ITALY. Italian house Diana de Silva has reported a significant increase in Asia Pacific sales of its luxury brands despite the SARS outbreak earlier this year.
“Our business has come back incredibly quickly in the region,” said Diana de Silva export manager for Asia Natalia Soffiantini. “Mauboussin is particularly strong in China right now and we are planning the listings in the main airports from January 2004.
“We have just appointed a new distributor Florence Cosmetiques for China. Taiwan, Korea and Japan are already seeing great results,” said Soffiantini.
The company said Montana is also performing well in the region, particularly Eau Transparente which is popular with Japanese girls. “Pink is very in at the moment,” said Soffiantini. “Consequently our new Byblos Feel Pink is also proving to be a success in South Korea and Taiwan.” Eau Transparente is now listed in leading Tokyo department stores and Diana de Silva is expecting strong sales.
Outside Asia, Byblos Homme is currently in the top 15 men’s fragrances in Bulgarian duty free, while Mauboussin Femme was the top selling women’s fragrance in Belgrade airport during October.
“The Middle East is also a rapidly growing market for Mauboussin brands,” continued Soffiantini “We are now listed in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Qatar, and inflight with Yemen Air, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways, plus Emirates.”
Meanwhile Mauboussin distribution is being built in South America and the Caribbean and good results are said to be coming from the recent launch in South African travel retail.
Said Soffiantini: “We are very positive about Mauboussin for 2004, while we are also confident of continuing to build sales for Montana and Byblos.”
