Advertise on podcast: The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Gérald Genta is widely regarded as the most influential watch designer of the modern era, responsible for creating such icons as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Genta also founded Swiss luxury watch brand Gerald Charles and later sold the company to the Ziviani family in 2003 and remained as its chief designer until his death in 2011. Scott Kerr sits down with Federico Ziviani, CEO of Gerald Charles, who is leading the brand's modern revival. Federico discusses why Genta founded Gerald Charles after selling his first brand to LVMH and how his family’s long-time friendship with Genta shaped its approach to protecting his creative freedom. He also talks about the challenge of helping people discover an existing creative legacy without mistaking it for a newly invented watch brand and why it began by selling online before building a retail network. Plus: Why positioning Gerald Charles as an expression of artistic independence resonates with collectors. The big takeaway is that a great archive is a starting point, not a strategy. Federico Ziviani is building Gerald Charles by translating Genta’s creative legacy into watches people want to wear today, establishing a recognizable design identity and cultivating collectors who value individuality over familiar status symbols. Federico Ziviani: "We have no story to invent. We have just to show the details of the beautiful story we have." Featuring: Federico Ziviani, CEO of Gerald Charles (geraldcharles.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Luxury hospitality is entering a more selective phase. High-end travelers are still willing to pay for exceptional experiences, but the market is also becoming more competitive, with guests expecting reasons to return that go beyond a beautiful room. Scott Kerr is joined by Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Fairmont Hotels and Resorts—two of the world’s most storied luxury hotel brands—to discuss the changing economics, expectations, and cultural stakes of luxury hospitality. Omer explains why luxury travel’s enduring shift is not about higher room rates, but guests’ growing demand for meaningful and personalized experiences and argues that the term "luxury traveler" is an increasingly limited customer category. He also talks about luxury hospitality as freedom from friction, the difference between personalization from genuine recognition, and why culture cannot be standardized or rapidly scaled. Plus: Why branded residences as the ultimate expression of loyalty. The big takeaway is that modern luxury hospitality is no longer defined by opulence alone. It's defined by a brand’s ability to make each guest feel genuinely recognized, understood, and free from friction. This is through experiences distinctive enough to create lasting preference and justify a premium. Omer Acar: "The more important question probably is not how high the rate can go. Are we creating an experience that our guests believe is worth returning to?" Featuring: Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (raffles.com and fairmont.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

If there’s one influence quietly shaping popular culture, it’s the American West. An unavoidable, intensified fascination with all things Western has emerged across luxury, fashion, movies, TV and music. Stetson is a 160-year-old brand that's not only synonymous with the American cowboy hat, but with the enduring mythology of the American West. Scott Kerr sits down with Stetson's CEO Robert Dundon to discuss what's driving the renewed interest in Western style and why Stetson has endured as the defining icon of the American West. He talks about the evolution of the Stetson customer from core Western communities to younger, international, and increasingly female consumers. Robert also shares why it recently launched Stetson Bourbon in a crowded market and why Stetson is a “gold mine” with credible room to grow into apparel, footwear, home, retail, and experiential hospitality. Plus: How the brand translates the values of the American West for international markets. Featuring: Robert Dundon, CEO of Stetson (stetson.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Spyker is one of the most intriguing names in the collector car world: a Dutch marque with roots dating to 1880, revived for the modern era and defined by aviation-inspired design, hand-built craftsmanship, and an unapologetically analogue point of view. Scott Kerr sits down with Victor Muller, Spyker’s founder and CEO, Victor Muller, to discuss the brand’s turbulent history and why he revived the Dutch marque decades later. He also talks about the newer, younger cohort of affluent buyers wanting something more tactile and individual, Spyker’s ambitious Formula One ownership era and the harsh financial realities of competing at that level, and how Netflix, social media, and greater accessibility transformed Formula One into a global cultural and luxury platform. Muller details the relaunch of the 800-horsepower, manual-transmission Spyker C8 Preliator XXV, priced at roughly $1.6 million, which sold all 25 units in a single day. Plus: Why Muller said Spyker's motto Nulla tenaci invia est will be chiseled in his tombstone. Featuring: Victor Muller, Founder and CEO of Spyker Cars (spykercars.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

