Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury

$300,000 for A Coffee Table? For Brad, It's a Penny in a Pitt

Smart luxury marketers know they can sell to deep-pocketed celebrities, and the selling process starts when the celebrity asks for it for free.  After all, that is a 'buying sign' that they want what you are selling!

Case in point:  Brad Pitt went on a bit of a furniture spree, dropping some serious movie star money at a "design art" furniture sale in Switzerland.

On the buy list was a hollow marble table built by Jeroen Verhoeven, which cost Pitt $293,000.  Pitt also ordered a $175-per-square-foot rug made out of aluminum thread, and reportedly expressed interest in a $300,000 gold lacquer-coated Fiberglas sofa.

By Doug Gollan

Lorre White, The Luxury Guru, shoot podcast series about Antiques with owner of the US premiere Antique House Newel.

Newel Art, located in NYC, is the largest of the high end Antique stores.  Lewis Baer is the 3rd generation proprietor of this amazing antique bastion.  This 70 year old store sells to the elite world wide & supples many of the sets for the major motion picture films.  "It is fun to explore it's 5 floors of history" say Lorre White, "The Luxury Guru".

Lewis shares his vast knowledge about some interesting period pieces on Lorre's Luxury Channel on iTunes.  Lorre shot a 12 podcast series at Newel that will start to air the end of May.  Lorre's has 2 shows on her Luxury Channel, "Guru OF Luxury" that airs twice a week & "Luxury On A Budget" that airs once a week.  "I interview the best of the best in every luxury category" say Lorre, "Newel is the best in the Antique business in the US.  I have an international fan base and Newel sells to customers all over the world".  Lorre has shot a World Class Wine series with Le Cirque Restaurant, watches with the EVP of Tourneau, Leshem Loft for Luxury Baby items, etc., so Newel was a natural fit.  Go to iTunes podcast under Society  & Culture and sign up to automatically receive her video podcasts. 

If you don't have iTune go to www.Luxury.podango.com.

Shoppers Turn More Often to the Internet than to Specialty Gift Stores to Buy Gifts

Shoppers Turn More Often to the Internet than to Specialty Gift Stores to Buy Gifts

A new study of the giftware market by Unity Marketing identifies key opportunities for future growth

Where people buy gifts is changing dramatically with more people saving time and money buying gifts over the Internet, rather than going to the store to shop.  This according to the latest market research study of the $65.2 billion gifts and decorative accents market conducted by Unity Marketing. 

In 2007 the Internet was the second most important shopping venue for giftware shoppers, trailing only discount department stores as a place of purchase.  For purposes of this study giftware is defined as items that are designed and manufactured to be bought and given as a gift or collectible items that are designed and manufactured specifically for the purpose of collecting.  The giftware market includes items such as occasion-specific giftware, personalized giftware, character-licensed giftware, collectible figurines, and others.

Commenting on the emergence of the Internet as the second most popular source for consumers to buy giftware, Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of Shopping:  Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience, says,  "The Internet came from virtually nowhere just five years ago to become the second most important channel of distribution for giftware companies.  While discount stores take the lions' share of the giftware market, consumers value the convenience and ability to comparison shop in order to find exactly what they are looking for in the online world.  This plus the ability to ship gifts conveniently to the recipient makes the Internet a favorite place for people to shop for gifts."

Specialty gift stores are losing their edge as a distribution channel for giftware manufacturers

As the way people shop for gifts has changed, the industry's traditional channel of distribution, the specialty gift store, has continued to decline in importance as a place where people shop for gifts.  In 2007 the gift specialty stores accounted for only 7 percent of the overall giftware market.  Not surprisingly, the study reports that the number of specialty gift shops have declined 21 percent in the past five years, from 75,102 stores in 2002 to 59,032 today.   

The specialty gift stores that remain have found success by expanding the product lines they carry, particularly moving into personal care, jewelry, fashion accessories, music and other related items popular to boutique shoppers.  As the industry's manufacturers become less reliant on specialty gift stores for distribution, so too are gift stores becoming less reliant upon the giftware manufacturers for new merchandise.

Drawing on the results of the study, Danziger explains, "The key for success for both manufacturers and retailers of giftware products is to stay out in front of the consumer, offering them products that are out of the ordinary, new, fresh and special.  The giftware market is a fashion business and companies are rewarded primarily for innovating and offering something new to consumers.  Successful retailers are merchandising their stores with this in mind.  When it comes to choosing giftware, nobody wants the 'same-old, me-too' items; rather they want something fresh, new and different which makes it memorable.  That is the ultimate key to success in today's giftware market."

Luxury By Lorre ia a FEATURED Podcast Channel with 2 Luxury shows on Podango & iTunes.

