Kering’s E-Commerce to Move In-House

RAPAPORT… Kering, the owner of Gucci, Boucheron and Pomellato, plans to end its seven-year partnership with luxury
platform Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP), and bring its e-commerce activities
in-house.



The Paris-based retailer, which has worked with YNAP since
2013, will move all its sales to a new website in the first half of 2020, it
said Monday. It’s in the process of building that platform, it added.


The decision came after Richemont, a rival luxury retailer, bought
YNAP in May. It also followed Kering’s appointment of Grégory Boutté as chief
client and digital officer at the end of 2017 with the aim of improving its
online business. E-commerce is Kering’s fastest-growing channel for all its
luxury brands, it said.


“These exciting new initiatives have been designed to meet —
and exceed — the needs of our houses’ customers and to ensure we continue to
offer them an exceptional experience across all channels in a fast-changing
global market,” Boutté said.


“These opportunities have been made possible by the
experience and know-how that Kering has gained over the years, notably through
its successful joint venture with YNAP. We will continue to work with them
post-transition and to enjoy a fruitful relationship,” he added.


Image: Boucheron store, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. (Shutterstock)