press kit - Chalhoub Group

PRESS KIT
The leading partner for luxury in the Middle East
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Vision & Mission
..............2
Chalhoub in Numbers
..............3
How it All Began
..............4
Milestones Along the Way
..............5
Our Values
..............6
Areas of Expertise
..............7
Our Activities
..............8
Creative Retail Concepts
..............9
How We Add Value to Our Partners
..............11
Human Capital – Our Most Valued Asset
..............12
Commitment to the Community: Chalhoub Impact
..............13
Our Co-CEO: Anthony Chalhoub
..............14
Our Co-CEO: Patrick Chalhoub
..............15
Contact Us
..............16
VISION
MISSION
The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner
for luxury in the Middle East since 1955.
As an expert in retail, distribution and
marketing services based in Dubai, the
group has become a major player in the
fashion, beauty and gift sectors regionally.
By blending its expertise in the Middle
East with its intimate knowledge of luxury
and a keen perception of the markets and
consumers, the Chalhoub Group thrives to
build successful brands in the region, and
offers a unique experience and service to
its clients and customers through expert
and passionate teams committed to the
Group’s values of respect, excellence and
entrepreneurial spirit.
VISION & MISSION
pg
2
CHALHOUB
IN NUMBERS
• Regional coverage of 14 countries
• Over 450 retail outlets across the region
• Team of over 8,000 personnel
• 92 nationalities
• Over 65 companies
pg
3
I am proud to have created,
together with my wife Widad,
the Chalhoub Group – a
family business which over the
past 5 decades has nurtured
a strong relationship between
the Middle East and the West.
Experience in the region and
an inherent market knowledge
paralleled by a unique
corporate culture that harbors
values of trust and respect,
has led the Group to become
a reference for luxury in the
Middle East.
Michel Chalhoub
Founder of the Chalhoub Group
pg
4
HOW
IT ALL
BEGAN
Date: 1955
/ Location: Damascus, Syria
An untapped market for international high-end
brands. A couple passionate about France’s culture
and its savoir-faire decided to open the first Christofle
boutique in Damascus.
This is how Michel Chalhoub and his wife Widad
transformed their passion into a business that
showcased their confidence in the Middle East’s
development, giving birth to what is now known as
the Chalhoub Group.
pg
5
1955
2006
1967
2007
1980
2008
1983
2011
Michel and Widad Chalhoub open the first
Christofle boutique in Damascus, Syria
MILESTONES
ALONG
THE WAY
First local partnership in Kuwait and regional
distribution of beauty, fashion and gift brands
Birth of “Tanagra”, a timeless luxury concept
store in Kuwait
Contractual relationship with Louis Vuitton
1997
Regional deployment of the “Faces” beauty
concept store
1999
Contractual relationship with Dior Couture, Dior
Parfums and Sephora.
Launch of Chalhoub Retail Academy,
Partnership: Havas Group
Opening of over 90 shops making the group one of
the key retailers in the region
Opening of “Katakeet”, children’s luxury apparel
concept store with retailtainment features in
Abu Dhabi
2012
Opening of “Level Shoe District”, a unique shoe
metropolis in Dubai Mall.
Contractual relationship with Puig Group
2004
Alliance with Saks Fifth Avenue,
Contractual relationship with Coty
pg
6
RESPECT
“We are all equal and I ask you to respect these principles. This moral is the cornerstone of the
Chalhoub philosophy.” (Michel Chalhoub)
We create trust through tolerance, courtesy and appreciation for the people we interact with. FAIRNESS,
INTEGRITY and HUMILITY.
We believe that integrity is paramount to the success and longevity of the Group. Through transparency,
honest communication and mutual respect, we are committed to upholding ethical standards that distinguish
not only the quality of our work but also that of our actions. Long withstanding relationships with our brands,
our clients and our employees, loyalty and its reciprocity are what distinguish us from others.
EXCELLENCE
OUR
VALUES
Values are what bind us as
a Group. They are the inherent
beliefs that have guided us since
our inception and continue to serve
as the cornerstone of our business
practices and principals. The group
cultivates the core values of Respect,
Excellence and Entrepreneurial Spirit
which are reflected in every aspect
of our business and with each of
our stakeholders – clients, suppliers,
partners, customers and employees.