Lorre is the Guru of Luxury. She is frequently featured on TV and radio, and is launching two fabulous new podcasts. She often features "Best of" products.

“LORRE WHITE, The Guru Of Luxury” will explore everything in luxury regardless of price.  It will include a monthly series from the world renown’s Le Cirque restaurants’ head sommelier about world class wines, a series of 6 of the world’s best luxury skin care (great not only for women but also for the fastest growing segment in luxury skincare…. Men), a series about  the top luxury watches (4 men’s & 2 women’s)  and information on experience trips like heli –skiing, parachuting, flying planes, race car driving and other exciting unique opportunities.  As always, Lorre will do her popular gift segments, great ideas for when money is no object.  “These are fun just to know about”, says Lorre, “if I had all the money in the world, I would not choose to book the first hotel room in outer space for $4.2 million (opening in 2012), nor with the way I go through them, would I buy a 1.2 million dollar cell phone but it makes me smile to know they are out there”

“Luxury On A Budget by LORRE” will have a monthly wine series of affordable wines under $ 30 from the owner of a

Long Island

wine school.  Lorre will answer fan email about the best products, affordable Valentine’s gifts for the men in your life, inexpensive ways to bring luxury into your life, best boutique chocolates in the world, etc.  These segments will be about the many ways to create quality in your life for little or no money.

Her bio at: http://www.naymz.com/search/lorre/white/1538977

Lorre's two Luxury Podcast Shows have launched!

To go directly to http://luxury.podango.com where you’ll find my two luxury shows,  My Channel is “Luxury by Lorre”.  I have two shows on this channel “Lorre White, The Guru Of Luxury” that comes out Monday and Thursday and “Luxury on a budget by Lorre” that comes out on Wednesday.  They can sign up for them to be sent directly to their mail boxes. I will cover Men watches, jets, gifts, expensive world class wines, luxury skin care and all the best luxuries of life on one show…..on the other I am more price sensitive to what I carry.  I think most people will like both as it is interesting to know what is out there regardless if I could buy it…..often I still wouldn’t…..but it is fun! 

Thanksgiving Table Top - Beautiful place settings for the Holiday

3 very different price points all make a beautiful Thanksgiving Holiday table settings. All can be purchased on line, by catalog or in stores located in NYC.

Pumpkin scented candles by Slatkin.  They make a fabulous candle, good quality, great scents and reasonably priced.  The small candle in glass is $16.50 and the Bath & Body Exclusive 4 wick candle in pumpkin terrine is valued at $75 and is on sale now for only $25.

MacKenzie Child (Handmade and hand painted collectors items)

Courtly Check Fluted Heart Plate - 6'x6.5" diam - sku 11035 040 $60.00

Courtly Check Mug - 5 inches tall / 14 ounces - sku 11163 040 $85.00

Courtly Check Chowder Bowl - 7" diam/ 5" tall / 3 cups - sku 12410-040 $165.00

Courtly Check Fluted Salad/Dessert Plate - 9" diam - sku 11021 040 $75.00

Courtly Check Fluted Dinner Plate - 11" diam - sku 11011 040 $85.00

Sage Pinwheel Champaign Glass - sku 40690 0007 $58.00

Sage Pinwheel Wine Glass - 40691 6002 $58.00 Flatware - Stainless/walnut 5 piece setting - sku 10 40848 0006 $76.00

Robin Bud Vase - sku 10 40236 0002 (use as place card holder ) $20.00

Bowtie Napkin Ring - 2 inch in diameter - sku 15716 610 $15.00

Round Beaded Placemat - 15 " diam - sku 10 38476 0001 $78.00

Linen Square Napkin with gold trim - 12" square - sku 41102 0006 $40.00

Ecru Organza Napkin - sku 38032 0031 $24.00

Less expensive option:

Linen Placemat - Amber Fine Art - sku 10 38472 0009 $14.00

Linen Napkin - Amber Fine Art Leaf - sku - 10 38472 0009 $10.00

Napkin Ring - Cork Tassel - Olive - sku - 10 40082 0003 $32.00

Crate& Barrel (most affordable)

Colette Dinner Plate (as charger) $5.95

Marrakech Gold Dinner Plate $14.95

Genie Red Dessert Plate $11.95

Colette Bowl $4.95 Mesa Flatware $24.95 per 5pc place setting

Candice Double Old Fashioned Glass (as water glass) $7.95

Marcel Wine Glass $10.95

Callaway Flute $9.95

Alexandra Red Placemat $8.95

Lotus Red Napkin $4.95

Silver Napkin Ring with Beaded Rim $3.50

Silver Place card Holder $7.95 set/4

Williams-Sonoma (mid range in quality and price)

