蘑菇AV

HBO's hit show 鈥淭he White Lotus,鈥� is extending its off-screen influence with a series of retail partnerships. Though the show revolves around miserable rich people on vacation, it keeps viewers engaged with fashion, scenery, and unattainable luxury. Brands including Banana Republic, H&M, and Kiehl鈥檚 have seized the opportunity.

Luxury brands are grappling with downturns in the US and China, the largest markets for personal luxury goods, and will have to seize opportunities for growth from new markets and product innovation.

With luxury poised for a modest recovery in 2025, brands and retailers need to understand consumers鈥� buying habits and intentions in the world鈥檚 largest personal luxury goods market to win a share of spending.

Prada鈥檚 Versace deal comes at a difficult time for the luxury industry: Tariffs are threatening brands鈥� access to US consumers, while recession fears could trigger more conservative tastes.

Social commerce has the potential to go mainstream for luxury. More than 40% of respondents overall said they had used or were interested in using social media channels to buy luxury products.

2025 could be another tough year for luxury companies: LVMH鈥檚 rough Q1 reveals considerable challenges as US spending drops.

Luxury brands rethink China approach as downturn drags on: Labels like Versace, Valentino, and Balenciaga are dialing back discounts, telegraphing exclusivity to wealthy shoppers.

72.6% of US luxury buyers surveyed in August 2024 planned to spend the same amount or more on personal luxury goods over the next year, according to an 蘑菇AV and Bizrate Insights survey.

A lot happens in a week, so every Friday we're going to analyze all the new data and provide you with some of the key takeaways. Welcome to the Friday 5. This week, the economic blackout day made an impact, ecommerce buoys beauty, and luxury spending continues.

Prada nears 鈧�1.5 billion deal to acquire Versace: The move would give the luxury company broader appeal as spending cools.

Gucci sales slid 25% in Q1: The brand鈥檚 struggles put parent company Kering in a tough spot as it attempts to navigate a slowdown in luxury goods spending.

"Department stores are getting a bad rap," said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." "The way that department stores were structured as this one-hit wonder shop where you could find every single thing under one roof is a fallacy." Department stores are in a tough spot, as Hudson BAy鈥檚 recent bankruptcy shows. But ones that embrace new kinds of experiences, like the newly opened Printemps luxury department store in New York City's Financial District, might have the right idea for the future of department stores.

Luxury brands shake up their creative ranks: While Gucci is betting on provocateur Demna to revitalize its brand, Versace opts for a steadier path.

Less than a third of US consumers with a household income of more than $100,000 see fast food as a luxury, compared with 71% of consumers with an income of less than $30,000, according to April 2024 data from LendingTree.

Uniqlo, Ikea join luxury companies鈥� real estate spending spree: The two retailers snapped up prime space on Fifth Avenue to lock in their spots in a busy retail corridor.

Refined luxury thrived during the holidays: Shoppers splurged on timeless pieces from Coach and Ralph Lauren but held back on bolder, flashier styles from Versace and Michael Kors.

鈥淭here's a big change in the luxury market. The consumers are still there, but they're being more selective about what they buy and when they buy it,鈥� our analyst Sky Canaves said on an episode of the 鈥淏ehind the Numbers: Reimagining 搁别迟补颈濒鈥� podcast. Expanding into new markets and raising prices isn鈥檛 always an option for luxury brands, but there are other areas of opportunity. Here are three ways luxury brands can fuel discovery, spark engagement, and develop loyalty.