While the rest of America's homebuyers are stuck waiting out high rates, the ultra-wealthy are on a buying spree. As demand concentrates around truly distinctive properties, expertise in positioning and storytelling has become as important as the asset itself. Scott Kerr is joined by Aaron Kirman, founder and CEO of Christie's International Real Estate Southern California, and one of the most successful and influential figures in global luxury real estate.  Aaron explains why the luxury real estate market is increasingly divided between flawless, blue chip properties and everything else, why ultra-wealthy buyers are expanding their real estate footprints, and why today's luxury buyer expects turnkey execution. He also discusses how international buyers, particularly from Asia and the Middle East, continue to play an outsized role in major luxury real estate transactions, and how a single $60 million-plus crypto inquiry led to the launch of the first-ever crypto division at a U.S. real estate brokerage. Plus: Why AI will not replace real estate agents. Featuring: Aaron Kirman, Founder and CEO of Christie's International Real Estate Southern California (christiesresocal.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Swiss watchmaking’s most compelling momentum may be coming from its independents. These small maisons pairing centuries of technical discipline with remarkably personal creative vision. One Swiss luxury manufacture that has repeatedly shown how an independent spirit can challenge the conventions of high horology is the 180-year-old Ulysse Nardin. Scott Kerr speaks to Francois-Xavier "FX" Hotier, president of Ulysse Nardin Americas, about the modern appeal of independent watchmaking, why direct relationships with collectors define a true independent brand, and how younger, more informed collectors are reshaping luxury watch demand. He also talks about how Ulysse Nardin regaining independence from Kering helped strengthen its collector appeal and why its groundbreaking Freak collection remains the brand’s “laboratory on the wrist.” Plus:  Why UN watches resonates with AI- and tech-driven wealth creators Featuring: Francois-Xavier Hotier, President of Ulysse Nardin Americas (ulysse-nardin.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Branded residences are one of the most dynamic growth stories in luxury today, bringing together real estate, hospitality, and affluent consumer lifestyles. For Hyatt, branded residences is a strategic growth pillar in luxury and lifestyle real estate. Scott Kerr sits down with Tina Necrason, Hyatt's global head of branded residential, to discuss why branded residences are becoming a major luxury real estate growth category, how today’s affluent buyer is seeking “lifestyle per foot", and what goes into translating each hotel brand’s distinct personality and lifestyle promise into residences. She also talks about seeing the great wealth transfer unfolding in who's buying branded residences, and how wellness has become a big differentiator that's moving beyond amenities, preventative care. Plus: Why today's young branded residences buyers want completed, turnkey homes they can experience immediately.  Featuring: Tina Necrason, Global Head of Branded Residential at Hyatt (hyatt.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Eva Chow has been dubbed the "culture queen of Los Angeles" by The New York Times. She is a prominent cultural figure and Korean-American entrepreneur whose career spans fashion designer, restaurateur, arts patron, and founder of premium spirits brand KHEE Soju. Eva also co-chairs the star-studded Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Art + Film Gala along with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. In this bonus episode, Eva talks with Scott Kerr about why Koreans’ deep cultural heritage and focus on quality make Korea a unique driver of global luxury demand and how she believes luxury houses are tapping K-culture superficially. She discusses how the LACMA Art + Film Gala became the "Met Ball of the West" and Gucci's steady partnership over the years. Eva describes launching KHEE as a way to reset what people think soju is and to position it squarely in the white spirits conversation. Plus: How she helped transform the iconic Mr Chow restaurant into a contemporary cultural salon Featuring: Eva Chow, Founder of KHEE Soju and Co-Chair of the LACMA Art + Film Gala  (kheesoju.com, lacma.org/ArtPlusFilmGala) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Cruise ships have become some of the most dynamic luxury retail environments in the world, and Starboard is the biggest player in the cruise retail business. Starboard's president and CEO Lisa Bauer sits down with Scott Kerr to discuss how the company brings top luxury maisons to life at sea with boutique‑level standards. She shares the psychology behind cruisers spending four or five figures on watches and jewelry, why cruise retail is an untapped luxury and experiential channel, and breaking the "mall at sea" stereotype. She also talks about how onboard clienteling strategies are different than land-based ones, and how Starboard builds luxury lineups for specific ships and itineraries. Plus: LVMH’s role as minority partner in sharing data and co-creating onboard concepts and experiences. Featuring: Lisa Bauer, President and CEO at Starboard (starboardretailgroup.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives listeners in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and C-suite executives to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Francesco Galli Zugaro, founder and CEO of Aqua Expeditions, an ultra-luxury small‑ship cruise operator specializing in taking UHNW travelers on immersive expeditions to some of the world's most remote destinations. Francesco, who founded Aqua in 2007 and a pioneer of luxury river cruising, discusses why expedition cruising resonates with wealthy travelers and if their risk tolerance has changed in the last 20 years. He also talks about why Aqua deliberately chooses to slow down and go deeper into each destination’s ecosystem and culture on its voyages, how ultra-affluent guests getting younger and more active, and why its fine dining program is a psychological luxury counterpoint to the sensorially intense expeditions. Plus: Preserving Aqua's founder-led culture and exploratory DNA after its recent acquisition by Ponant Explorations Group Featuring: Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO of Aqua Expeditions (aquaexpeditions.