BIG APPLE BUSINESS: Testimonials on The Luxury Marketing Council

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, Whom You Know believes it is important its readers know of the high acclaims received by the Luxury Marketing Council. We believe some of you may be members already, but if not you may want to consider such an opportunity!

Yesterday's Post:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/03/big-apple-business-luxury-marketing.html

For more information:

http://luxurymarketingcouncil.com/

Whom You Know's coverage of Founder Greg Furman:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/03/movers-and-shakers-greg-furman-founder.html

The Power of The Luxury Marketing Council (since 1994)

Recent Testimonials

“I was delighted to have had the opportunity to meet Greg Furman and to be introduced to the Luxury Marketing Council. Throughout my retail career I always searched for those who shared my passion for the best there is. Greg, the Luxury Marketing Council and their members stand for what I believe represents, the best there is.”

Ira Neimark
Former CEO Bergdorf Goodman

Author of: Crossing Fifth Avenue to Bergdorf Goodman


“The Luxury Marketing Council is one of the most intelligent luxury marketing concepts of the past decade. It is high time luxury producers banded together, out of self-interest, to better expose the variety of their products and services to the market... I applaud the founders' vision and entrepreneurial spirit."
Stanley Marcus (1905-2002)

"I've known Greg Furman since 1991 when I hired him first to consult with Bergdorf Goodman to help us for the first time in the company's history to define our mission, vision and values and then in 1992 to run marketing for Bergdorf Goodman when I was chairman. From the very beginning, I have been a big supporter of Greg's efforts and The Luxury Marketing Council as was Stanley Marcus. I have watched the growth of his creation, The Luxury Marketing Council Worldwide with admiration and respect. I applaud Greg's vision and efforts. The Council is a global thought leader and relationship broker that brings the smartest luxury marketers together to win greater share of wallet from their very best customers through innovative marketing partnerships and collaborations. As founding members, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman continue to find significant value in The Council and our membership since its founding 1994."

Burton Tansky, Chairman and C.E.O of Neiman Marcus


“When CEO's at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos cited "community building" as the most sought after talent when hiring executives, they were preaching to a choir - and Greg Furman is in the front row! The Luxury Marketing Council is in a class by itself; active community and savvy collaboration are its trademarks. The Institute for Private Investors treasures our charter membership. The relationships we have formed and strengthened through our affiliation have contributed to our success. Thank you, Greg, for creating such a powerful community!”

Charlotte B. Beyer
Founder & CEO
Institute for Private Investors

"I consider Escada's participation in the Luxury Marketing Council to be among the most productive and enlightening networking and information-sharing venues available to us. The topics are invariably highly relevant to any purveyor of luxury goods or services. The insider insights shared openly by these senior luxury executives are truly invaluable.

I have come away from every meeting with at least one new idea and one new networking peer. I highly recommend LMC participation to any luxury organization that wants to remain cutting-edge and avail themselves of the latest best-in-class practices."

Lawrence C. DeParis
President & Chief Operating Officer
Escada (USA) Inc.

“Congratulations on another successful year of interesting events and remarkable progress in growing the Luxury Marketing Council to an all new level.
I’m delighted to learn of your plans to expand the Luxury Marketing Council into an additional ten metro areas. By broadening the audience and reach of the Council, members will have even greater contact resources and opportunities to network on a truly global basis.
The Luxury Marketing Council has provided a pioneering cross-industry forum for discussions and the opportunity for establishing cooperative programs for consumer luxury companies. This link with fellow luxury marketers has been most helpful to me in my efforts of positioning Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises in the luxury travel marketplace.”

Dean P. Andrews
Vice President – North America
Orient-Express Hotels, Inc.


All that you have created and developed with the Luxury Marketing Council is a testimony to YOU! It's quite an achievement to have started this (what a brilliant idea) and grow it to where you are today. Amazing! ......and so it grows!!!!

Marjorie Morris
Sotheby's International Realty


"The Luxury Marketing Council has created a global exchange platform in this ever changing luxury arena. Greg Furman has instilled an out of the box thinking mindset which every luxury marketer requires especially in dealing with a discerning clientele. The synergies created among the brands, the intellectual dialogues and discussions, information flow and strategic relationships are invaluable.”


Colleen Caslin
Chief Operating Officer
Graff USA

"Greg - I know the Luxury Marketing Council is your brain child – but you are the heart and soul of the organization as well. What a wonderful group of people and terrific content! There certainly was a lot of energy, passion and collective intelligence in the room last night. I look forward to having an opportunity to work with you on other events in the coming months.”

