13 minute read
Member Guide
► Innovation and craftsmanship
The iconic British luxury brand Wedgwood has been a testament of British lifestyle innovation since 1759. The brand was founded by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759, primarily a potter, but also a pioneer, scientist, philanthropist and family man, regarded as one of the greatest innovators and businessmen of the Industrial Revolution.
Its 250+ years of heritage and ‘Made in England’ craftsmanship is accessible to the public at the World of Wedgwood, the global Wedgwood Brand Experience Centre in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, which attracts 100,000 visitors a year from all over the world. This unique attraction ranges from the award-winning Wedgwood Museum to seeing the artisans at work at the factory tour, enjoying a pottery workshop, and exploring Wedgwood at the Wedgwood Tea Conservatory – the heart of Wedgwood Flagship store. Wedgwood was bought by Fiskars in 2015, kicking off a brand journey to bring the spirit of its founder back in a new way and make Wedgwood relevant again; evolving it from offering great products to consumer-centric experiences. Wedgwood introduced its first coffee table book Wedgwood: A Story of Creativity & Innovation in partnership with international-leading publisher Rizzoli in November 2017 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as well as New York, and will continue its global voyage to Tokyo and Sydney throughout 2018. Wedgwood has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which was founded by John Wedgwood (Josiah’s eldest son) in 1804, which forms the perfect platform to show its evolution and newness in a surprising and relevant context. The new Wedgwood Tea Conservatory was launched during the various RHS Flower Shows – from Chelsea to Chatsworth and Tatton Park – where thousands of people could enjoy the updated Wedgwood Tea Experience served in its new Wonderlust Collection, with a focus on ‘well being’. Wedgwood engaged Bernadine Tay, a global tea curator, to create an innovative tea offering in a credible and authentic way to perfectly fit Wedgwood’s renowned fine bone china teaware. Meanwhile, the new Wonderlust Collection, inspired by the historic ‘Grand Tour’, is an eclectic mix of gifts and innovative tea blends with extraordinary flavours – all inspired by the wonders of travel taking you to different parts of Asia and Europe. The globally recognised signature Wedgwood blue and white Jasper, unique to the company and invented by Josiah in 1775, was relaunched during the RHS shows with a new Flower Pot Series: the ‘Wedgwood Burlington Pot’ – in partnership with Lady Laura Burlington, the future Duchess of Devonshire – and a nod to Wedgwood Heritage of the ‘Devonshire Pot’ from 1785. Made in England, it layers blue and white clay to form a unique marbling effect, organic texture where every product is unique. Discover Wedgwood at the RHS Flower Shows in 2018 or visit the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston or follow the brand on #wedgwood, and be the first to explore how Wedgwood continues its path of again becoming an innovator of British lifestyle, making the everyday extraordinary.
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Opposite ► The Wedgwood Tea Conservatory pop-up at the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Below, left ► Wedgwood Burlington Pots.
Below ► Wedgwood; A Story of Creation & Innovation in partnership with Rizzoli.
Wedgwood
WALPOLE
Walpole is a unique membership association of more than 200 of Britain’s finest luxury brands, including Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Boodles, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Harrods and Jimmy Choo, brands that have been described as ‘a business card for Britain’.
Walpole promotes, protects and develops the unique qualities of luxury in the British Isles: the tradition, heritage, craftsmanship, innovation, design, style, and service at the heart of an industry that contributes more than £32 billion to the UK economy and is a leading creator of jobs. Part trade association, part private members’ club, Walpole is dedicated to ensuring the best possible business context in which the luxury sector can flourish. Walpole lobbies governments in Westminster and Brussels, commissions new research, and tells the story of British luxury to key media and the wider industry.
Walpole helps support its members’ international growth aspirations through trade missions, insight and connections. Walpole nurtures and develops next generation talent in British luxury brands, its craftspeople and its leaders. Walpole helps members do better business with their peers, facilitating strategic brand partnerships. Walpole brings its members together at more than 30 events each year – from high-level dinners and insightful workshops to the globally recognised Walpole British Luxury Awards, which celebrates and honours the significant achievements of luxury brands and leaders.
