........................................................................................................................................................................................... Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit (R), Suzy Menkes (C) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................ International Herald Tribune Publisher Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (R) with Ms. Dunbar-Johnson (2nd-R) and Satjiv Chahil (2nd-L), senior vice president of personal systems world-wide marketing for HP, with designer Vivienne Tam (L) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................................ (L-R) Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, Jan-Henrik Schlottmann (CEO Derek Lam), Dagmar von Taube, Philipp Wolff (SVP Communication Hugo Boss) and Nora Rochlitzer ........................................................................................................................................................................................ (L-R) Ms. Dunbar-Johnson, designer Ross Lovegrove and interior designer Linda Boronkay ........................................................................................................................................................................................ (L-R) Actress Hannah Herzsprung and Nikolaus Jagdfeld ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Christiane Arp (L), chief editor of Vogue Germany, and Anita Tillmann (Premium ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Actress Bettina Zimmermann attends the IHT ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Supermodel, Claudia Schiffer Last night IMG hosted the IHT (International Herald Tribune) Luxury Conference cocktail party the Ritz Hotel's Grill Royal in Berlin, Germany. A bevy of prominent journalists, media personalities, German politicians, designers, luxury executives and celebrities were in attendance. // Related posts:Dr. Lenny Roudner Hosts a Valentine’s Day Soiree Upon arrival to Lenny’s home on ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ The vintage wine market had an interesting weekend, to say the least. Not only was Prince Andrea Casiraghi a guest of honor at the 149th Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, the charitable auction also raised total of 5 million euros ($7.5 million) with fees, the second-highest in its 150-year history. Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, held every year in France, is the world's oldest charity wine auction. Organized by the Burgundy- based hospital network in collaboration with Christie's oenophiles bidded in the medieval Halles de Beaune. Christie's International attributed the surge in demand for the new vintage to the offering of a record 802 barrels from vineyards belonging to the hospital, founded in 1443. "Fierce bidding resulted from nearly 500 private and professional participants from all parts of the world," said auctioneer Emmanuelle Vidal-Delagneau.He also noted that: 40% of the wine was bought from afar by telephone, Internet and faxed bids. 57% ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ According to a recent survey by RatePoint, over fifty percent of small-business retailers who compete against major retailers say customer service differentiates their business from their larger competitors. As explained by Neal Creighton, who is the CEO of RatePoint, "Small-business retailers live and breathe quality customer service and have learned it's one of the best marketing tools they have at their disposal. Great customer service creates satisfied customers who become loyal brand champions. The key is for small businesses to effectively collect and feature those satisfied customers to help bring in new customers this holiday season." Additionally, while fifty-one percent of small-business retailers reported a decline in sales due to the current economic climate, fifty-eight percent expect to see growth in 2010. Source: RatePoint, Inc. Related posts:Spending On Luxury Products Grows ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The MasterCard advisor service SpendingPulse is reporting that luxury... What Recession? Hurun Reports ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ Actors Glenn Close, Marcia Gay Harden and Joe Pantoliano, comedian Joan Rivers, singer/songwriter James Taylor, Speaker of the House- Nancy Pelosi and Food Network chef, Melissa d'Arabian, winner of last season's The Next Food Network Star will all be sharing their favorite recipe this Thanksgiving season as a way to provide comfort to people impacted by suicide loss. After viewing the tasty choices, Facebook users and fans will vote for their favorite dish and check back to see which one rises to the top. Celebrity participants will also encourage their fans via Facebook and Twitter to go to the page and vote for their dish. The winner of the Celebrity Thanksgiving Comfort Food Challenge will be announced on November 20, 2009. This is being done in conjunction with National Survivors of Suicide Day, which takes place on November 21st. According to Joanne Harpel, who is the ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ Although recent studies have shown that even high net worth consumers are being more discriminating with their spending choices, that hasn't deterred luxury watch brand Cephee from making its debut in the United States. According to noted Swiss watchmaker Christophe Golay, who is making the debut of Cephee in the US, "The new watch line is in a class by itself." FYI...Golay is a descendant of Suzanne Leresche and David Auguste Golay -- the founders of the prestigious Golay Leresche watchmakers. The first watch in the Cephee collection to be introduced is the US is the Ether. It features over 150 precision set baguette diamonds, and has a retail price tag of $350,000. The reason that Cephee hasn't been deterred from making their debut is because although high net worth consumers are being more discriminating with their spending choices, this doesn't mean that they aren't spending money. ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ Mindset Media has completed a study on the personality traits of "Recession-Proof Holiday Spenders", and released the findings of their study. According to JB Brokaw, who serves as the Executive Director of Market Development at Mindset Media, "Surprisingly, Recession-Proof Spenders range from the modest to the super affluent. It's their personalities that make them different. Demographics miss this vital holiday target. The only way to reach Recession-Proof Spenders is with MindsetTargeting." The study found that the four main personality traits of "Recession-Proof Holiday Spenders" are: optimism dynamism creativity leadership Individuals who fall into this group also believe that their families will be better off financially in 2010. Source: Mindset Media Related posts:What Recession? Hurun Reports 130 Chinese Billionaires …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Earlier this month, the Hurun Report published a list... See the Latest in Designer Holiday Fashion Trends Haute Fashion Holiday Runway Show in Aruba ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Want to... Exclusive Holiday Dining in NYC Festive European Holiday Tastings at ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ Although the streets of Rio de Janiero are full of people and vehicles during the afternoon, if you walk inside the Visconde de Piraja mall, you will see the complete opposite. As a result of their high prices, luxury malls in Brazil are not attracting customers. While Brazil is seeing its biggest economic growth in three decades as a result of consumer spending, this money is not going to luxury malls. Throughout Brazil, dozens of luxury malls are filled with designer goods, but not with people. Although few luxury brands are profiting from Brazil, one company that is doing well is Versace. According to the company, their success comes from giving consumers what they want. As explained by company spokeswoman Eugene Young, "You don't call someone 'ma'am' in Brazil, you call them 'princess' or 'sweetheart'. What sounds unprofessional or ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................ During the second game of the World Series, donations were collected to help UNICEF and their relief and rebuilding efforts on behalf of victims of the recent natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region. As explained by Caryl Stern, who is the president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, "Every day 24,000 children die of preventable causes--many in the countries that have been affected by this recent cluster of natural disasters. We do not want these emergencies to further compound the tragedy of these unnecessary deaths, and thanks to Major League Baseball, the Yankees and the wonderful generosity of New Yorkers we will be able to prevent these deaths." The funds raised will go towards supporting UNICEF in its continued efforts to provide lifesaving assistance to children and women in all seven affected countries and help life return to normal as quickly as ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Although Hermès has not been immune from the downward turn in the global economy, they have weathered the situation better than expected. While their net profit fell seven percent in the first half of 2009, their turnover totaled 874.9 million euros, which is up 7.6 percent at current exchange rates. According to the company, who's net income was reduced to 125.4 million euros, profit was "curtailed by the decline in the rate of return on financial investments and by the impact of valuation adjustments on foreign exchange instruments." In another positive sign for the company, they added ninety-four new jobs during the first half of 2009, which brought their workforce to a total of 7,988 employees on June 30th of this year. Source: Fashion Wire Daily Related posts:Hermès Sells Gaultier Fashion House Stake Jean Paul Gaultier, the French designer whose fashion house has... Spending On Luxury Products Grows ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… The ...

........................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Moncler is partnering with Visvim (a "street-meets-art" Japanese brand) to launch a menswear collection. The collection will be named Moncler V, and the Fall 2010 collection is scheduled to debut in January 2010. Speaking about the partnership, Remo Ruffini, who is the creative director and chairman of Moncler, said "I felt that Japanese designers could be intriguing to work with for Moncler to capture the important market for the brand and to revive our archives." He went on to say that the goal is to retail Moncler V in "approximately 150 boutiques worldwide with the 2010 fall-winter season," while its price range, "will be basically (the) same as Moncler main collection." Moncler has also developed a long-term partnership with Giambattista Valli to create Moncler Rouge, a critically acclaimed item-driven collection that melds haute couture techniques and conception. Ruffini is planning to open the first Moncler ...