Kering, the French luxury corporation, cautioned of an approximately 20% dip in first-quarter revenues at Gucci due to an unexpected drop in the Asia-Pacific sector, thereby increasing the performance spread with its major competitors. Following an unanticipated update, Kering’s stock experienced a 13% slump in Paris. Despite concerted efforts, the fashion conglomerate has struggled to rejuvenate Gucci, the Italian brand that constitutes nearly two-thirds of the company’s profits.
The Pinault family, a billionaire dynasty, owns Kering which has faced difficulties in catching up with competitors such as LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Hermes. These firms have proven to be more robust due to factors including LVMH’s extensive brand catalogue and Hermes’s prolonged handbag waiting lists amidst a significant reduction in luxury sales over the previous year, particularly in China. Analysts from Vital Knowledge expressed concerns over the state of consumer expenditure and the Chinese economy due to persistent issues specific to Gucci.
Kering also manages brands including Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga and predicts a roughly 10% drop in comparable sales for the respective period. Gucci experienced decreased sales in the final quarter of the preceding year, struggling to attract affluent customers to its expensive Double G belts and Princetown slippers. Sabato De Sarno, appointed Gucci’s new designer last year, showcased his inaugural collection featuring a sophisticated and pared-down aesthetics in Milan last September, a stark contrast to his predecessor Alessandro Michele’s ostentatious stylistic approach.
Analysts at Bernstein, including Luca Solca, were uncertain about the reception of De Sarno’s subdued luxury approach among Chinese consumers. Regardless, Kering reported a ‘highly favourable’ response to the early ready-to-wear items from the recent Ancora collection, whose availability will be expanded in the upcoming months.
The unanticipated declaration by Kering has raised concerns in the high-end goods market, according to analyst Thomas Chauvet from Citigroup. He noted that the corporation’s most significant brand, Gucci, is caught up in a significant transformation in design and management, demonstrating poor results in carry-over items and low success from new items. Furthermore, only one third of the new selection had reached their store network by the middle of February.
The specific troubles facing Kering and Gucci led to a drop in confidence towards other fashion businesses, with Prada’s shares plummeting up to 11% in Hong Kong’s stock market.
In the wake of a sluggish comeback in China, top-tier brands have become increasingly reliant on the US market. This is unsatisfactory news for Gucci, given their significant exposure to the Asian market. Gucci anticipates publishing its revenue numbers for the first quarter of the year on April 23, according to Bloomberg.