“Always serve as an example to someone” (Michel Chalhoub)
We live and work to a code of standards that enables us to surpass the common norm with COMMITMENT,
EFFICIENCY as we seek to be a ROLE MODEL.
Constantly aiming to maintain and exceed the highest standards of professionalism, the Group is guided by
the philosophy of being “Committed to Excellence”. That is, a commitment to our consumers by promising
them the finest selection of international luxury brands, to our partners by responding with speed and efficiency
whilst holding true to uncompromising standards of quality and to our people by making them our priority.
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
“Be demanding with yourself and constantly seek to expand your skills and develop
your performance” (Michel Chalhoub)
Continuous self-assessment allows us to embrace new ideas, build creative strategies and adopt
technological evolution, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of change.
LEADERSHIP, INGENUITY, TEAM SPIRIT
This is the vision that ignited the Group’s creation and the spirit that has guided its expansion. It continues to
be at the heart of our success and future growth.
pg
7
BEAUTY
AREAS
OF EXPERTISE
With the strength of over five decades
of expertise in the luxury sector,
the Chalhoub Group is a leading
player in the world of Beauty, Fashion
and Gifts.
The Chalhoub Group is a leading distributor and retailer of perfumes and
cosmetics. It continues to expand its extensive brand portfolio with renowned
names such as Chanel, Coty, Dior, L’Oréal and Puig. Its market share is
consolidated and its territory is enlarged through:
• Expanding the concept for its own beauty store, Faces
• Alliances with international brands such as Sephora
• Contractual relationship with brands such as L’Occitane
FASHION
With a focus on developing and promoting exclusive networks for all its
prestige brands, the group ensures the ultimate exposure of its fashion brands
through:
• Developing freestanding boutiques for fashion houses such as Carolina
Herrera, Céline, Lacoste, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch
• Partnerships with high-end houses including Berluti, Christian Dior Couture,
Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue
• Creating its own concept stores such as Katakeet, level Shoe District
GIFTS
Gift giving is at the heart of oriental culture. It is also where the Chalhoub
family began its journey into the world of luxury with the representation of
exceptional jewels, delicate objects or refined accessories.
Today, the group continues to pioneer the promotion of a luxury lifestyle with:
• Established relationships with international brands such as
Christofle, Baccarat, S.T Dupont, Swarovski, Chaumet and Tumi
• Luxurious retail networks, including its own concept store, Tanagra
• An unmatched knowledge of the local and regional markets, feeding tailormade marketing strategies
pg
8
OUR
ACTIVITIES
Each of the group’s companies have their own structure whilst remaining
focused on providing the following core business activities.
RETAIL
MARKETING
SUPPORT SERVICES
Innovative, customer centric environments.
Creating a link between brand and consumer.
Specialized and Comprehensive.
The group operates more than 450 points of sale in the
region with the aim of receiving customers in elegant
surroundings whilst offering unparalleled service.
Premier retail space is acquired in leading shopping
destinations. In addition, customers’ preferences and
trends guide our buying.
Travel retail
With over 25 years in the travel retail business, the
Chalhoub group acts as a leading supplier to various
duty frees and exclusive airlines. It also manages and
operates in-flight and airport duty frees.
DISTRIBUTION
Acting in capacity of brand representative, the Chalhoub
Group maximizes opportunities and minimizes risks for
each of the brand it represents in the region, ensuring
that they obtain maximum exposure and a high profile
through a network of correspondents, distributors and
appropriate resellers.
COMMUNICATION
Interpret carefully, communicate effectively.
The Group develops communication strategies that are
perfectly adapted to suit regional tastes. Backed by a
regional relationship with Havas Group since 2007,
the Chalhoub Group organizes and executes effective,
unique and comprehensive communication strategies.
Allowing brands to focus on their core business, the
group provides a comprehensive range of in-house back
office services including administration support, human
resources, legal services, accounting services and IT
services. The group offers strong logistics support to its
partners exemplified by a 62,000 square meter state-ofthe-art ISO certified warehouse management system in 8
countries as well as full product traceability.
In addition, the group operates over 120,000 square
meter of retail space, making it best suited to update its
partner brands on mall development and best location
advice. It also gives it negotiation power, which is
beneficial for the brands.
