BOSTON (TheStreet) -- Sales of luxury goods declined during the Great Recession, but the drop is attributable to a lack of need, not a lack of want. America remains status-obsessed, and Asian nations are going the same way. tiffany jewelry

                                                          

One company that has tapped into profligate consumption is Tiffany & Co.(TIF), seller of fine jewelry. In spite of, or perhaps because of, exorbitant prices, Tiffany's sales have rebounded dramatically even though the global economy is wheezing. In the latest quarter, net income surged 164% to $64 million and revenue increased 22%. Buy cheap GHD

 

Tiffany's products include bracelets, rings and earrings. It also offers items for men, including watches -- subdivided into a $1,000 to $5,000 category and an over-$5,000 category -- money clips and key chains. However, Tiffany is a female-focused franchise. One successful recession tactic was a price cut of Tiffany Keys, a charm line, to the $125 to $175 range, which boosted sales without damaging brand prestige. true religion online

 

Tiffany adeptly executes such cuts, a precarious strategy for high-end retailers, whose businesses thrive on exclusivity. Customer service is another notable asset. The company maintains a database of past customer purchases and encourages sit-downs with sales representatives in its stores. A superior knowledge of product offerings and customer history fosters a sense of individual attention, often resulting in patron loyalty. buy Swiss Replica Watches

 

Such loyalty has translated to countercyclical growth. Since 2007, Tiffany has managed to increase revenue 2.3% annually, on average, and boosted earnings per share 5.9% a year. Although Tiffany suffered quarterly dips, it wrote exclusively in black ink during the recession. Broadly focused high-end retailers Saks(SKS) and Nordstrom(JWN)  suffered more-pronounced downturns. They experienced negative growth over the past three years.

 

Swelling municipal and federal deficits threaten the U.S.'s economic dominance, but cultural hegemony is squarely intact. American brands have cache in Europe, Asia and other emerging markets. Tiffany's Asia-Pacific sales expanded 50% to $122 million during the first quarter, accounting for 19% of total revenue, as comparable-store sales jumped 21%. Europe sales rebounded 25%, outpacing the 22% gain in the U.S., in part due to currency effects.

 

Emerging markets present a tremendous growth venue for luxury retailers. Tiffany opened its third store in Shanghai during the quarter, bringing its total count within China to 11. Interestingly, it separated geographic laggard Japan, which suffered a 2% quarterly sales dip, from its fast-growth Asia-Pacific division. Other sales, which comprise wholesaling to Russia and the Middle East, enjoyed a near tripling of revenue to $12 million.

 

Last week, Capgemini and Merrill Lynch, now a subsidiary of Bank of America(BAC), released their annual World Wealth Report, a research project on the habits of the rich. The report has important implications for luxury retailers like Tiffany. It says the world's population of high-net-worth individuals grew 17% in 2009, a surprising increase considering the fragile state of the global economy.

 

A trend of widening disparity between rich and poor is persistent in the U.S. and accelerating overseas. Proliferation of capitalism in Asia is creating powerful and consumption-hungry middle and upper classes. Asia's tally of high-net-worth individuals is now equivalent to Europe's. The region's economic dynamism is likely to catapult its share of prosperity ahead of Europe's in the next few years.

 

Asia-Pacific's high-net-worth population has increased 26% since 2008, led by substantial gains of wealth in Hong Kong and India. The cumulative wealth of Asian high-net-worth individuals increased at a rate of 31% over the same period, outpacing all other regions. Asia-Pacific private consumption, excluding Japan, increased 5.3% to $4 trillion in 2009.

 

Tiffany is continuing its swift expansion in this region to strengthen the reach of its brand and increase profitability. It currently operates 45 Asia-Pacific stores, accounting for 20% of its total locations. It is planning to open 17 new stores in 2010, eight of which will be located in Asia, while increasing its e-commerce offerings and wholesale business, which accounts for the remainder of its emerging-markets exposure.

