHNW travelers, and the upcoming launch Regent Seven Seas new Prestige-Class ships. Plus: Why the new Grandeur ship boasts a multi=million dollar art collection that includes several Picassos and the first Fabergé egg on display aboard a passenger ship. Featuring: Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises (rssc.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Hendrik Malinowski, CEO of French luxury automotive manufacturer Bugatti, a 115-year-old brand renowned for producing luxurious, well-crafted, multi-million dollar high-performance cars. Hendrik discusses the legacy of company's founder, automobile designer Ettore Bugatti and the marque's extraordinary rise to a world-class luxury brand. He also discusses why Bugatti vehicles are sold out well into the next couple years and doesn't see a slowdown, why expensive art and real estate investments are considered key competitors, ways it keeps ultra-wealthy customers engaged and loyal to the brand, and why the new $4 million hybrid hypercar Tourbillon takes its name from the watchmaking world. Plus: Why he feels an electric-powered Bugatti vehicle doesn't lose its soulful connection to the driver Featuring: Hendrik Malinowski, Managing Director at Bugatti Automobiles (bugatti.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or colleague!

In this encore episode of The Luxury Item (published September 13, 2022), Silvio Ursini, Bulgari Group executive vice president in charge of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts division joins Scott Kerr to discuss the steady and calculated expansion of the Italian jeweler's ultra-luxury hotels. Silvio talks about the recent opening of its seventh property in Paris and breaking from the usual clichés of Parisian architecture, how ultra high net worth customers are keeping its hotel business strong, and approaching each hotel as "jewels." He also discusses the upside of being "outsider" in the hotel industry and exploring Web3 opportunities. Plus: Why fashion brands often fail in the hospitality business Featuring: Silvio Ursini, Bulgari Group Executive Vice President, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts (bulgarihotels.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Twitter: @theluxuryitem, @scott_kerr, @silvertone_inc Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Scott Kerr is joined by Tiara Chesmer-Williams, vp and head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity at wine & spirits giant Moët Hennessy, to talk about how DEI can drive business success for luxury brands and the programs she's implemented to create a more inclusive corporate culture. Tiara discusses how she works with parent company LVMH on diversity and inclusion goals, ways a company can build a culture of curiosity, whether DEI efforts in the luxury industry are backsliding, and why companies should reframe the DEI conversation as a business-driver. Plus: Can luxury be exclusive and inclusive at the same time? Featuring: Tiara Chesmer-Williams, Vice President and Head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity at Moët Hennessy (mhusa.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Frédéric Fekkai, legendary celebrity hairstylist and founder of FEKKAI brands. Frédéric discusses reinventing the luxury hair salon experience by creating the concept of beauty hospitality at his namesake salon atop New York’s Bergdorf Goodman and why he bought back his brand after going through a handful of different owners. He also talks about how listening to customers informed his strategies and innovations, why he and his wife purchased French beauty and lifestyle company Côté Bastide, how he adjusted his formulations to meet the demands of the post-Covid self-care market, and his first-ever professional ambassador program. Plus: How Fekkai intends to thrive in a hyper-competitive haircare category. Featuring: Frédéric Fekkai, Founder of FEKKAI (fekkai.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!

Scott Kerr speaks with Sabine Brunner, president of MCM Worldwide, the legendary German luxury lifestyle goods and fashion house founded in 1976 and known for its high-quality leather goods and instantly recognized monogram — the Cognac Visetos. Brunner, who joined MCM in 2023, discusses injecting new energy into the brand with a fresh design team, major marketing push, and buzzy campaigns starring A-list celebrities like Cindy Crawford and Cara Delevingne. She also talks about why MCM targets 'rule-breaking mavericks', how the Visetos monogram stays relevant with each collection, investing heavily in its digital capabilities and next-generation metaverse platform, debuting at Milan Design Week, and how MCM is positioning the brand in the turbulent luxury market. Plus: What will make MCM stick with consumers in a culture flooded with brands? Featuring: Sabine Brunner, President of MCM Worldwide (mcmworldwide.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About The Luxury Item podcast: The Luxury Item is a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry. Stay Connected: Email: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend!