WHICH OF US HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT "PARIS GALLERY"? THIS NETWORK LEADS ITS HISTORY FROM THE FIRST STORE "PARIS PERFUMERY" OPEN IN THE GOLDEN MARKET OF SHARJA. TODAY COUNTING TENS OF BOUTIQUES IN THE UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, BAHRAIN AND QATAR, PARIS GALLERY OFFERS BUYERS WITH PRODUCTS OVER 450 INTERNATIONAL TRADE BRANDS. ABOUT SUCCESSES AND ACHIEVEMENTS, WE INTERVIEWED WITH SHADI BADRAN, HEAD OF DIVISION OF WATCHES, ACCESSORIES AND OPTICS IN "PARIS GALLERY".
Shadi, tell me, please, what has the Paris Gallery chain of stores and, in particular, the watch and accessories division, achieved in recent years?
Of course, everyone knows that the Paris Gallery began its activities as a perfume and cosmetics store. Over the years, we realized that we need to modify the main areas of activity and turn the Paris Gallery into a full-fledged luxury gallery, offering customers products of leading world brands. We decided to become leaders in the fashion and luxury segment, so we added watches, accessories and optics to the main portfolio of our products. When we carried out preliminary monitoring, we did not try to get around famous dealers of expensive watch or jewelry brands, it was much more interesting for us to use the opportunities of the “fashion watch” market, those that are produced by leading fashion houses, as additional accessories to our collections - DKNY, Diesel, Michael Kors, Guess. This is the basic part of our "pyramid".
What, in addition to fashion watch collections, attracts buyers to Paris Gallery?
Thanks to the competent differentiation of our product categories, today we offer fashionable and prestigious accessories from brands such as Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Givenchy, Fendi and other fashion houses. This is the center of the "pyramid of goods." At its top you will find the entire accessory range of Cartier House, for example. But the main idea, in general, is that the buyer who finds himself in the Paris Gallery can pick up all the necessary branded items, including watches, jewelry, shoes and, finally, cosmetics and perfumes. We offer turnkey solutions for real fashionistas and women of fashion.
Who are the main buyers of watches and accessories?
Our customers are well-educated people who are fashion oriented. We try to provide them with a wide selection that would meet their expectations, tastes and requirements. The bulk of buyers in the Paris Gallery today are local residents of the UAE, immigrants from Russia and the CIS countries, as well as China. We sell our products in stores in three different formats: the Paris Gallery itself - multi-brand galleries with luxury goods, Watch Gallery - specialized watch stores, and Charisma - youth-friendly retail stores.
Which of the three formats you named is developing more confidently than the others?
Since I am responsible for the watch, accessories and optics division, I must say that with the help of Watch Gallery stores we try to convey to our customers the idea that modern watches are not only a solid investment in an expensive brand, but also a fashion accessory for every day . Despite this approach, we also have complex mechanical watches, such as, for example, Fendi Crazy Carats, where moving gems are installed on the dials. Today, watches make up more than 35% of the total Paris Gallery sales.
I am also very pleased with the pace that the optics segment is gaining today, and in particular sunglasses. We give our customers the opportunity to choose from a wide range. Oddly enough, sunglasses are worn today not only in hot countries like the UAE.
What is the future brand development strategy in the UAE and beyond?
In the future, we plan to continue investing in new categories of goods and new fashion brands, many of which, as always, will be exclusively represented only in Paris Gallery. We already have a development strategy until 2014, but I will not disclose brand names, because we are currently negotiating with them. Every year we add something to our portfolio, and I speak not only about fashionable international brands, but also about new stores that we constantly open. As the owner of the “Retailer Selected by Customers” award, we can safely say that any luxury brand wishing to enter the UAE market and neighboring countries should first of all contact Paris Gallery. Since we will be able to present its products in the best way - we have the knowledge, wide experience and desire to present the best to customers.
Thanks, Shadi. We wish you continued success.
Thank you for your interest in the Paris Gallery. I wish all readers of Russian Emirates a happy New Year and happy shopping! At the Paris Gallery, of course!
