Rimova after LVMH takeover: Revised brand names and higher prices?
Sep 29, 2018, 5:49 am
#31
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NW Ohio & Sri Lanka
Posts: 374
Which retailer/location are you asking for?
Expect a gradual roll-out, as retailers in Europe have already received their new inventory.
The company still has a backlog in manufacturing and their supply chain so it will be a while until they get across the pond from Europe. Good indicator is if the RIMOWA flagship closest to your area begins to carry the new collections, as they are, of course, priority and primary channel for sale going forward.
Expect a gradual roll-out, as retailers in Europe have already received their new inventory.
The company still has a backlog in manufacturing and their supply chain so it will be a while until they get across the pond from Europe. Good indicator is if the RIMOWA flagship closest to your area begins to carry the new collections, as they are, of course, priority and primary channel for sale going forward.
Sep 29, 2018, 11:40 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt GP Platinum
Posts: 468
Any US online retail... preferably one that does not charge sales tax.
Yeah... I visited the San Francisco Rimowa store. The matte limbo carryon looks really good and I’m strongly considering buying one.
Yeah... I visited the San Francisco Rimowa store. The matte limbo carryon looks really good and I’m strongly considering buying one.
Oct 14, 2018, 5:14 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 24
Which is, right or wrong, part of their strategy. They don't want a premium travel goods brand - they want a luxury travel good brand. And, of course, a big part of transitioning to becoming a luxury brand is artificially creating scarcity through reducing production, changing the product names to create separation from the past, charging more, and making it harder to find. I assume they are trying to cut out all distributors and sell only through company-owned channels and, once they feel they've elevated the brand enough, allow sales through select high-end third party outlets.
- getting more control / involvement in the customer relationship
- emphasis on not being undercut by other online resellers thus making rimowa.com a more effective, go-to direct channel
Last edited by SLC_IAH; Oct 14, 2018 at 5:18 pm Reason: more precision to thoughts
Oct 22, 2018, 3:27 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 545
Its 2018 and the truth is that many product brand owners know that the retailers that used to sell their products are doomed to slowly go out of business, as they get their lunch eaten by Amazon and co. Even within luggage too. Retail will consolidate into a few mega retailers, brands that sell direct online+offline and then a reduced segment of highly specialised third party retailers that are primarily in existence because of their physical shops and service, but need to be digitally present and very good in that channel to.
Within luggage, there is no shortage of medium size players that wont make it and many specialised smaller ones that wont too. And for brand owners the nightmare is to be vulnerable to the larger mega retailers that control consumers habits online, because they can bargain hard and eat up more of the pie/margin/profit in the product.
So if you run Rimowa it would be irresponsible for you to by now not begin to take gradual control of your own distribution.
It's fine a balance, as they will aways need third party retailers in this product segment - but far fewer than before.
So it's actually a tough job to begin to drive to sell more directly while not completely upsetting the relationship with the third party retailers.
Within luggage, there is no shortage of medium size players that wont make it and many specialised smaller ones that wont too. And for brand owners the nightmare is to be vulnerable to the larger mega retailers that control consumers habits online, because they can bargain hard and eat up more of the pie/margin/profit in the product.
So if you run Rimowa it would be irresponsible for you to by now not begin to take gradual control of your own distribution.
It's fine a balance, as they will aways need third party retailers in this product segment - but far fewer than before.
So it's actually a tough job to begin to drive to sell more directly while not completely upsetting the relationship with the third party retailers.
Oct 22, 2018, 2:35 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
It's LVMH, the Rimowa brand is not going anywhere. With LVMH, whether current Rimowa fans will want to stay is a completely different story, of course.
Oct 23, 2018, 4:47 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: FRA, ATL, IAD, CLT, CHS
Programs: M/M
Posts: 147
I did have the opportunity to do a tour of the RIMOWA Headquarters and Manufacturing site in Cologne, Germany.
I was surprised and intrigued at their manufacturing processes for their Classic and Original line of luggage trollies.
However, I had just as many concerns, as well. Sources did mention that the company recognizes Tumi as their closest near-peer competitor in the market.
In all, plenty of good and bad, just like any merger.
Only time will tell.
As a bonus, I did receive my custom RIMOWA tag to add to my collection.
Oct 24, 2018, 1:28 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Club Carlson Gold, AMEX Platinum, EBG
Posts: 397
I was looking for anew cabin trolly, not too impressed with the massive jump in price without adding anything to the product, so I have a Mont Blanc cabin trolley with front pocket on order, the price is good, the fit and finish are second to none and it's looks like a desirable product.
Oct 25, 2018, 2:08 am
#39
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
Ouch. That is a strongly worded email.
To answer the original question, they've all gone up in price, and with the Topas, sorry, Original, they have the same price for the different finishes.
I've gone through the changes with store managers in London and also Amsterdam and the differences for the Topas are very small, apart from the bag-holder deletion and change of colour on the inside from blue to almost black. Apparently better manufacturing...
I've picked up two additional old models for good prices (slight discount) from Selfridges and Global Luggage.
As stated on previous threads, IMHO Rimowa are heading towards a fashion brand rather than an iconic brand known for quality.
To answer the original question, they've all gone up in price, and with the Topas, sorry, Original, they have the same price for the different finishes.
I've gone through the changes with store managers in London and also Amsterdam and the differences for the Topas are very small, apart from the bag-holder deletion and change of colour on the inside from blue to almost black. Apparently better manufacturing...
I've picked up two additional old models for good prices (slight discount) from Selfridges and Global Luggage.
As stated on previous threads, IMHO Rimowa are heading towards a fashion brand rather than an iconic brand known for quality.
With LVMH/Rimowa cutting off brick and mortar retailers around the world, what does that mean for those seeking repair services?
Last edited by GUWonder; Oct 25, 2018 at 2:14 am
Oct 25, 2018, 4:44 am
#41
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I guess you're not talking about Rimowa amenity kits that LH used to hand out for my LH F flights. If you mean with regard to the LH-branded Rimowa suitcases, I suspect that it's just a matter of time until the LH-Rimowa connection shows itself as being severed.
Flight crew members and a staid national flag carrier's customers being affiliated with the brand don't do a whole lot to contribute to LVMH's design for marketing of Rimowa as some kind of high luxury brand.
Flight crew members and a staid national flag carrier's customers being affiliated with the brand don't do a whole lot to contribute to LVMH's design for marketing of Rimowa as some kind of high luxury brand.
Jul 6, 2019, 10:42 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
Programs: AA Platinum 2.3MM (Lifetime PLT)
Posts: 5,285
Jul 6, 2019, 2:18 pm
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: FRA, ATL, IAD, CLT, CHS
Programs: M/M
Posts: 147
The custom monogram tags were commissioned to participants of last year's Les Journées Particulières program, hosted by LVMH.
Unfortunately, they are not a product you can obtain in-store or online.
Unfortunately, they are not a product you can obtain in-store or online.
