The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Scott Kerr is joined by Jamie Ritchie, chief operating officer at BlockBar, a direct-to-consumer NFT platform for high-end wine & spirits. Ritchie, who joined earlier this year from Sotheby's where he was worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s wine and spirits, discusses BlockBar's asset-backed NFT business model and how it's transforming the ultra-premium spirits business. He also talks about growin...

Scott Kerr sits down with Piero Braga, the CEO of Slowear, the high-end Italian fashion company whose portfolio of brands include Incotex, Zanone, Glanshirt and Montedoro. Braga, a seasoned executive who recently joined from Gucci, discusses Slowear's 'durable fashion' philosophy, his key priorities for the company and the avenues for growth, and the challenges that come with leading a group of br...

Scott Kerr speaks with Stefano Giacomelli, CEO of Tivoli Group, the Florentine company that produces leather goods for some of the world's most well known fashion and luxury brands. Stefano discusses the company's adaptable business model and why its "beyond craftsmanship" credo is an important part of Tivoli Group's success. He also talks about why the leather goods industry will continue to thri...

Scott Kerr is joined by Leona Qi, President U.S. of VistaJet  to discuss white-hot private business aviation sector and why VistaJet's unique 'asset-free' business model has helped drive record growth. She also talks about the ways VistaJet curates top-of-the-strata voyages for its high-spending members, why creating an incredible on-board dining experience is a key strategy for company, how feedb...

Scott Kerr sits down with Chuck Cashman, chief revenue officer at MarineMax, the world's largest yacht retailer. Chuck talks about how Covid-19 made superyachts a hot commodity among the ultra-rich and why it hasn't cooled down. He also discusses super-charging MarineMax's global position in yachting through a number of high-profile acquisitions, millennial superyacht owners and how they're shapin...

In this encore episode from June 7, 2022, Michael Kliger, CEO of multi-brand luxury fashion e-tailer Mytheresa, talks with Scott Kerr about how its focus on curation, content and service has been driving the company's success. Michael also discusses why Mytheresa fills the void in the current US luxury retail landscape, its unique customer-centric approach, why it expanded into luxury home and lif...

Scott Kerr is joined by Jeff Lotman, owner and CEO of iconic luxury retailer Fred Segal. He is also CEO of brand licensing agency Global Icons, which acquired Fred Segal in 2018. Jeff discusses the influence that Fred Segal had on the culture and where he saw the business opportunity in breathing new life into the 60-year-old Los Angeles lifestyle brand. He also talks about making the brand releva...

Scott Kerr sits down with Carrie Baker, president of Toronto-based luxury outerwear company Canada Goose, whose signature coats and parkas are commonly spotted on Hollywood celebrities and affluent urban consumers. Carrie discusses how the six-decade-old family-owned business, once a brand worn exclusively by Canadian rangers and arctic explorers evolved into a $1 billion global luxury lifestyle b...

David Hurley, Deputy CEO of top international luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland Group joins Scott Kerr to discuss what's been driving the rampant demand for Swiss luxury timepieces over the last few years and how long the boom will continue. He also talks about the state of the company's five-year global expansion plan, how the UK-based Watches of Switzerland gained a foothold in the US...

Scott Kerr is joined by Anne-Lise Cremona, CEO of luxury bespoke fragrance house Henry Jacques. Anne-Lise discusses how the maison was born nearly a half century ago from her father Henry Cremona's love of the time-honored French perfume traditions. She also talks about taking over as CEO at a critical time and elevating it to new global heights without losing sight of her roots, why today's consu...

Scott Kerr sits down with Ducati North America's CEO Jason Chinnock to discuss the strategy behind the record sales performance of the renowned Italian luxury motorcycle manufacturer and the importance of the U.S. market to the overall business. He also talks about how Ducati is constantly innovates to keep customers engaged, measuring success beyond sales figures, the type of person Ducati appeal...

Scott Kerr sits down with sisters Mariella and Attilia Avino, who currently run the legendary Palazzo Avino on Italy's Amalfi coast, to talk about growing up in the hospitality world in this glamorous destination, taking the reins of the family business, and how they're keeping the celebrated five-star luxury 'Pink Palace' in a league of its own. They also discuss the challenges of renaming and re...

