Smart Watches, Luxury Cafes, and virus-virus-virus – Sales Lead Digest

I don’t know about you, but we at the Digest are about virused out. With the number of articles I’ve read I feel like I’ve been cramming for a epidemiology exam (which I have no chance of passing). Spring keeps hinting its arrival so even in quarantine I can see the light. (LeadGen Compass went remote last week but it feels like a month already) This week we unsuccessfully tried to stick to non-virus related articles. You’re getting an interesting story on how smart watches took over the accessory watch market, the continual opening of luxury cafes in luxury stores and a few virus related notes. We hope you’re well and if you need someone to talk to, just call. We’re all in the same boat, might as well get to know each other.

Smart devices are eating the accessible watches market

“Embrace heritage, or pivot to premium
Facing a changing market, watch brands reliant on the accessible price category can either find new ways to position their products — picking up on the history of pieces to spin marketing stories — or pivot products to sit more squarely in the premium category.”

What happens when your mid-market strategy gets gobbled up by a previously unknown competitor? I never thoughts about the mid-level watch market, but as a consequence of everyone turning to the Apple Watch, it may be gone. My son used to get a new Fossil watch each year but now buys different bands for his smartwatch. With the virus stalking, business threats are heavy on our mind at LGC. It’s worth studying how other markets are dealing with theirs.  READ MORE

Why luxury fashion houses still open restaurants

“In the past, the restaurants were developed to keep customers in the store longer and spend more. Now restaurants are a way to attract people in store,” says Marc Metrick, president of Saks Fifth Avenue, whose portfolio of restaurants includes 51fifteen in Houston and L’Avenue at Saks in New York. But luxury retailers — especially those squeezed by the pressure of falling foot traffic — are not restaurateurs, and running two businesses simultaneously is no easy feat.”
Quarantine porn. Part of the appeal of this article is the idea of luxuriating with a good book and a cappuccino underneath one of those fabulous paintings while my wife peruses the luxury racks. Escapism. Will it come back? There are already so many challenges in retail this virus isn’t helping, but will it be the death knell? Will we go roaring back to the stores with a zest for life and wallets open wide? It’s worth pondering.  READ MORE


empty restaurant

Why luxury fashion houses still open restaurants

“In the past, the restaurants were developed to keep customers in the store longer and spend more. Now restaurants are a way to attract people in store,” says Marc Metrick, president of Saks Fifth Avenue, whose portfolio of restaurants includes 51fifteen in Houston and L’Avenue at Saks in New York. But luxury retailers — especially those squeezed by the pressure of falling foot traffic — are not restaurateurs, and running two businesses simultaneously is no easy feat.”
Quarantine porn. Part of the appeal of this article is the idea of luxuriating with a good book and a cappuccino underneath one of those fabulous paintings while my wife peruses the luxury racks. Escapism. Will it come back? There are already so many challenges in retail this virus isn’t helping, but will it be the death knell? Will we go roaring back to the stores with a zest for life and wallets open wide? It’s worth pondering. READ MORE

The Groceries That No One Wants to Panic-Buy

“But there are a few consumer attitudes that even a run on supermarkets cannot erase: Some foods are just that unappealing. Here, according to Twitter users and Slate staffers’ own ill-fated shopping trips, is what isn’t flying off the shelves.”
Of all the news coming out, seeing demand play out in real time has been the most fun. The image of the toilet paper in the beer cooler makes me laugh just thinking about it. This article shows a few and, oh man, I totally agree with skipping the chocolate hummus. That sounds like a stomach ache in a bowl. If you see other examples, send them our way. Like you, we appreciate a good laugh!  READ MORE