Walpole is committed to helping create a strong pipeline of future growth for the sector by nurturing the next generation of Britain’s luxury talent; every year, its flagship mentoring programmes, Brands of Tomorrow and the Programme in Luxury Management at London Business School, connect Britain’s most talented up-and-coming entrepreneurs and future leaders with a network of senior mentors from Walpole’s established membership, and help hone their talents through workshops in luxury fundamentals.
WALPOLE: A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR LUXURY ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Walpole represents members’ interests and acts as a collective voice in Westminster and Brussels, ensuring the sector is recognised, valued and protected.
► Economic value and impact Walpole commissions annual studies analysing and examining the financial indicators and wider benefits the luxury sector provides for the UK economy.
► Brexit Walpole’s manifesto, Thriving after Brexit, produced after extensive collaboration with and input from members, outlined the British luxury industry’s position on Brexit. Published in February 2017, and updated after further member consultation in January 2018, it identifies five main priorities pertinent to the sector as negotiations to exit the European Union continue. They are: International exports, Investment and tourism; Free movement of people and skills; Trade with Europe; Intellectual Property; and Selective Distribution. The insights from the manifesto continue to shape both Walpole’s engagement with the British government to ensure the luxury industry’s interests are safeguarded during Brexit negotiations and to provide relevant, actionable advice to members as they prepare their businesses to leave the EU.
► ECCIA Walpole co-founded the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA) with its European counterparts: Comité Colbert (France), Altagamma (Italy), Circulo Fortuny (Spain) and Meisterkreis (Germany) in October 2010, which collectively represents the interests of 80% of the world’s luxury goods businesses. Examples of the ECCIA’s lobbying success on behalf of the luxury and high end sector include the recent ruling on Selective Distribution, which gives luxury brands the right to block retailers from selling products on online marketplaces which do not preserve the ethos and quality of their products. The ECCIA ensures the European luxury and high-end industries are recognised, promoted and supported in Brussels. Areas of focus include recognition of the unique luxury industry business model, intellectual property, the digital agenda and distribution, employment and skills, tourism and market access. Through the ECCIA, British luxury brands will continue to have a voice at the EU table during and beyond Brexit, a significant advantage for the sector.
► UKCVA As co-founders of the UK China Visa Alliance, Walpole works with government to simplify the process and encourage more Chinese visitors to the UK. This was in response to 2012 statistics showing the UK significantly underperforms in attracting Chinese visitors compared to other major European countries, costing the economy £1.2 billion per year. Since its launch, the Alliance has had considerable success in persuading the government to adopt a one-stop-shop approach for Chinese visitors applying for both a UK and Schengen visa, encouraging them to add the UK to a multi-country European trip, as well as improvements to the length of visas once granted. Since the UKCVA started its campaign, Chinese visitor numbers have grown 127% from 210,000 in 2012 to 478,000 in 2016. This outperformed Schengen, whose numbers increased by 72% in the same period.
Opposite ► Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank at the Walpole British Luxury Showcase in New York City.
Below, from the top ► Walpole's Director for Public Affairs and International Charlotte Keesing at the residence of the British Consul General in New York City.
Jeweller Stephen Webster, CEO of Fortnum & Mason Ewan Ventners, and Marcus Wareing at the 2018 Chairman & CEO Dinner at Rosewood London.
Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, addresses guests at the 2017 Creative Dinner at Design Centre, Chelse Harbour.
Guests at the 2017 Women in Luxury network lunch at The Corinthia.
