Tiffany & Co. will test a new concept in Glendale this fall with its first smaller-scale store, the high-end jeweler said Thursday.

The 2,600-square-foot space — Tiffany’s 46 existing stores average 7,100 square feet — will open in October in the Americana at Brand, a retail and residential center under construction across from the Glendale Galleria shopping mall.

If the smaller-store concept succeeds, it could give Tiffany an opportunity to expand its U.S. store base to 170. Tiffany said in a statement that the smaller stores gave it “the potential to significantly accelerate U.S. sales growth over the medium to long-term and enhance profitability.”

The launch of a more-compact Tiffany, with most of the smaller stores averaging 2,000 square feet, is an attempt to “introduce more people to the brand,” said David Schick, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus who covers Tiffany. He added that smaller stores have financial advantages, such as lower inventory requirements.

Schick said the smaller stores would have a greater focus on silver jewelry and won’t sell engagement rings or “high-priced statement jewelry,” such as the diamond buckle necklace, a belt-shaped adornment with diamonds totaling 34 carats and a price tag of $148,000.

Beth O. Canavan, Tiffany’s executive vice president, called the scaled-down store “a new way of looking at Tiffany.”

Like many retailers, Tiffany has felt the squeeze of the slowdown in consumer spending. Holiday sales slipped below expectations. Sales in January were “modestly improved” from December, the company said in a statement this month.

Tiffany’s stock is down almost 15% this year.

The Americana at Brand, scheduled to open May 2, will have 900,000 square feet of retail and residential space over 15.5 acres. Among the retailers will be Chico’s, Juicy Couture, Anthropologie, Kate Spade and Barnes & Noble. The residential properties will be both rental units and condominiums.

Article By: Leslie Earnest, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
leslie.earnest@latimes.com

Fashion house Louis Vuitton proved on Thursday that it is willing to forgive and forget unauthorized use of its famous logo—for a price.

The company settled a charge against Sony BMG, which had allowed several of its artists to use unapproved versions of the Louis Vuitton logo in music videos and on CD marketing materials. Pop singer Britney Spears, for instance, appeared in a video with a car that featured a dashboard covered in the LV print.

Neither Sony BMG nor Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey would disclose the amount Sony agreed to pay to settle the case, but an industry insider said the price was well above $300,000. Sony BMG did not return calls seeking comment.

“We are very pleased to have successfully resolved these matters in a manner that protects our brand and our customers,” said Nathalie Moulle-Berteaux, Louis Vuitton’s intellectual property director. “We believe the terms of this agreement will provide strong protection to our brand worldwide.”

Louis Vuitton has been on the forefront of protecting its intellectual property. The French firm recently won a case in Parisian court against online auction company eBay Inc., which had been selling counterfeit LVMH goods. Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. lost a similar case in the U.S. just days later.

Sony’s case against Louis Vuitton was likely damaged by the fact that the artists did not use genuine LVMH products in the infractions, said Peter Sloane, an attorney at Ostrolenk Faber LLP who specializes in trademarks and copyrights. In the case of Ms. Spears, Louis Vuitton does not make dashboard covers or even sell reams of logo fabric that could be fashioned as such.

“Entertainment companies such as Sony need to carefully vet their images to make sure they protect the intellectual property rights of other brands,” Mr. Sloane said.

Although the case between the two firms will likely resonate within the entertainment industry, one music scenester said most music video producers are already careful about which logos appear on film.

When Sony opted to print a likeness of Vuitton’s logo on singer Ruben Studdard’s CD, The Return, it went too far, said Rasheem Barker, an executive assistant at Violator Management & Records, which oversees a number of entertainment artists. “That’s a major problem because it looks like Louis Vuitton sponsored it,” he said.

Even for songs that name-drop luxury brands, from Cristal champagne to Ferraris, entertainment managers typically try to get permission from each firm to use their images on a shoot, Mr. Barker said.

Tiffany architects and designers will preserve the building’s original façade and create a modern and gracious interior that showcases an array of renowned TIFFANY & CO. collections. Among them are the jeweler’s celebrated diamonds in engagement rings and jewels of ultimate glamour; fine and sterling silver jewelry; the signature designs of Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, Jean Schlumberger and Frank Gehry; watches; gifts and accessories.

“Opening our first store in Amsterdam is another indication of our optimism about Tiffany’s substantial long-term growth potential throughout Europe,” said Melvyn Kirtley, group vice president, Tiffany & Co. Europe. “Our prominent location in Amsterdam’s most desirable shopping area provides us with the ideal environment for introducing everyone to Tiffany’s heritage of design, craftsmanship and outstanding service.”

The new store features signature details of Tiffany’s famous New York flagship store, including brushed stainless steel and custom furnishings.

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com