“When you go to London’s flagship stores, about a third of the customers are Chinese,” said Stacey Widlitz of S.W. Retail Advisors. “Burberry is doing the right thing by investing in their flagships and expanding its stores.”
The retailer plans to invest as much as $300 million to revamp its flagship stores this year. It is also investing in technology and social media, revamping its website and tapping into SAP technology for efficient ecommerce sales. And judging from the latest earnings report, Burberry’s investments are paying off.
"Our investment in flagship market and digital technology has enabled our global teams to continue to drive customer engagement, enhance retail disciplines and improve operational effectiveness, further strengthening brand momentum,” Angela Ahrendts, Burberry’s Chief Executive Officer said in the report.
But although the strategy that is working for Burberry right now, Widlitz says take caution when looking at a company that is spending cash, as its large capital investments could backfire if the luxury market reverses its course.
Burberry also has room to grow within its product line. Compared with its peers, accessories make-up a relatively small portion of its sales.Hermes, for example, gets about 60 percent of its total sales from the category, while LVMH accessories account for 40 percent of its total sales.
So far, since becoming CEO in 2006, Angela Ahrendts has been hitting the right fashion notes. She has brought innovative ways to transform the iconic brand, including adding fresh faces Cara Delevigne and Emma Watson as spokespersons, and fusing runway fashion to its traditional trenches.
The street has mixed feelings about the future of the luxury market. JPMorgan Cazenove in London, for one, has a “cautious stance” for fiscal year 2012 on the overall luxury goods sector but it remains bullish on the long-term fundamentals. In its report, the firm said the opportunities lie in “increased penetration in China, untapped opportunities in other emerging markets, sustained appeal in mature markets,” which Burberry has tapped into.
Burberry is defying what other luxury retailers are struggling with in this economy. It has found its niche client-base, hedged against economic slowdown and increasing its profit margins. The checkers are aligning for them, at least for now.
Questions? Comments? Email us at consumernation@cnbc.com.