THE MANAGEMENT OF LUXURY

Already considered a prime shopping destination thanks to a wealth of luxury retail boutiques, Bangkok is almost certain to benefit from an influx of currency when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) gets underway in 2015.
CP All Public, the flagship company of the Charoen Pokphand Group’s marketing and distribution business, is helping retailers prepare for the years ahead through the new Luxellence Centre. Set up in partnership with the International Fashion Academy (IFA) Paris, the world’s leading fashion institution, Luxellence Centre, offers a postgraduate programme in Luxury Brand Management with classes spread over a year in Shanghai, Paris, and Bangkok.
Ideal for anyone seeking a career opportunity, the classes are open to a maximum of only 24 students. The programme was established in January this year and the first intake of Luxellence Centre’s students is making good progress.
At the grand opening held recently at Gaysorn Plaza, Dr Thitiporn Sanguanpiyapan, the centre’s executive director, explained that Thailand already has high quality human resources but just at the entry level and it is thus important to expand into middle level management.
“The programme provides students with creative and entrepreneurial skills to respond to the challenges and opportunities associated with managing luxury brands within a dynamic, highly competitive and rapidly evolving industry,” she says.
“Successful students will be equipped with the ability to make the right and relevant strategic decisions to manage luxury brands globally. With the course taking place across three most influential cities in the fashion world, students will acquire a truly international dimension while also having the opportunity to work on industry sponsored projects in cooperation with international brands.”
Also attending the event was Patrick Kouzmine Karavaieff, chairman of IFA Paris, which was established in Paris in 1982 and in Shanghai in 2002. “IFA Paris caters to a highly international student body from all corners of the world and about 1,000 students in its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” he says.
“We prepare students with worldwide knowledge in luxury marketing issues. They learn about strategy, brand building and retail marketing at the international level, enabling them to take up job opportunities job anywhere in the world. Shanghai, for example, is a very energetic city and the luxury market is growing very fast. Consumers are very intelligent and conscious about quality and the price but because the prices are so affected by high taxation, the Chinese tend to travel aboard to buy luxury products. Successful students must not only to focus on acquiring knowledge but must also be open-minded to adapt to new things and lifestyles.”
The event showcased an exhibition of leading luxury brands in different categories, highlighting their inspirations, histories and how they manage to reign in the top tier within such a highly competitive industry. The brands included PMT The Hour Glass, Chivas 18 special design collection by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and Christian Lacroix.
A fashion show supported by L'Officiel Thailand and Guerlain Paris showed outfits by up-and-coming local brand Kemissara and jewellery by Sette Pecatti. The event was well received by key luxury players, in particular Korsak Chairasmisak, Charn Srivikorn, Narun Thamuavarankup, Danai Sorakraikitikul and others, who offered their support for Luxellence and its educational provisions for the academic sector of the industry.

   APPLY NOW
- Upon satisfactory completion of the entire programme, which is taught in English, students receive an MBA in Luxury Brand management issued by IFA Paris and a certificate issued by Luxellence Centre.
- Tuition fee is Bt552,000 per year, excluding of overseas living expenses.
- The deadline for the 2013 course is tomorrow though applications after that date will be considered if space is available.
- Visit www. LuxellenceCenter.com.