 

The gradual revaluation of the Chinese yuan will inevitably benefit Tiffany. Whether it chooses to alter pricing in response to the Chinese currency's appreciation remains to be seen. Considering appetite in the region, price reductions seem unlikely. However, the Chinese middle-class includes so-called aspirational consumers and the introduction of expensive, but not unattainable, product lines, could prove a lucrative strategy.

NEW YORK -- Affluent Americans went back to tightening their belts in June after months of showing other shoppers how to spend, raising concerns for the overall economy.

 

Data released late Wednesday by MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse shows luxury spending dropped in June for the first time since November.

 

After a surprisingly solid start to the year, overall spending also has slowed in recent months, and analysts are concerned that shoppers will remain tightfisted through the crucial holiday season.

 

The 3.9 percent decline in luxury spending from a year earlier is particularly worrisome because the well-heeled -- households with annual incomes in the top 20 percent, about $158,000 on average -- account for almost 40 percent of overall consumer spending.

 

And a downtrend in luxury spending, which excludes jewelry but includes upscale clothing, accessories and restaurants, could signal trouble for retail and in turn for the broader economy. Consumer spending -- including such major expenses as health care -- makes up about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

 

Citi Investment Research analyst Deborah Weinswig and other analysts said the small increases in inventory that stores have ordered for the fall and holiday seasons could end up being too much, meaning greater discounting, which would hurt retailers' profit margins. Upscale merchants could be hurt the most, she said, because they tend to order even further in advance than other retailers.

 

Other figures from SpendingPulse, which tracks all transactions including cash, were mixed.

 

SpendingPulse saw revenue gains in clothing sales at mall-based chains but only because a large increase in children's fashions compensated for the third monthly drop in women's clothing. And spending for major home appliances was sluggish for the second straight month as government supports faded. Online spending in all categories, however, continued to increase. Consumer electronics spending also rose slightly, helped by sales of new products including the iPad from Apple Inc.

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Cosmetics industry worldwide attention in the 15th China Beauty Expo (Shanghai CBE) at the Shanghai International Convention Center last night kicked off today at the Shanghai New International Expo Center was officially launched. For the 2010 Shanghai World Expo to make this even more heroic U.S. Fair to create a nearly 1,300 exhibitors, nearly 80,000 square meters exhibition area, 20 million high professional buyers.

 

Rapid growth in China

 

According to Shanghai Organizing Committee President Jacques CBE King Ming, the experience of the global financial crisis, the Chinese cosmetics market is a quick blowout situation, lipstick significant economic effects. In 2009, China's cosmetic industry output value of 140 billion yuan, up 300 billion yuan output value of China beauty industry. Factor in the stimulation of the parties, the next three years, the average compound growth rate of China's cosmetics industry will remain at relatively high at around 9.5%. In this context, the exhibition scale ranks first in Asia, the world's third of Shanghai CBE has become the focus of the world Beauty industry, international brands, large enterprises have entered to join.

 

According to Sang Takaaki introduction, a highlight of this exhibition is internationally renowned brand and strong brand into a large-scale cluster, from France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, Spain, the United States, Bulgaria, Singapore, Thailand and other 22 countries and regional exhibitors to enter the current Shanghai CBE, the international group exhibition hall which has increased to 10, up 1 times. Polymerization of the first exhibitors of the French Pavilion of the 21 French companies, the exhibition area of 500 square meters; for 10 years, the Korean Pavilion exhibitors up to 128 booths, up 10%. The total area of the international museum more than 10,000 square meters, a record high.

 

According to reports, this year's International Museum of the most unique is the first museum exhibition of the French National Museum of European countries represented. The organization cosmetics Valley (Cosmetic Valley), is the world's perfume, cosmetics, the first source. Currently sales of cosmetics in the world in one tenth of the grain produced in cosmetics.