An ability to develop a regional strategy.
The group facilitates direct access to regional markets through
its distribution companies and its strategic alliances with major
international groups.
Through local companies or consultancy services in the UAE,
Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and India,
it extends its expertise and knowledge to maximize the
penetration and visibility of brands in local markets.
pg
9
A destination for timeless luxury
TANAGRA is the preferred destination for style-savvy globalists
to find the quintessence of elegance, curated by experts with a
finger on the luxury pulse. It caters to a multi-cultural mix of men
and women with discerning tastes. The TANAGRA concept fuses
the past, the present and the future, offering an inspiring, refined
and edited array of lifestyle gifts and art de vivre you won’t
find anywhere else under one roof. From contemporary, iconic
and chic to classic and collectible. Since opening its doors in
1980, it has evolved into an impressive network of 15 boutiques
spanning Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and
Saudi Arabia.
CREATIVE
RETAIL
CONCEPTS
Your Face of Beauty
A beauty haven filled to the brim with a tantalizing array of
fragrance, make-up and skincare products. Thanks to its innate
understanding of women’s desires and concerns, Faces offers a
sophisticated fusion of luxury, unconventional niche and specialty
brands as well as expert advice to fulfill every need of the beautysavvy. Today a regional network of over 70 stores are available
in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, Egypt, Jordan Syria and Lebanon.
pg
10
A children’s wear store conceived around storytelling
CREATIVE
RETAIL
CONCEPTS
Designed and owned by the Chalhoub Group, Katakeet is
a unique luxury children’s wear concept store, available in
Abu Dhabi Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Conceived around
storytelling with the contribution of British children’s book
illustrator Polly Dunbar, the store is developed to ensure a unique
retail experience for both parents and children. Characters Beau,
Belle and Bébé guide shoppers through the store’s selection, from
nursery items to clothes, shoes and occasion wear for children
up to 10 years old. Interactive design elements including a
magical storybook and a secret door keep children stimulated
and entertained while their parents are shopping for them.
A new era of shoe reverence and unprecedented luxury
level Shoe District is the world’s finest shoe metropolis,
targeting the luxury consumer through its unparalleled
collection of exclusive footwear and bespoke services.
Located on the ground floor in The Dubai Mall, the level
Shoe District revolutionary concept offers shoe enthusiasts a
vibrant, progressive space, with a distinctive design in which
to browse an edited selection of the season’s most soughtafter styles. This iconic district, spanning 96,000 square
feet, is recognized as a global fashion destination, with a
curated space divided into 40 designer boutiques and four
multi-brand areas: Women’s Designer and Contemporary,
Men’s and Trend. Bespoke services comprise a VIP Lounge,
designer eateries, luxury sole lounge, high-end cobbler, shoe
stylists and the latest in retail technology.
pg
11
With over 55 years of expertise in representing, distributing and selling the finest
luxury brands across the Middle East countries, the Group has acquired the best
knowledge in the beauty, fashion and gift sectors in the region.
Today, in order to continue adding value for our brands and our local customers, this
expertise is available to our partner brands through bespoke competence centers
having the right intelligence.
HOW WE ADD VALUE TO OUR PARTNERS
Based on our deep regional knowledge, we offer our brands a unique offer that includes:
• Market survey and research
• Consumer insights
• Strategic marketing to accompany local teams in their tailor made implementation
• A unique website permanently updated with regional data and trade information
• Marketing support for local implementation
• Visual merchandizing, design and decoration for shop windows, events, animations and podiums
• Stores and offices conceptualization, architectural design and realization
• Commercial advice for market entry
• Customized distribution network recommendation
pg
12
Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group’s competitive
edge in today’s market. True to its commitment to excellence, the Chalhoub
Group recruits and retains highly qualified professionals, with a passion for
brands and a thirst for taking initiative.
Through talent management strategies, the group prioritizes its teams’
professional development through skill training, team building seminars,
leadership programs and an increased mobility across specialties and markets.
The group’s strong values unite the 92 nationalities that work together.
The Chalhoub Retail Academy
Animated with an unparalleled drive in the Middle East, the group independently
operates two retail academies in Dubai (U.A.E.) and Jeddah (Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia). The programs cover all areas of store management with retail
ambassadors. Both academies deliver an internationally-recognized education
program and ensure excellent customer service throughout the group’s many
stores.
