The Luxury Item with Scott Kerr

Manolo Blahnik is one of the world’s most influential footwear and accessories designers. His shoes are known for their elegance, craftsmanship, and being a favorite of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Scott Kerr sits down with Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik and the eponymous designer's niece, to discuss how she's been growing the brand globally while keeping the magic and artistry of the family-led business alive. Kristina talks about how her architecture training shapes how she works as CEO, how being independent keeps the company on a craftsmanship-first growth path, why the company leaned hard into a DTC strategy, and how the brand is protecting it's "insider" aura with younger customers. Plus: Why its virtual archive is protecting and extending Manolo Blahnik’s legacyFeaturing: Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik (manoloblahnik.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting (silvertoneconsulting.com)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.Stay connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Among the plethora of camera brands on the market, none is as synonymous with luxury as Leica. Scott Kerr welcomes Mike Giannattasio, president of Leica Camera Americas, to discuss how Leica has not only survived, but thrived, in the smartphone era, how Leica’s 35mm innovations and the original Leica I helped invent modern street and documentary photography and why younger creators are rediscovering “real” cameras and what Leica’s resurgence says about authenticity and analog craft. Mike also talks about Leica’s expansion into sport optics, projection, and mechanical watches as extensions of its precision‑engineering DNA, collaborations with luxury brands like Hermès and Moncler. Plus: Why the Leica community has been described as a cult-like subculture.Featuring: Mike Giannattasio, President of Leica Camera Americas (leica.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: 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 scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by Ons Gherib, senior vice president of design & construction at Belmond, one of the most enduring luxury hospitality brands and whose philosophy is anchored in 'slow luxury'. Ons, who joined Belmond a year ago, has played an instrumental role in Belmond's journey to elevate its hotels, trains, safaris and river cruises offerings to new heights of luxury and experience. Ons discusses how Belmond's slow luxury ethos show up in design and construction decisions and why Belmond invests in renovating existing properties rather than pursuing growth. He also talks about how being part of LVMH has helped Belmond grow and collaborate with sister Maison's like Dior and Guerlain. Plus: Designing a new luxury train car with Oscar-winning director Baz LuhrmannFeaturing: Ons Gherib, SVP of Design & Construction at Belmond (belmond.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: 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 scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr speaks to Stephanie Macleod, director of blending, Scotch whisky at Bacardi. Stephanie oversees the blending and innovation for some of the world’s top luxury whisky brands, including Dewar’s Scotch whisky and Aberfeldy single malt whisky. Macleod, one of the few women in her role, discusses her journey from food science student to Dewar's award-winning master blender—only the seventh one in brand's 180-year history. Stephanie talks about what goes into designing new whisky expressions to keep drinkers engaged and moving them up in price and status, tailoring expressions to compliment regional tastes and habits, why India is a major priority for Dewar's, and why she loves being a public-facing representative of the brand. Plus: How Stephane mentors the next generation of whisky makersFeaturing: Stephanie Macleod, Director of Blending, Scotch Whisky at Bacardi (bacardi.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting (silvertoneconsulting.com)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.Stay connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by luxury real estate titan Ryan Serhant, founder and CEO of his eponymous brokerage SERHANT. He is also the star and executive producer of the hit Netflix reality series 'Owning Manhattan’. Ryan returns to the show to discuss the unique strategic framework credited to the company's rapid growth and success, and how 'Owning Manhattan' has become a global demand engine for the firm and "competency porn" for viewers. Ryan also shares his approach to leadership, accountability, and culture and highlights “The Serhant Effect” brand impact on agents' careers. As the exclusive brokerage for Mercedes‑Benz Places luxury branded residences in Miami, Ryan talks about his sales strategy for projects with existing brand equity and how virtual launches force decisions and speed. Ryan believes there's no real slowdown in top‑end New York luxury pricing, cities should be treated like corporations and the housing market is like a superhero movie. Plus: Why authentic stories move luxury real estate (and luxury brands)Featuring: Ryan Serhant, Founder and CEO of SERHANT, and Star of Netflix's 'Owning Manhattan (serhant.com, netflix.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout The Luxury Item podcast: It's a podcast on the business of luxury and the people and companies that are shaping the future of the luxury industry.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.com