 

Cosmetics exchange push "France"

 

CBE not only has the current Shanghai Shiseido, Kose, such international big names, there are many new international brands to enter China through the Shanghai market, CBE, and these new trends from around the world, then it will reflect the current trend of the global cosmetics industry.

 

To this end, Shanghai CBE Organizing Committee planned and organized by category, two types of economic and trade event, one for the international exhibitors and trade buyers matching domestic Fair, or by France on behalf of the European exhibitors and domestic buying My family planned a "first Central European Cosmetic Seminar."

Exchange of "technical exchange, trade cooperation, win-win development" as its theme. French Cosmetic Valley's Franckie VENET President told reporters that the participation of French companies operated products, technologies and services, is world-renowned French cosmetics and fragrance products at the heart is, "France" the essence of the concept of .In addition, the conference will be invited to Germany, Bulgaria and other European countries, the company specializes in providing technical services, together with the French company introduced the Chinese manufacturing companies producing cosmetics such as detection technology and supporting services, the latest results, while in the field targeted promotion of technology and services for China and the EU to provide a technical service and procurement platform for the exchange.

 

Forum Docking market supply and demand

Global brand cosmetics into the cluster CBE

According to reports, Shanghai CBE Organizing Committee has also carefully planned the top ten on-site activities throughout the show always. In addition to the first exchange outside the EU cosmetics technology, there by the Shanghai Department Store Business Association, co-organized the first IT Cosmetics retailing Shanghai Forum. Shanghai Commercial Information Research Center, Renqi Xiao Chai, Wong Wai Hung, general manager of Shanghai No. 1 Yaohan and other business people will "brand in department stores, survival analysis," "department store's cosmetics marketing planning and activities of Innovation" and other topics of interest to cosmetics industry do in-depth discussion.

 

In addition, the China Green Drugstore 2010 Annual Forum will focus on the development of Chinese medicine make up a new high point, communication, exchange of cosmeceutical cosmetics industry inflection point; second session of China's cosmetic industry the three major activities of the Forum's Business Summit, the high-end salon and innovation Forum will explore and investigate the survival and development of cosmetics companies face in the process of a series of important propositions, research, and explore the cosmetics business direction and path of sustainable development.

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Cosmetics business in the past 10 years, the rapid development of rapid growth, a number of local enterprises developed rapidly in a number of outstanding brand, Shanghai Tang, Hangzhou platinum natural cleaning brands such as L'Oreal, Guangdong Alice relatively good performance in the next decade there will be more of these enterprises faster and greater development.

 

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Development Decade for the cosmetics industry, cosmetics industry, history from weak to strong, rapid growth of the cosmetics industry and the development of the total spending of the cosmetics industry from more than 100 million years to quickly climbed to more than 1400 billion in 2009, the total consumption of cosmetics in China the first volume of surpassing the United States, ranked third in the world.

 

China's economic take-off cosmetics industry rapidly, China's population is 6 times more than the United States, an increase of limitless space, the next three years will exceed the total spending of Chinese cosmetics 200 000 000 000, a real world.

 

Development of China's cosmetics decade is a decade beyond the cosmetics industry is a rapidly growing ten years is also proud of the fact that local brands can definitely bigger, certainly can compete with foreign brands, the industry's future golden years will be rapid development in various fields, whether producers or make-up brand, agents or distributors in the field level, whether shop or franchise stores have achieved outstanding results.

 

Cosmetics consumption in China over the next decade will be two-fold, the total will reach 6000-8000 million, or even more than expected, China's GDP quadrupled five years to double, GDP to around 9% per year growth rate, while 20% -30%, cosmetics are increasing speed, so the Chinese cosmetics golden years truly arrived.

 

The next three to five years or even longer, China will start to pop popular local brands, as more and more scientific strategy of local enterprises, more and more standardized management, brand marketing From EMKT.com.cn increasing the level of the industry More and more professionals, consumers increasingly prefer local brands, there are 1.3 billion people do strong backing, domestic brands will definitely be fast than foreign brands.

