The Anti-laws of Luxury Marketing #10

Luxury has two value facets – luxury for oneself and luxury for others. To sustain the latter facet it is essential that there should be many more people that are familiar with the brand than those who could possibly afford to buy it for themselves. (Branding Strategy Insider)

Luxury Brands Waking to a New Reality

As the recession keeps depressing, luxury brands are experiencing a wake-up call from this nasty cycle and from chastened luxury buyers. (Chief Marketer)

Google Wins Latest Battle with Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is fighting to prevent search engines using protected brand names. (Telegraph)

As the Race Slows Down, Audi Hits the Gas

The German carmaker is pouring money into marketing to expand its share of the luxury market and push diesel models in the U.S.  (Business Week)

Luxury Fashion Brands Setting Trends In Mobile

At first I thought it was just Stella McCartney blazing a trail – being the daughter of a Beatle (even my least favorite Beatle) I think one’s DNA is pretty much laced with creativity and genius – but then Stella was joined by the likes of Coco, Christian and most recently Donna.  (IEG’s Sponsorship Blog)

Study Finds Social Networks Near Top of List for Media Buyers

A new study by the Center for Media Research found that 56% of media buyers plan to buy ads on social networks next year, ranking just below those that will buy ads on e-mail marketing platforms (57%).  (BtoB Magazine)

One in Five Tweets Are Free Brand Advertising

This news might actually sway some of the executives left who still fear the use of social media for business. (Mashable)

LuxuryLab Daily Digest

Waiting For Deep Pockets to Open (Washington Post)
Recovery may well wait on the wealthy to step up their spending.

Out on the Edge (Black Coffee)
Thoughts on the keys to maintaining your edge as a brand.

Richemont Sales Sink 16%; Group Urges Caution (Market Watch)
Luxury-goods maker Compagnie Financiere Richemont, on Wednesday reported a 16% fall in sales for the first five months of the year and delivered a cautious outlook, as wealthy customers curbed their demand for high-end watches and jewelry.

Tillman Buys Storied Clothier Aquascutum (Wall Street Journal)
U.K. retail mogul Harold Tillman, chairman and majority owner of Jaeger Ltd., has purchased Aquascutum Group PLC, the luxury clothier and trench-coat maker that has dressed British elites from Margaret Thatcher to Sean Connery for 158 years.

Out on the Edge

Over the years we have seen numerous influences of sub-culture on mainstream fashion and music, even science and technology. But as these things that used to exist only out on the fringe are brought to the mainstream, they often become sterilized and refined loosing all their character and appeal and eventually collapsing under their own weight, pulling next big thing into the mainstream. (Black Coffee)

Breaking Down the Advertising Apocalypse

(Business Insider)