Flute 5pc. Setting, $39

Woodland Harvest Soup Bowl, $46

Queen Anne Dinner Plate, $29

Red Buffet Plate, $20

Grape Riedel Chardonnay, $35

Grape Riedel Merlot, $35

Hemstitched Linen Placemat, $60. set of 4

Oxford Jacquard Linens, $62 set of 4

Wooden Napkin Ring, $28 set of 4

Covered Turkey $29

Luxury is Redefined By Lorre White

Luxury is redefined.  Lorre White, “The Luxury Guru” defines luxury as a “quality of life”, not simply amassing quantity.  Luxury is an experience.  The fastest growing luxury segment is the one that supplies an emotional component, experiencing life to its fullest.  Not just buying crystal glasses but learning how to create them. Not just staying in an expensive hotel but staying in something unique and sleeping in a 15th century king’s bed.  Luxury supplies a very special opportunity to experience something new.  It is often educational and can be shared with friends and loved ones.  The Robin Leech 80’s excessive decadence, disrespectful wastefulness of resources, and gaudy gluttony is gone.  It is now an enlightened approach to living.  It is about creating last memories.  Don’t just exist… Live!  Luxury, as Lorre defines it, is the Art of Living.

Five Questions Answered By Lorre White

Q: As “The Luxury Guru” How do you define luxury? 

A: Luxury is the art of living well.  It is everything from taking the time for yourself to sit and look at the ocean, doing yoga or lighting a scented candle and taking a long bubble bath.  Luxury is surrounding yourself with beauty and positive energy from the people in your life to the cashmere sheets that you sleep in, to the fabulously styled clothes that make you look and feel beautiful.  Luxury can be in a meal that you cook at home or a fabulous restaurant that you go out to eat. Luxury is living every aspect of your life to the fullest not merely existing day to day.

Q: I see that you ran the Marketing and Sales for the M Club of NetJets and the “the 25 hour cards” of Marquis Jets.  What is the difference?

A: NetJets was the creator of the fractional ownership of a private jet.  The smallest amount is 1/16 of a plane.  You have all the expenses of ownership but also some tax benefits.  Marquis sells the NetJet product but breaks to down into 25 hour increments that you purchase.  Which is better depends on the amount of time you fly and other considerations that you or your financial advisor should take into consideration.  The M Club was for the Boeing Business Jet 737-700 which is their largest plane with 2 bedrooms and 3 marble bathrooms with showers, dinning room, etc.  It is like a flying apartment.  A very luxurious way to travel.

Q: I want to dress in designer clothes and can afford to do so but I find that they just don’t fit.  I am not fat but I am not the stick that these clothes seem to be made for.  What do you recommend?

A: I find that different designers fit different parts of my body better.  For me Armani pants fit the best but I prefer the sweaters by Ralph Lauren.  You have to find the designer that cuts best for your figure.  A good fit is paramount.  A beautiful expensive outfit will look like a dime store rag if it fits you poorly.  Find good fitting basics and jazz it up with accesories where size us not so much of an issue.

Q: As the luxury guru, what do you think about animal prints?  Are they over done?  Is it a fad that will pass and we are all stuck with unusable items?

A: Absolutely not.  Animal prints have been incorporated into every fashion period in clothing and interior design going all the way back to the cavemen.  Animal prints are not a fad but a classic.  I see them as staple items that can be used for longer and transcend the moment as long as they
are not covering a fad  For example over the knee boots are great this year and next but will go out of style, so if your trendy over the knee boots are in leopard print, they will become passé.

Q: I live in a major city on the east coast and I want a romantic special long weekend with my girlfriend to propose.  I am willing to fly.  Where do you recommend?

A: I like long weekends at the Hotel Villa D’ Este about 40 minutes outside of Milan.  They  have a driver that meets you at the Milan airport.  I prefer the main hotel to the annex.  It is one of the best rated hotels in the world.  Great food and fabulous wine list.  The hotel is an old Villa on Lake Como.  I think you will find it to be quite exceptional.  Fly out on Thursday evening.  You arrive on Friday Morning.  Take the afternoon flight back on Monday.  She will have to say yes.

Thanks for your questions. I welcome more! See you online,

Lorre White

President & CEO

"The Luxury Guru"

What is Luxury?

Luxury is capturing a feeling of living well and treating yourself to more.
This does not mean expensive or decadent. This can be as simple as grabbing a few minutes alone to rest, having a cup of coffee on your porch while enjoying the sunrise, or to eat a delicious piece of pie.

It also can mean that you wrap yourself up in a Russian sable coat, while sailing on your yacht, eating caviar, while a handsome young man massages your feet.
Enjoying the small moments as much as the large ones…
That is the real luxury of life!