Nothing stays forever. Change is
inevitable. It is so in luxury as well. We discuss three brands that have
changed their concepts to suit current times.
By:
Soumya Jain
Change
is important. As people change, so do their needs, desires and ideas. Brands
and products need to accordingly reinvent themselves. Sometimes it happens by
choice, sometimes by force. And with the current generation of Millennials,
brands have had to walk a tightrope between tradition and innovation. The
coming up Generation Z is going to change things again. We talk about three
such brands and products that have molded themselves as per current times.
1.
InterContinental San Juan – One of the most popular
hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, like all other hotels in the city, InterContinental
San Juan also faced the wrath of nature during Hurricane Maria in 2017.
But kudos to the brand that it resurrected much more quickly than the other
hotels in the area. The hotel had already undergone extensive renovations which
were completed in 2014. After the hurricane, one of the major new features that
they introduced in the property was their room locking mechanism. No card key
required! They would give it a chic band which you could wear on your wrist or
arm, and tap it at the door lock for the room to open. The band also gave
access to other public areas of the InterContinental San Juan. And it’s
waterproof! This new technology made life much more easier for guests, who
didn’t have to carry around a separate key.
2.
Fendi Baguette – The hugely popular, iconic
Fendi Baguette handbag was a sensation when it was introduced. This tiny bag
with a short handle which could be tucked under your arm, was made famous with
Sarah Jessica Parker’s role in Sex in the City. But with the current times, the
bag has been redesigned to suit women today who are always on the go! Along
with the short handle, Fendi
Baguette has been given a longer shoulder strap as well, which can make
it into a crossbody bag too – providing the ultimate comfort a woman could
need. Talk about customer being the king!
3.
AER Mumbai – Located on the top of the
Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, AER
Mumbai is an international favorite when it comes to rooftop bars. Even
then, AER Mumbai has kept its architecture and décor the same, but revamped its
menu and music offerings. With a much more diverse entertainment menu, its
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres have also given the bar a new life! The reason?
Again – matching up to contemporary times and the needs of millennials. And the
reinvention has been done phenomenally well.
Soumya Jain is the Chief Editor
& CEO of LuxuryFacts.com – the
first and only luxury blog and magazine in India. She is also the Co-Editor of
‘The Luxury Market in India: Maharajas to Masses’, published by Palgrave
Macmillan and launched in September 2012. The book is a window into the highly
complex Indian luxury market. Soumya is also a visiting lecturer for luxury
marketing and online journalism at leading educational institutes in India. She
has been invited to speak at conferences and address industry colleagues about
the Indian luxury market. Recognising her knowledge of the market, she has been
quoted by media such as Fast Company, Wall Street Journal & Financial Times
among others, while also contributing articles on luxury in various
publications.
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