 

Local businesses over the next decade there will be 5-8 at home 10 billion company, 10 billion brand, Jahwa Shanghai Lan International, or Hangzhou Platinum L'Oreal companies Herborist brand, natural brand Miso Church brand, Alice clean and platinum L'Oreal brands.

 

There will be a 10-20 home five billion yuan-class companies, the number of 1 billion brand, skin beauty, Guangzhou Science and Technology Po Plaza Premium brand, European Poetry Man brand, pills U.S. brand,

 

Will appear next level of the region hundreds of millions of agents, giving rise to several tens of millions of distributors, the number one billion of the large chain stores, hundreds of millions of class-based regional chain stores, the annual income of millions of millions of director-level professional managers people's golden years of short trades is difficult to conclude what will happen to create the development of numerous miracles is beyond doubt.

 

The next golden decade the domestic cosmetics market competition, the first three years foreign brands go hand in hand with the local community, the number of foreign brands will be more and more, will be bigger and bigger domestic brands, domestic brands will appear in the three years of foreign brands into the back of situation, local brand development faster and faster, the growing influence and commercial channels will be more and more attention over local brands, major department stores in Zhejiang market area have local brands, local brands will exceed three years of foreign brands , especially in the business over the number of channels, whether brand or market share exceeded foreign brands will become the mainstream market to foreign brands to become a foil, three years after the defeat local brands completely foreign brands.

Delivering on the brand's promise last November to reduce paper use and its carbon footprint, Gucci says its signature luxury packaging now conforms to FSC Certified paper standards and is 100% recyclable.

 

It's the latest luxury brand to make good on a Rainforest Action Network-backed pledge to reduce paper in packaging, a commitment that has already signed up Valentino, Versace and Prada.

 

Gucci Group now joins those ranks, with a commitment that also extends to its Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga brands.

 

It¡¯s a major change for Gucci. Bags, boxes, and tissue paper will no longer contain plastic laminate; ribbon and garment bags will change from polyester to cotton; and bags will be labeled: "This shopping bag is FSC certified and made of 100% recyclable material."

 

That¡¯s not all: gift boxes will now be given only upon request; and shoes will be combined in one flannel, not two. But perhaps most startling, all Gucci mannequins will be replaced with eco-friendly, shockproof polystyrene versions, 100% recyclable raw material, made in Italy and completed with water-based paints.

 

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO, PPR, tiffany jewelry¡¯s owner, stated: ¡°If we wait for customers to make sustainable development a condition for purchasing, then nothing will happen. It's as if green products were somehow not normal. They are normal, it is the other products that are not normal. It's up to us to work out how to make green products the new normal.¡±

 

Gucci has set energy-saving goals in its stores to reduce by year¡¯s end: 35 tons of plastic waste; 1,400 tons of paper consumption; 10,000 tons of Co2 emissions; and 4 million liters of gas oil consumption.

 

Mimma Viglezio, Gucci Group EVP of communications, commented, "We hope our actions will also raise awareness inside the fashion industry that it's possible for our industry to make a difference for rainforests and for the climate."

Love it or hate it, Jennifer Hudson took a fashion risk on the red carpet at the Academy Awards when she donned a chocolate brown gown and jacket from Oscar de la Renta that covered her curves. Hudson alone didn't necessarily pick out the gown that fashion critics panned. Vogue editor at large and stylist Andre Leon Talley took the heat from that red carpet selection.

 

Behind nearly every celebrity stands a cadre of assistants who plan her life. Among that band of helpers are the stylists, those who pick out and coordinate every outfit a celebrity might wear in public. A celebrity can be walking the dog or pumping gas and still look as though she is ready to have a photo snapped by lurking papparazzi.

 

How do stylists keep a celebrity's closet stocked with ready-to-wear outfits? We talk to three personal shoppers in Las Vegas who dress the stars to give you some tips.