HUMAN CAPITAL
OUR MOST VALUED ASSET
pg
13
COMMITMENT
TO THE COMMUNITY
‘For our Group, social responsibility is a reality, which involves the commitment
of each and every one of the members of the Group.’
Patrick Chalhoub
The three pillars that form Chalhoub IMPACT are
Education
A main focus
The Group aims to empower the youth living in the Arab World, and more specifically
GCC nationals, by supporting academic institutes in the Middle East and Europe. These
investments are holistic but widespread in their approach - varying from building a library
at the International College in Lebanon, the alma mater of Anthony and Patrick Chalhoub,
to developing a professorship in luxury brand management with the American University
of Sharjah (AUS). The Group’s dynamic role is reinforced through a specialized internship
program for only those students attending partner universities, allowing for a designated
space for career development.
There is a strong education component in all actions undertaken such as the “Gift of Giving”
initiative through which over 6000 school supplies packs were distributed regionally to
ensure that children are prepared for the new school year. In addition, selected students
and employees attend the innovative educational leadership conference ”One Young
World” allowing them to discuss international, social and environmental issues with worldrenowned global leaders.
Environment
The Group strives to reduce its carbon footprint and educate employees on regional
environmental issues. Teams work together to achieve green building standards,
applying for LEED Silver/Gold certification for its main warehouse, future office
headquarters and new retail store, Katakeet. In addition, the main warehouse has
been ISO 14001 certified since 2010.
Humanitarian
The Group takes action as global citizens to better the livelihood of those in need,
it aims to educate stakeholders on social issues affecting the local community. In
addition, the “Prevent Cancer Campaign” raises funds for a local foundation
providing guidance and support for cancer patients and hosting volunteer activities
with children in remission.
pg
14
Anthony Chalhoub
Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Chalhoub Group
Anthony Chalhoub divides his time between his activities as joint Chief Executive Officer of the
group and as Managing Director of three luxury brand distribution companies for the region:
Habchi & Chalhoub, the Louis Vuitton joint venture and Dior Couture. He joined the group
founded and directed by his father in 1975.
Mindful of maintaining the image of the brands entrusted to him and keeping France’s high
profile in the Middle East, he is a French Overseas Trade Counselor since 1991. He played
an active role in the “France in Kuwait” exhibitions of 1991, 1994, 1996 and 2004.
In 1993, aware of the opportunity available to showcase French brands in Kuwait, he
secured, in the face of 4 international competitors, the concession to establish and open the
Kuwait airport duty free. As a co-founding member of the MEDFA (Middle East Duty Free
Association), he served 4 years as its Vice-President and 4 years as President and is still an
active member of the board.
Anthony is Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, which is an official honour awarded by
the French government and is also a Knight of the Order of Malta.
Anthony is married with two children.
pg
15
Patrick Chalhoub
Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Chalhoub Group
Patrick began his career in 1979 when he decided to become involved in the realization of
his father’s vision to build a bridge between the East and West and be the ambassador of
luxury lifestyle in the region.
He created a regional distribution platform in the Jebel Ali Free zone and has increased the
number of partnerships with major international groups such as Coty, Fendi, L’Oréal, Dior
Parfums and Puig. A director of Christofle and of Bernardaud, Patrick Chalhoub is also
involved in the strategic planning for the restructuring and redeployment of these brands.
For nearly 30 years, Patrick has been fully involved in the strategic development of the
business to guarantee its long-term success. As such, he continues to expand the group’s
distribution, retail business, marketing and communications activities and is also eager to
strengthen the group’s support services in terms of offer and skills.
He has been instrumental in guiding the development of a Corporate Social Responsibility
program for the group, with a focus on education, humanitarian and environmental
sustainability.
At the age of 42 the French government awarded him with the medal of Chevalier de
l’Ordre National du Mérite. He is a founding member of the Rotary and Capital Club
and also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Patrick holds 2
Bachelors degrees, one in Economics and Finance and the other in Political Science.
Patrick is a resident of Dubai and is married with 2 children.
pg
16
For more information, please contact:
Angelica d’Andlau
Head of Corporate Communications
CONTACT US
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +971 (0)4-804 5000
Or visit
www.chalhoub-group.com