 | New model: P’9522 mobile phone |
GERMANY. German men’s luxury brand Porsche Design unveiled a new mobile phone model and its first fragrance range at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes last month. This week the company also announced details of a gold-themed gift collection for Christmas 2009.
Commenting on the suitability of the mobile phone and fragrance for travel retail sales, Porsche Design Group Chairman Dr Jürgen Geßler said: “Our new mobile phone and the fragrance line fit perfectly for all male travellers and furthermore strengthen our luxury product portfolio.
“Travel retail is very important for an international brand like Porsche Design. We have to be at those places where our target group is.”
While retail expansion rapidly continues in the domestic market, particularly in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe, the most recent new travel retail opening for Porsche Design was at Zurich Airport in April 2008. The brand’s boutique at Singapore Changi Terminal 2 reopened last month.
Porsche Design General Manager Travel Retail Marc Platten told The Moodie Report in Cannes that the brand’s wholesale turnover had jumped by +36% to €63 million for the 2007/08 financial year.
The company plans a total of 150 points of sale by 2040, with a targeted 20% of turnover being generated by airport stores, he noted.
Platten explained that the travel retail stores focused on five or six product groups: large leathergoods and luggage, mobile phones, watches, sunglasses, writing instruments and jewellery. Smoking accessories are a strong category in the Arab market, he added.
Porsche Design is now present at the following airports: Copenhagen; Dubai; Frankfurt T1 landside; Hong Kong International, The Atrium Shop, East Hall; Kuwait; London Heathrow T1 at World Duty Free’s men’s concept store; Moscow Sheremetyevo T2; Munich Airport T1 and T2; Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal E; Singapore Changi T2; Vienna Airport; and Zürich.
New P’9522 Mobile Phone
On sale at Porsche Design stores in November 2008, the new mobile phone has a linear shape and is milled from a single solid aluminum block and a single sheet of scratchproof glass. With a black and brushed aluminum finish, the P’9522 has the latest communications technology, such as WiFi, together with excellent sound and picture reproduction.
A 2.8in touch-screen display navigates through the menus, while a built-in GPS receiver can be used for mobile navigation purposes. Access to personal data is secured by means of a sensor which identifies the user’s finger print. The P’9522 is equipped with a stills and video camera with auto-focus, and the camera has a resolution of five megapixels, integrated flash and digital zoom. The phone is equipped with an MP3 player for music, ring tones and voice reproduction.
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Stylish line-up: Porsche Design presented its debut fragrance, The Essence, at the 2008 TFWA World Exhibition |
Porsche Design men’s fragrance
Porsche Design’s first male fragrance range consists of eight products. The range is already on sale in most countries in Porsche Design Stores and via Clarins Group distribution channels. The core product is an edt, available in three versions. An aftershave lotion, aftershave balm, a hair and body shampoo and two deodorants in stick and spray form complete the range.
The fragrance bottle, created by the Porsche Design Studio in Austria, is a glacier-blue, frosted glass prism with a purist design. The glass prism is contained within a protective brushed-black anodised aluminum frame. The shape of the bottle has neither a lid nor a bottle top, and the same puristic principle is reflected in the design of the case: a plain prism made out of black cardboard, which simply carries the name-tag “Porsche Design The Essence”.
Porsche Design gold collection
For the end-of-year holiday celebrations, Porsche Design has engineered a collection of gold-themed gifts, including automatic watches, cufflinks and sunglasses. The products are available now from Porsche Design Stores.
Three chronograph watches from the Dashboard series and the Worldtimer P’6750 have been selected for the gold range. For the first time, two models from the Porsche Design Dashboard series feature a rose-gold case with a rubber and titanium layered bezel. The Worldtimer P’6750, featuring a world time mechanism that can be easily changed between timezone settings, is also available in gold.
From the men’s jewellery collection come 18ct rose gold cufflinks, inlaid with onyx and crystals. Polished by hand, they are described as striking yet understated.
The P’8440 sunglasses in a light gold matt colour were designed with a nod to the brand’s “Exclusive Sunglasses” from 1978, described as a Porsche Design classic. The design of the lens attachments and bridge is taken from the original, while the stark lines and interchangeable shield ensure a contemporary look.
MORE STORIES ON PORSCHE DESIGN
Porsche Design offers its Essence to Zürich – 08/10/08
Porsche Design radios in on new initiatives – 12/09/08
Porsche Design accelerates sunglasses licence deal – 14/07/08
