TOP FIVE LUXURY GIFT-GIVING TRENDS FOR WSJ PODCAST ON WATCHING YOUR WEALTH WITH VERONICA DAGHER

 
WSJ.com

WSJ.com

On December 15th, I had a pleasure of chatting with Veronica Dagher of The Wall Street Journal about top luxury gifting trends this holiday season.

Here's the skinny:

Luxury gifting this season is all about creating long-lasting memories and positive emotions

  • Experiences. A gift of an experience deepens emotional connection between the gift giver and gift recipient. And, giving a gift of experience provide a multi-layered emotional connection which includes anticipation of such experience, being in it, creating a memory and sharing it.
     
  • Jewelry and timepieces. In addition to being a great investment pieces, jewelry and timepieces tell a story and create a long-lasting memory.
     
  • Fashion and accessories. Opt for classic and timeless pieces that will last for a long time. Don't buy trendy fashion unless the recipient specifically requested it. Choose luxury knits, sleepwear or monogrammed leather goods from their favorite brands. Don't try to change a person's style but rather flaunt it.
     
  • Conscious luxury. Research luxury brands that make their products in sustainable fashion without harming the environment and communities. Almost all major luxury brands today demonstrate their commitment to the greater good. 
     
  • Health-conscious gifting. With the rise of such trends as athleisure (24/7 workout clothing), wearable tracking technology and cult-like exercise movements, the trend of gifting of health-conscious goods and experiences is here to stay. Be mindful about the recipient. Opt for spa treatments for less sporty types.

Thoughtfulness is the foundation of the art of gift-giving. Give them a gift that they want and not the gift you want to give them.

Full podcast here.

 

LUXURY WOMEN TO WATCH 2013

Last January I was recognized among the 25 luxury marketers within the Luxury Daily’s inaugural Luxury Women to Watch 2013 list. Luxury Daily is the news leader in luxury marketing that tracks the campaigns of the world's most prominent luxury brands.

CAMILLA PAPALE
Chief marketing officer
Douglas Elliman Real Estate
New York

“It is very important to love what you do”

 

What do you most like about your job?
My current position in luxury marketing allows me to channel my creative talents and aesthetic values into brand platforms and artfully crafted communications that drive sales. It is very important to love what you do.

What is the biggest challenge in your job?
Our company caters to very diverse markets with varying demographics and consumer behavior. Creating solutions that transcend diversity is both very challenging and satisfying.

What is your work priority for 2013?
We anticipate the trend of ultra-luxury real estate with global appeal to expand even further in 2013. My team is working on incorporating more proprietary research and custom-tailored programs to market these properties. On the brand side, innovation and cross-platform content publishing are my keynotes for next year.

What will it take to attract more women to the luxury business?
It will take encouraging women to follow their passions, empowering and promoting leadership skills.

Your proudest achievement in luxury?
Last year’s relaunch of the new Douglas Elliman brand was a big milestone in my career.

 

shoesmall.jpg

What Does The Future Of Advertising Look Like? CMOs Convene At Wharton To Explore

I was very fortunate to attend this inspiring and mind-provoking event.

"The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, through its Future of Advertising Program, has jumpstarted thought leadership around that preparation with its “Advertising” 2020 project. It’s an ongoing effort to cull the expertise and perspectives from hundreds of academics, consultants, agency heads and marketing practitioners around what advertising could and should look like in the future."

Read the full article and watch the video highlights here.  

SOLE TO SOLD by the daily front row

Douglas Elliman CMO Camilla Rustambekova Papale is a fashion-savvy former model who understands your closet situation.

Photographed by Vital Agibalow at Bergdorf Goodman Shoe Floor

What do you do at Elliman, exactly? I’m responsible for all aspects of the iconic real estate brand and the firm’s marketing operations. I am also responsible for publishing our magazine, ELLIMAN, which explores real estate in the context of lifestyle.

Background, please! I was born in Azerbaijan and moved to New York City 12 years ago. For nine of those years I’ve worked in real estate.

You were a model once, right? A long time ago when I was very young—mostly
runway in Russia. It wasn’t for me. I’m more of the person who’s behind the scenes.

Have you been to the Tents? Yes, my first fashion show was Zac Posen’s Fall
2009. It was magical. I was very lucky to sit in the second row, right behind two of my idols, Carine Roitfeld and André Leon Talley.

So, what’s trending in New York real estate? I’ve seen a lot of trophy properties move quickly this past year, and I think that’s going to continue, along with the huge wave of foreign buyers investing in New York properties. We’re seeing a lot of clients
from Europe, Asia, and Russia.

What do your fashion clients typically ask for? The fashion set gravitates toward open, lofty spaces with extra-high ceilings and lots of natural light. Because they tend to travel a lot, many of my clients are looking for turnkey spaces that don’t require
much customization. An abundance of closet space is almost always a serious factor.

What’s the strangest amenity you’ve seen offered? I once previewed a space that had a fully equipped nightclub in the basement. Seemed a bit superfluous in Manhattan.

What does the chic set spend the most on? Wellness- and spa-inspired properties are very in vogue right now.

What should people be asking for? Anonymity is hard to achieve when you’re a big
name in the fashion industry. In order for someone to feel completely at home, and maintain a level of privacy, a New York City property with a private elevator entrance or an underground parking space is worth considering.

What brands do you tend to gravitate toward? Victoria Beckham fits fantastically. I also love Prabal Gurung, Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, Lanvin, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Where do you usually shop in the city? Bergdorf’s. Our offices are right across the street, so I’m there two or three times a month. You don’t need to go anywhere else! And I’m a real shoe fanatic. Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Louboutin, Giuseppe Zanotti, the whole gamut...

How many pairs do you own? More than 150, easily. My collection’s outgrown the
capacity of my closets. My husband, Tony [Papale], suggested I get rid of some to make room for new ones, but men rarely understand the emotional connection we have with shoes. Every pair is staying.

What does Tony do? He’s in software development. He works with Fashion GPS. You two must be busy!

What’s in your fridge right now? Not much. Tony and I are more takeout people.

Elliman luxury real estate magazine relaunch focuses on affluent lifestyle

New York’s Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate released the first redesigned issue of its luxury real estate magazine that will now contain lifestyle content in addition to traditional listings and be available via a new iPad application.

The Elliman magazine was reformatted to include interior design, food, style and celebrities, all centering on residential real estate.

“The strategy was to transform a real estate catalog into a compelling and beautifully-designed editorial piece that provides a thought-provoking read in addition to showcasing homes,” said Camilla Rustambekova, chief marketing officer of Elliman, New York. “It is unique to our category.

We have completely redesigned the book to incorporate bold layouts, beautiful typography, spectacular photos and illustrations and a fantastic cast of contributors to make it interesting for our readers, both visually and editorially.

“With Elliman, we seize the opportunity to speak on a much broader platform with our audience, using the magazine as a forum to inspire, inform and educate readers while also sharing our singular brand perspective,” she said.

Read full article here.