Gucci strikes China gold with ‘Moonlight Clans’
Much of gucci’s growth was driven by a phenomenon among Chinese consumers that sounds more like a biker gang than a shopping demographic.
“Moonlight clans” are groups of millennial shoppers bent on spending everything they earn on luxury goods, said Elspeth Cheung, global valuation director at Kantar’s BrandZ division.
This new breed of spender represents a major cultural shift away from a more conservative consumer landscape in China. Now, as younger Chinese acclimate to President Xi Jinping’s vision of a nation with both abundance and opportunity, they’re beginning to react, and spend, accordingly.
“The China Dream message was one of a stronger nation, with more equality, increasing income levels,” said Cheung. “It gave assurance to consumers that the future is bright.”
That optimism is driving a tremendous rise in luxury brand value, both in Asia and all across the world — and not just for Gucci. French fashion house Dior saw the second-fastest growth, up 54 per cent, while brand values slipped slightly for Prada and Chanel, according to the report. Hermes, Burberry, Rolex, and Cartier also saw substantial growth. Saint Laurent, owned by Gucci’s parent company Kering, was a newcomer to the top 10. Louis Vuitton, meanwhile, remains the most valuable luxury label at $41.1 billion.
Yet no brand may be cashing in more than Gucci. Sales spiked 42 per cent in fiscal 2017 to $7.2 billion, with growth spread across all categories — from satchels and clutches to sneakers and moccasins. In fact, Kering rode the success of Gucci and Saint Laurent to its most profitable year ever. And Gucci’s momentum hasn’t stopped, with growth in the last quarter reaching 49 per cent.
China was Kering’s second-fastest growing market across all of its brands last year, up 18 per cent at comparable exchange rates. The company said in March that it had benefited from “renewed consumer confidence and supportive government policies”.
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than a third of Gucci’s annual revenue. It launched its new online shop in China last summer, and in October held a celebrity laden party in Shanghai that transformed the courtyard of a historical villa into a lantern-adorned garden. In January, Gucci released a special collection before Chinese New Year celebrations — a line of totes, sweaters and jackets inspired by the year of the dog.
“The trust level in the brand has risen significantly along with the brand value,” said Cheung.
“With the rise of social media, with WeChat and Instagram being so important for fashion, if you want to stand out, you need to wear something that’s different.” — Bloomberg