Scott Kerr sits down with Maribel Lieberman, entrepreneur, chocolatier, and founder of MarieBelle New York, one of the most recognizable luxury chocolate houses. Maribel, who moved to New York City from Honduras to pursue fashion before switching to the culinary arts, opened the MarieBelle store shortly after 9/11 and quickly becoming a welcomed fixture in the neighborhood during a period of recovery and rebuilding. She discusses why design‑driven storytelling is at the heart of the brand, navigating the rising costs of cocoa and tariffs, and younger consumers splurging on chocolate. She also talks about what she's learned from her disciplined expansion strategy into Japan and what luxury fashion boutiques can learn about fostering emotional connections with customers. Plus: How to know when to embrace new trends.Featuring: Maribel Lieberman, Founder of MarieBelle New York (mariebelle.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone Consulting (silvertoneconsulting.com)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.Stay connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet, one of the world’s oldest and most exclusive luxury watch brands and renowned for its intricate craftsmanship, technical innovation, and iconic designs like the legendary Royal Oak timepiece. Ilaria, who joined the independent Swiss watchmaker as CEO in 2024, discusses how AP thinks with a 'telescopic' time horizon to keep the brand relevant in the future, how it nurtures a culture of experimentation and disruption, and the complexities of heading a family-controlled business. She also talks about why its Le Brassus, Switzerland factories are critical to AP's identity and how the brand maintains desirability in a challenging watchmaking environment. Plus: How AP is appealing to more women and younger collectors.Featuring: Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer at Audemars Piguet (audemarspiguet.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: 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.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, one of the most influential figures in luxury real estate and hospitality. Dayssi is co-founder, president, and COO of Flag Luxury Group, a prominent New York-based hospitality real estate development firm specializing in luxury hotels and residences, known for projects like The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad and others. Dayssi discusses the firm's longtime development partnership with The Ritz‑Carlton brand, what goes into studying customer lifestyle patterns when developing a luxury hotel or residence, and how Flag Luxury thinks about building for the next generation of luxury guests. She also talks about the surging demand for hospitality-led branded residences and creating brand narratives around each luxury development. Plus: Why Daysii and her daughter launched the Women’s Power Series leadership and networking platform for women.Featuring: Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Co-Founder, President, and COO of Flag Luxury Group (flagluxury.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: 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.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr is joined by highly acclaimed ready-to-wear designer Nili Lotan, founder and CEO of her 25-year-old namesake fashion label, to discuss her path to building a successful culturally-vibrant brand that has redefined what luxury means for a modern woman. Nili also talks about branching out on her own after years of leading design teams at top American fashion houses, shaping a distinct design language rooted in music and art, and following her instincts and often rejecting fashion industry norms. She discusses collaborating with rock duo The Kills, expanding her brand into menswear, and launching a handbag collection after 22 years. Plus: Why her experience as head designer at Ralph Lauren was her most formative.Featuring: Nili Lotan, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Nili Lotan (nililotan.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingAbout: 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.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!

Scott Kerr sits down with Chris Norton, chief executive of Equinox Hotels, the hospitality brand that promises to give guests the same experience its high-end gyms provide: "the ultimate high-performance luxury lifestyle." Norton, who joined Equinox Hotels as CEO in 2016 after a long tenure at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, discusses how the hotel is rewriting the playbook of luxury hospitality and guest experience, the challenge of designing a luxury hotel that matches the Equinox ethos, and why health is the new wealth for affluent consumers. He also talks about how Equinox Hotel is embracing the longevity trend and why community is a core pillar of its strategy. Plus: Is AI slop eroding the core signals of luxury?Featuring: Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels (equinox-hotels.com)Host: Scott Kerr, Founder & President of Silvertone ConsultingThe 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.Stay Connected: scott@silvertoneconsulting.comListen and subscribe to The Luxury Item wherever you get your podcasts. Tell a friend or a colleague!