US. The Falic Group, owners of duty free chain Duty Free Americas, are preparing for a big North American retail roll-out of newly-acquired fashion brand, Christian Lacroix.
According to the influential Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), the Falic family have signed a lease for a boutique at The Forum Shops in Las Vegas and are planning a New York flagship and a new showroom.
In an interview with WWD last week, Chairman Simon Falic also revealed plans to roll out Lacroix corners to about 20 of its Duty Free Americas’ locations. Additionally, he said that an expanded range of handbags and small leathergoods will be unveiled to the trade in coming weeks, “the first volley in a big accessories push”.
Falic called Lacroix’s potential “tremendous”, telling WWD: “We think it’s very well positioned. So much money has been invested in this brand, and Mr Lacroix is such a highly-regarded talent in the fashion industry. I honestly believe we can double the sales volume in five years, maybe sooner.”
Falic said the brand would rapidly reach profitability, possibly even this year. LVMH suffered heavy losses after founding the Lacroix couture house in 1987 and sold the brand to the Falic Group in January.
Falic confirmed Lacroix would maintain Inter Parfums as its perfume licensee. The beauty house is launching the women’s fragrance Tumulte in September.
Simon Falic, whose group also acquired Urban Decay and Hard Candy from LVMH in 2002, ruled out further acquisitions.
“We’re going to focus on this [Lacroix],” he told WWD. “It’s a big undertaking and we’re going to focus on doing it right.”
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