As a trainer, classroom sessions are always great energisers, but coaching on the floor can be truly fulfilling. Last week, I spent time on the shop floor coaching a luxury retail team in real time. Once again, it reinforced something I deeply believe about luxury retail training:   Classroom learning builds understanding, true transformation happens on the job. When we talk about elevating clienteling, strengthening soft skills, or improving luxury sales performance, we are

I landed back in Dubai the very day the war broke out. For the first week I was alone; my husband was still in India and unable to return. Like most residents of the UAE, my phone was flooded with messages from concerned friends and family abroad, while the distant sound of missile interceptions echoed across the sky. The idea of war is unsettling enough from afar — being physically present within it can easily trigger fear and anxiety.   Yet something unexpected happened ove

Season time is here, and in luxury retail, it’s more than just high sales—it’s a heightened moment of connection. Globally, brands are buzzing with gifting, celebrations, VIP events, new launches, cocktail hours… the calendar is packed. But amid all this activity, one truth remains clear:   the human touch is what truly differentiates a luxury experience . And that’s where VIP clienteling becomes not just a tactic, but a core strategy. Over the years, I’ve seen luxury brands

A Conversation That Stuck With Me Not long ago, I had coffee with a friend who is global luxury client. She described her latest luxury escapade with these words, “The boutique was beautiful, the service was polite, …but honestly, it all felt so transactional.” That stayed with me. Because this wasn’t about product knowledge or the efficiency of the sales process—the store had ticked every box .  What was missing was something harder to measure : an emotional connection . And

“The store was busy, so I couldn’t spend much time with the customer” If you're a luxury brand or store manager you have probably heard your client advisors justify service gap during busy periods. Managing peak hours is a real operational challenge for luxury retailers, especially in iconic shopping destinations. But does high footfall have to mean compromised customer experience? Why Crowds Undermine the Luxury Experience The luxury shopping experience is built on personali

Defining a signature brand experience seems to be the call of the day for luxury brands. When market conditions are competitive and sales are in decline, and customers are skeptical and increasingly discerning, it becomes essential to revisit the brand’s value proposition. Most luxury leaders now recognise that customer experience is not just an extension of the product—it is the product. Values like emotional connection, hyper-personalisation, seamlessness, sustainability, a