LVMH-owned Champagne house Krug is one of the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world. Manuel Reman, President of Krug, joins Scott Kerr to discuss what's driving the surging demand for Champagne and why the 180-year-old French house has such an extraordinary reputation. He also talks about Krug iD transparency technology, the craftsmanship devoted to producing its iconic flagship Kru...

Award-winning legendary chef, restauranteur (Aureole, et al.), and hospitality entrepreneur Charlie Palmer sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss his journey from a 23-year-old executive chef at one of New York City's preeminent fine dining institutions to building a company of iconic restaurants and food-focused hotels. He also talks about his signature “Progressive American” cuisine, the challenge...

Family-owned and -operated Palmaz Vineyards in Napa Valley is regularly voted one of the best wineries in the region and is known for fusing the time-honored art of winemaking and cutting-edge technology. Scott Kerr sits down with Christian Palmaz, COO at Palmaz Vineyards, to discuss his father Dr. Julio Palmaz's journey from inventor of the balloon-expandable heart stent to vineyard owner. Christ...

In this encore episode (published May 10, 2022), Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, talks to Scott Kerr about how the iconic 170-year-old Swiss luxury house is moving to boost relevance and growth these days. Nicolas talks about Bally's recent appointment of LA-based streetwear designer Rhuigi Villaseñor to oversee the creative direction of the brand, balancing heritage and cultural relevance, increas...

In this encore episode (published January 18, 2022), Scott Kerr is joined by Shannon Knapp, president & CEO at The Leading Hotels of the World, a prestigious hotel group with a worldwide collection of more than 400 independently owned and operated luxury hotels. Shannon discusses Leading Hotel's business model, its unique selling proposition to potential member hotels and the brand standards t...

CASADEI is one of the largest exporters of Made in Italy luxury shoes all over the world and its designs favored by top celebrities and models. On this episode, Scott Kerr speaks with Arianna Casadei, the third generation of the founding family and newly appointed CEO of the 65-year-old brand. Arianna discusses how growing up in the family business and learning from her father, renowned Italian sh...

Isamaya Ffrench is a globally-renowned British makeup artist known for creating a beauty revolution with her dramatic transformations to some of luxury fashion's buzziest labels and biggest celebrities. She joins Scott Kerr on The Luxury Item to discusses launching and growing her namesake beauty brand ISAMAYA and her unconventional approach to beauty. She also talks about what she learned working...

LVMH—Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton—is the biggest and most successful luxury goods conglomerate in the world. It's home to a constellation of prestigious luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Dior, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co, Moët & Chandon, and Séphora to name a few. Scott Kerr sits down with Anish Melwani, chairman & CEO of LVMH for North America to discuss the evolving...

Scott Kerr speaks to Larry Korman, president and CEO of AKA Hotels & Hotel Residences, a company that has been an integral force in the luxury extended-stay sector. Larry discusses what's driving the explosive growth of hybrid luxury hotel/residence experiences and AKA's rapid expansion in major cities. He also talks about why many celebrities and long-stay business travelers prefer AKA to tra...

D-J Hageman, vice president of marketing at super-premium tequila brand Patrón Tequila, joins Scott Kerr to discuss why tequila is so hot right now and why it's leading the spirits premiumization trend. He also talks about Patrón inventing the super-premium tequila category in the '90s, the brand's longtime popularity with the hip-hop community, its first incursion into the luxury tequila space, W...

On the newest episode of The Luxury Item podcast, Scott Kerr speaks with Tom Marchant, owner and co-founder of award-winning bespoke luxury travel operator Black Tomato. The company has made a name for itself by pulling together expertly tailored, highly imaginative private travel experiences that give clients insider access to some of the world’s farthest-flung destinations. Tom discusses how he...

Scott Kerr is joined by Martin de Dreuille, global vice president of marketing for iconic French premium vodka brand Grey Goose. Martin discusses why the super premium vodka market is surging in popularity, facing challenges from the fast-growing whisky and tequila categories, how the brand has evolved with the changing nature of luxury, why it was time for a brand refresh and new creative platfor...

Scott Kerr sits down with Michelle Freyre, global brand president of Clinique, one of the top players in the prestige beauty market and part of The Estée Lauder Companies' portfolio of brands. Her brand oversight also extends to Origins. Michelle discusses joining Clinique at the start of the pandemic and the challenges of navigating through an altered beauty industry. She also talks about competi...