Joanne Knowlton
Marketing and Research Director
Bloomberg

“Fleishman-Hillard, an international communications firm and division of Omnicom, greatly covets its membership in the Luxury Marketing Council. Since joining in 2002, we continue to reap tremendous benefits on a variety of levels. The Council is at once a ready-made resource for exposure to the frontrunners in the luxury community; a treasure trove of best practices and trends in luxury marketing; a familial network for forging strategic partnerships with like minded brands all unified by a common goal. Its greatest and most exclusive asset is its founder and chairman, Gregory Furman. He is dynamic, forward-thinking, and brings great energy and passion to the Council. With Greg's vision and role as mentor, Fleishman-Hillard has been encouraged to customize its membership to fit our business needs creating a number of proprietary, business-building initiatives such as "Think Tanks" comprised of hand picked LMC members to offer perspective on a client's marketing approach, or a three-part diversity series showcasing our firms capabilities in affluent marketing to specific thriving market segments from transgender to Hispanic. Our membership has served as a company-wide template to senior management for how to align with third parties to meet our ever-growing business needs. The membership continues to exceed expectations and has become an integral part of our firm's business plan year to year.”

Claire Behar
Senior Vice President & Partner
Fleishman-Hillard

“In the short time I have been a member of The Luxury Marketing Council, I am very pleased with the value the organization has brought to me and my company. Having been a panelist, I found the events and panel discussions very well organized and the subject matters interesting. I've also found the information regarding consumer preferences particularly informative and have met quite a few exceptional people who represent diverse products and services through our affiliation with The Luxury Marketing Council.”

Abe Chehebar
Chief Executive Officer
Ghurka


There are very few organizations that provide the benefits to members that the Luxury Marketing Council does. The Strength of the Council starts at the top with the knowledge and passion of Greg Furman. Greg and his associates understand all of the challenges that we as luxury marketers and managers face: the changing consumer, the competitive landscape, recruitment and retention of talent, and the limitless number of challenges that we face in executing strategies to grow our business. As a result, the programs that are put in place bring together a varied number of executives with a common purpose: sharing and learning. There is no doubt that I have come away from every single event with greater knowledge and understanding than when I started. Moreover, in most cases I was seated next to another executive with whom I could share my own challenges and either follow up with for possible further sharing or even joint action to the benefit of our mutual businesses. Having spent 15 years in the luxury goods industry in the US and Asia, I am truly excited to see that Gregg is growing the Luxury Marketing Council to serve our colleagues internationally.

Victor Luis
President and CEO
Baccarat

As one of the founding members of the Luxury Marketing Council, The Metropolitan Museum of Art has enjoyed for more than a decade the exceptional benefits this unique professional association has to offer. Greg Furman's brilliant leadership assures that the council continues to foster innovative strategic thinking and create opportunities for collaboration amongst top executives in the luxury goods sector. The association's membership is of the highest caliber, the speakers and discussion topics extremely insightful and relevant to today's business environment, and the ambiance always pleasantly collegial. I look forward to council events as opportunities to interact with and share knowledge with my peers while fostering the interests of the Museum.

Sally Pearson
Vice President and General Manager of Merchandise and Retail
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mercedes-Benz is proud to be one of the founding members of the Luxury Marketing Council. Maybach, the new ultra luxury vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz family, is carrying on the long-standing tradition of networking and partnership opportunities promoted by the Luxury Marketing Council.

Maybach has been the direct beneficiary of several alliances forged during our meetings. The ultra luxury segment is often misunderstood and underrepresented in a mass market focused industry. Here's a group that understands it, speaks to it, and builds creative inroads to penetrate this deliberately elusive segment.
A special thank you to Greg Furman for constantly seeking out new members who bring new perspective.

Karen Matri
Maybach Marketing Communications
Mercedes-Benz USA


Brioni is one of the original members and over the years the Luxury Marketing Council has offered timely advice, and direction during the explosion of the luxury business. Greg has created a tool that provides creative and stimulating insight to our luxury business. Our investment in The Luxury Marketing Council has exceeded our expectations.

Joseph J. Barrato
Chief Executive Officer
Brioni

'21' has been part of the Luxury Marketing Council for almost 10 years. We have found the sharing of best practices with other luxury brands to be stimulating and an excellent resource for creative thinking. The seemingly endless programs that are offered each month provide opportunities to gather with your peers from other luxury organizations and come away with new perspectives on contemporary issues.

Bryan McGuire
General Manager
‘21’ Club

"When we were launching Elite Traveler in 2001 Larry Pimentel, the chairman of Sea Dream Yacht Club, recommended I join The Luxury Marketing Council and meet with Greg Furman. It is the best advice I received. The Luxury Marketing Council on an ongoing basis has brought me in touch with top level marketers and managers and in the luxury space and its events have provided numerous examples of cases studies and best practice we have been able to put into practice at Elite Traveler. Greg is a wealth of information and inspiration for me and Elite Traveler!"

Douglas D. Gollan
President and Editor-in-Chief
Elite Traveler

"Wonderful 'think tank' session for Sanctuary this morning, and the impact that a think tank will have on this is important. I hope you sometimes take a moment and reflect on how great an impact you have - you have reached us professionally, personally, and now even in how we think of our role in the overall fabric of humanity."

Tina Adolfsson
Polo Ralph Lauren
Senior Director, Business Development