Page 27 - RLI May 2019
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TImELESS DESIgNS





         HANDcRAfTED IN ITALy







                                             Luca  Faloni  is  a  brand  that  serves  clients  who  have  a

                                             global lifestyle, who value quality and timeless designs.                                                                         marylebone High Street Store
                                                                                                                                                                               LONDON, UK
                                             They make it easy for them to find great products for all

                                             their needs. Here RLI sits down with company Founder
                                             Luca Faloni to discuss how the brand is looking to expand

                                             over the coming years.


                                                                                                 marylebone High Street Store
                                                                                                         LONDON, UK





                                                                                                                                 So on the one hand customer feedback is pivotal, on the other
                                                                                                                               the company has its own theory and hope that some of the
                                                                                                                               products they think they should launch, the customer agrees with.
                                                                                                                                 “In terms of how we make our designs, we start with our
                                                                                                                               own best judgement and we have a discussion internally with
                                                                                                                               the people that make the product and myself and the retail
                                                                                                                               people, based on the feedback that they got from the client   The company believes in craftsmanship and they believe
                                                                                                                               and then we come up with a first draft,” says Faloni.  that craftsmanship should apply to things that customers
                                                                                                                                 When talking about social media and its importance in the   need. They feel they should have a permanent collection
                                                                                                                               modern retail world, Faloni explains that in general, things have   that  gradually  changes  over  time  and  is  refined  through
                                                                                                                               changed quite a lot, even in just the past five years. A few years   customer  feedback,  rather  than  bringing  out  a  new
                                                                                                                               ago Instagram was much smaller and everyone was instead   collection every six months or year.
                                                                                                                               using Facebook, but in today’s world this metric seems to have   So  what  lies  ahead,  and
                                                                                                                               flipped. So it is vitally important for a predominantly online   what is the greatest challenge   “We are moving in that direction,
                                                                                                                               brand to think about how people use Instagram and what   facing the company?  We Want to open more stores and
                                                                                                                               type of content people are engaging with on Instagram. To   “Essentially  we  want  to
                                                                                                                               this end, the company is investing more in videos and stories,   add  more  design,  slightly   the plan is to have by year end
                                                                                                                               because this seems to be the key content for users today.  expand  our  collection  and   five or six stores, With an addi-
                                                                                                                                 So why does Faloni believe customers have remained loyal   become  a  much  more
                                                                                                                               to this up-and-coming brand?                 global  brand.  The  branding   tional ten opening across 2020.”
                                                                                                                                 “I believe its two things, the first of these is product, we   is Italian in essence, but from
                                                                                                                               use only the best materials and this makes people come back   a physical point of view, we are in London to begin with
                                                                                                                               or think of Luca Faloni when they want to buy something   and we are gradually expanding the metropolis worldwide.
                                                                                                                               new. Secondly, I believe it is the customer service we offer. We   I think the challenge is the changing landscape of retail and
                             talian in its essence, but based in London, the Luca   Having only been operational for five years, the first two   ensure answers to any queries are given as fast as possible, and   how different it will be ten years from now. Today, online
                             Faloni brand is one that is on the rise. The idea behind   to three years was all about understanding the Luca Faloni   if there happens to be a problem with the product, we will   brands are growing a lot and traditional brands are ceasing.
                             the brand is to fuse exceptional Italian craftsmanship   customer, improving the product, brand style and operations.   solve it very quickly which gives our customer confidence that   I’m  curious  to  see  what  is  going  to  happen  and  we  are
                         Iand style with modern distribution channels, to make   In the last couple of years, the proposition has become more   if something goes wrong with a product, we are here to help.”  happy to be part of it.”
                         great  products  easily  available  worldwide  and  provide   refined after gaining more knowledge of the customer, which
                         stronger value to its customers.             has made the avenue into physical stores much clearer.
                           The  company  launched  online  in  2014  and  has  been   “We  are  moving  in  that  direction,  we  want  to  open
                         growing  ever  since.  Online  has  to  date  been  its  main   more stores and the plan is to have by year end five or
                         channel  where  they  sell  globally,  but  recently  physical   six stores, with an additional ten opening across 2020. We
                         stores are a topic on the agenda.            do not want to have a saturated retail presence, but we
                           “I  was  convinced  to  launch  a  pop-up  in  London,  that   want to be operational in each of the big cities so that our
                         went well so we opened a larger pop-up, and then that   customer can have a true choice,” explains Faloni.
                         went well so we decided to make that permanent, and that   To assist with keeping the company at the top end of the
                         is now working really well,” explains Luca Faloni, Founder   market, the company is making sure they ask their customers, in-
                         of the brand. “We are now looking to open a second store   store and online what products they would like next, and in-store
                         in London very soon, and then we are opening in New   they take note of what people ask in relation to products so that
                         York as well.”                               they are continually gathering feedback and never standing still.

        26 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2019                                                                                                                               DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 31
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