► Cultivating international growth opportunities Walpole develops international activities and opportunities to promote and support members in building their networks through relationships with the FCO, DIT, GREAT and embassies in key markets, as well as international business organisations. Walpole has strong relationships with its counterparts in Italy, France, Spain and Germany, and partners with international events and conferences including the FT Business of Luxury Summit (Global) and The European Excellence Summit. Walpole's priority market is the US which at $85 billion is the largest market for luxury worldwide with a further $18.5 billion of growth forecast by 2021; this represents a 52% market expansion in just 10 years. New York alone accounts for $25.5 billion or almost one third of the total US luxury market. Walpole’s inaugural British Luxury Showcase and trade mission to New York in October 2017 helped member brands optimise their opportunities in this market, attracted support from the UK Government and, in addition, brought nearly 100 members of the press to the brand showcase. Walpole will anniversary the British Luxury Showcase in October 2018. ► A programme of communications Walpole delivers a strategic communication and media programme to promote British luxury and its brands to the membership, wider industry, business and consumer press through a combination of owned content and external media relations. Walpole’s Daily Digest is a digital round up of industry news and events from the past 24 hours, as well as opinion, exclusive interviews and insights from Walpole’s membership. Gillian de Bono, Editor of FT How to Spend It, said of the Digest "it is the only newsletter to read before breakfast" and it has a reach of over 20,000. The Walpole Digest is supported by thewalpole.co.uk and across social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Walpole hosts the annual British Luxury Awards; a key event in the luxury calendar which attracts the industry’s highest-profile executives, influencers and creatives, as well as leading luxury journalists and bloggers, generating media coverage for winners and the sector. The 2017 Walpole Awards coverage was worth £1.1 million in PR value and reached over 79 million people worldwide. Walpole provides opportunities for members to participate in media events – including press showcases, press conferences, media briefings, roundtables, and ’Meet the Media’ events with Walpole’s media partners. Walpole comments on key issues in the business press on behalf of the sector.
Walpole
British Luxury
WALPOLE: NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION
► Brands of Tomorrow Walpole Brands of Tomorrow, established in 2007, is a flagship mentoring programme that helps aspiring British luxury brands to take their businesses to the next level. Each year, Walpole selects 12 fledgling businesses and takes them through a programme of workshops and one-to-one mentorship with the UK’s most experienced luxury leaders. Over 10 years, the effectiveness of the programme is demonstrated by the ongoing success of those brands – alumni include Bremont, Orlebar Brown, Nyetimber, Charlotte Olympia and House of Hackney. For 2018, Walpole has established a Brands of Tomorrow Alumni Club, offering ongoing support to the brands who have finished their year within the core programme.
► Programme in Luxuy Management at London Business School The Programme in Luxury Management nurtures the next generation of luxury leaders through a series of seminars, project work and mentoring. The participants on this programme are selected from the current MBA intake at London Business School who wish to pursue a career in luxury post-graduation.
► A private members’ club for the British luxury industry Walpole membership connects people, businesses and organisations to create tangible value for its community of highly engaged luxury leaders. Forged over its 25-year history, Walpole’s unique convening power brings together an influential network of luxury professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, connectors and creatives, who meet regularly to collaborate and communicate, sharing best practice, and working to further the aims of the sector in the UK and overseas. Membership offers access to the full programme of Walpole’s events, and creates a distinctive, valuable platform for building and nurturing relationships at a range of activities, from high-octane industry gatherings like the annual Chairman and CEO Dinner or the British Luxury Awards, to intimate dinners or thought leadership breakfasts, with expert speakers on topical issues such as international growth, entrepreneurship, brand identity and public affairs. In addition, Walpole builds bespoke experiential events, facilitates targeted peer-to-peer introductions, supports strategic brand partnerships between members, and facilitates networking and information sharing through wider industry events.
Become a Walpole member ►
To enquire about Walpole membership please contact Stephanie Robinson, Head of Membership on +44 (0)7342 031 230 or stephanie.robinson@thewalpole.co.uk The below membership criteria applies.
All applications for membership will go to the Walpole membership committee for approval.
Membership critera ►
• The Company is primarily based in the UK and must have or be a brand with a British product or service to offer.
The Company’s origins should be British, but need not, however, be British owned.
The Company is outstanding in its own particular field, and has a luxury brand or brands that exemplify the highest standards in terms of quality, style, design, craftsmanship, creativity, service and innovation.
The Company should have a brand or brands with an international reputation or aspire to promote them through international channels.
The Company is well established, has been trading for no fewer than three years and has a minimum turnover of £5 million.*
The Company endorses Walpole’s purpose, shares the same objectives and will actively participate in pursuing Walpole’s aims on behalf of the luxury sector.