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives you the in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and presidents to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Kresten Bjørn Krab-Bjerre, creative director at Bang & Olufsen, the Danish luxury audio company renowned for its synthesis of minimalist Scandinavian design with high-end speakers, headphones, and home entertainment systems. Kresten discusses the design and business principles that have anchored B&O's longevity for the last 100 years, staying culturally relevant without chasing trends, and why Scandinavian luxury resonates with consumers. He also talks about why B&O thinks about products in terms of customer life phases, how the brand is making itself more visually distinctive for the next generation, and taking a long-term brand perspective to ensure coherent evolution. Plus: How B&O designs automotive sound experiences to ensure each system feels emotionally native to that luxury car brand. Featuring: Kresten Bjørn Krab-Bjerre, Creative Director of Bang & Olufsen (bang-olufsen.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: Host Scott Kerr gives you the in-depth, unfiltered interviews with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands. Kerr chats with the biggest names in the luxury business, from CEOs and presidents to creative directors and fashion designers, about the forces redefining the sector: from customer expectations and brand relevance to new approaches in creativity, operations, AI and growth strategy.  Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr speaks to Ben Trodd, CEO of Four Seasons Yachts, a new venture by Four Seasons designed to bring the brand's renowned ultra-luxury hospitality to the high seas. The inaugural vessel, Four Seasons I, officially launched in March. Trodd, a 25+ year veteran of Four Seasons, explains why ultra-luxury yachting is a natural extension of the Four Seasons brand and outlines how ultra-wealthy guests are shifting from overt opulence to intentional, hyper-personalized travel experiences. He also breaks down Four Seasons Yachts' competitive lens, how he preserves Four Seasons’ brand integrity while operating at sea, and using deep guests insights to anticipate preferences and design itineraries. Plus: Trodd unpacks the economics and KPIs behind the Four Seasons Yachts asset-light model Featuring: Ben Trodd, CEO of Four Seasons Yachts (fourseasonsyachts.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Simon Kneen, brand president and creative force at custom menswear clothier J.Hilburn. Over the course of his career at places like Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, and French fashion house Balmain, Simon has helped shape some of the most recognizable names in apparel. He explains why men have shifted their desire towards better fit apparel and intentional dressing, what he learned from repositioning Brooks Brothers and how his Banana Republic x Mad Men collaboration set a benchmark for TV‑to‑retail capsules. Simon also discusses how J.Hilburn blends atelier‑level product with a direct, stylist‑driven distribution model, why its stylists think like hoteliers, and what differentiates good, better, and exceptional materials in real life. Plus: How social meida platforms now function as each man’s “personal magazine." Featuring: Simon Kneen, Brand President at J.Hilburn (jhilburn.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Stuart McNeill, founder and CEO of Knightsbridge Circle, one of the most exclusive invitation-only luxury concierge firms in the world. McNeill, who founded the company in 2012 after previously launching the American Express Centurion Card Elite Service, explains how his experience at Amex inspired him to build Knightsbridge Circle as a deliberately niche, ultra‑high‑touch concierge model that caters to the ultrawealthy. He shares how an Elton John philanthropy event helped seed his initial client base of centimillionaires, the extreme anticipation of member needs required to keep them engaged (and the firm's revenue stream flowing), and the surge in young crypto- and tech-wealthy members. Stuart also unpacks why the ultrawealthy have shifted from ownership to access and bespoke, unrepeatable experiences. Plus: Why he runs Knightsbridge Circle as a capped community of around 250 members worldwide versus a scaled model. Featuring: Stuart McNeill, Founder and CEO of Knightsbridge Circle (knightsbridgecircle.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Debbie Propst, president of global retail at MillerKnoll, a design collective of high-end furniture, interiors, and lifestyle brands formed in 2021 by the merger of American design giants Herman Miller and Knoll. Some of their most iconic designs include the Aeron chair, Noguchi table, Eames Lounge Chair, and Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair. Debbie discusses joining MillerKnoll right before the pandemic and how her direct experience with digital-first home retail and e-commerce gave her an edge in accelerating the company’s digital and omnichannel transformation during the crisis. She also talks about why the Herman Miller-Knoll merger made strong strategic sense, how it protects distinct brand identities within a broader design collective, how MillerKnoll managed through the post-pandemic correction in home-office and furniture demand, and why luxury consumers are shifting toward fewer, better things. Plus: Why storytelling, education, and design literacy are central to MillerKnoll's retail growth. Featuring: Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail at MillerKnoll (millerknoll.com) Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting About: The Luxury Item is the leading podcast on the business of luxury, and an important resource for global industry decision makers who want to stay one step ahead. Listen to insightful conversations with leaders of the world's most influential luxury brands as they share the latest trends, insights, and strategies that are helping them forge a strong path forward. Let me know what you think of the show. Email me at [email protected] Listen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!