    At four in the morning, in a dark hotel room in Beijing, a grim city that performed cosmetic surgery on itself to shine in the world¡¯s biggest pageant, still fighting the effects of flying across the world, I found myself awake while the rest of the world slumbered. Or so it felt.

 

 

    Perched on the edge of a chair I¡¯d pulled up to the wide window, within view of the still-shining construction from the 2009 Olympics, I watched cars and trucks move along one of the ring roads that circle the city. In spite of the fact that Bejing is home to more than 15 million, there was very little traffic at that hour and what few vehicles were out moved leisurely, merging and passing.        

    The hotel, like the city, was quiet and I could hear my daughter¡¯s soft breathing as she slept in the bed beside mine.

 

 

    My mind raced but it was more than being jittery from too many cups of tea. More than the effects of crossing time zones and lack of sleep. Mentally, I was working to fit together the puzzle pieces of the journey. Trying to make a clear picture out of shards and fragments; sorting the sights, sounds and scents of a place unlike any I¡¯d visited before.

 

 

     We had walked along the Great Wall, climbing the uneven stone steps to the broad lane at the top of the wall, looking out over the valleys and rolling hills below. I could hear a rooster crowing at a farm in the distance and I thought of the textbooks I¡¯d had as a school girl, never imagining at that age that one day I would be able to reach out and touch the rough, worn, stones with my fingers.     Standing at the top of a flight of steps, overlooking the sprawling, mysterious, Forbidden City, I had tried to imagine the lives of its inhabitants when it was a bustling, populated place closed to the outside world.

 

 

    Under the watchful gaze of the portrait of Mao that still hangs at the gate, we strolled through Tiananmen Square - a place still haunted by the image of tanks and a lone figure -  and I could feel the lingering frisson of tension as guards, wary young men in oversized coats, patrolled.

 

 

    Riding along the narrow streets of a hutong, one of the Walled neighborhoods built with centuries-old clay bricks that had escaped the pre-Olympic wrecking ball, I watched children - one per family - play.

 

 

    Wherever we went the persistent ¡°mosquitoes¡± hawked their wares, stacks of knock-off designer bags, fake silk scarves, postcards and chopsticks.

 

 

    All around us, at every step, there was a collision of culture and history. Faux Gucci bags on the steps of the temple.

 

 

    Still sitting at the window, lost in thought, I was pulled back into focus by a figure moving in the street below, a modern arterial connecting the new Crown Plaza hotel built for the Olympic crowds to the ring road. He was walking slowly, moving from the glow of one streetlight to another.  

 

 

    The man swayed from side to side and I could see he was sweeping the broad pavement with a big broom made of willow branches and leaves.

 

 

     I watched him as he moved, stooped and bent over the willow boughs, along the length of the the long road. I couldn¡¯t look away. This man, I thought, is the answer to the riddle.

 

 

    I don¡¯t think I slept more than an hour or so that night, but it was not the first time I¡¯ve felt fortunate to have been wide awake, looking out on a view that those tucked into their beds might miss.

 

 

    By day, China is a crowded, noisy, almost overwhelming collage of contradictions. Trying to make sense of what you see is difficult.

 

 

But at night, in a black and white world, the answer is as plain as a man walking through pools of lamplight, a man carrying an ancient tool on a modern road.

Sotheby’s Australia announced its second Sydney stand alone jewellery sale, with over 240 lots of antique and contemporary jewellery, carrying a total estimate of $2,212,500-2,870,500.

 

The jewelry sale will include creations by distinguished houses of Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co, Kalis, Autore and Paspaley, along with GIA certified white, yellow and pink solitaire diamonds and prestigious watches by Rolex and Cartier.

 

Among the featured pieces in a fancy deep pink argyle diamond ring: the round brilliant cut diamond weighs 0.40 carat is claw set within a border of fancy pink diamonds and an outer border of round brilliant cut white diamonds, with a full circle round brilliant cut diamond set shank. The white diamonds together weighing approximately 2.80 carats.