Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Kering Wants to Control Its E-Commerce
The online shopping sites for all of its brands will be handled in-house by the first half of 2020.

Paris—Kering will bring e-commerce for all brands in house by 2020, the luxury conglomerate announced Monday.
For the past seven years, e-commerce for the majority of the dozen luxury brands owned by the Paris-based company has been handled through a joint venture with Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) Group.
But rival Richemont, whose holdings include Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, acquired YNAP in May of this year, and so Kering is now looking to transition off the platform, noting that “the success of luxury houses depends upon their ability to offer bold creative propositions, an exceptional customer experience that is consistent across all distribution channels and a unique customer relationship on all devices.”
It said it expects the migration to be complete by the first half of 2020, though it noted it would continue to develop partnerships with third-party e-commerce platforms when relevant.
RELATED CONTENT: Kering Revenue Jumps 28%, Watches and Jewelry ‘Solid’Heading the transition is Grégory Boutté, whom Kering brought on board as chief client and digital officer at the end of 2017. His job is to upgrade the company’s digital capabilities, taking the lead on e-commerce, CRM, data science and innovation.
Kering said e-commerce is its fastest-growing sales channel; it accounted for 6 percent of the luxury conglomerate’s total sales in the first half of 2018.
“Digital can be many different things at once: a distribution channel, a platform for offering seamless omnichannel services to clients, a driver of brand image and visibility, and a tool for engaging with customers in a personalized way,” Boutté said. “Digital technology, data science and innovation provide a way of offering our customers the best possible experience, on every touchpoint.”
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.


The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.