Two Italian luxury brands, Gucci and Bottega Veneta, are testing men’s-only stores in China, a sign of the dominance of the male clientele in the world’s most robust luxury-goods market.
Men are the biggest spenders in China – not only for themselves, but for women, said François-Henri Pinault, the owner of Gucci and Bottega Veneta, speaking in an interview. Both brands are part of French luxury and sports apparel group PPR SA, which Pinault heads. "The decision of buying for women is still made by men [in China]," Pinault said.
The shift to adapt to Chinese consumers underscores a broader transformation in the luxury-goods industry to cater to the new wealth coming from Asia. Consultancy Bain & Co. expects luxury-goods sales in China to jump 25 percent.
(Source: The Wall Street Journal Online)