January 2021 marked the 7th anniversary of International Luxury Brand Consultancy, founded by industry expert and distribution pioneer Valérie Kaminov who will be celebrating this milestone date in style with the official launch of her Central Paris office. Also, throughout the year expect to see a host of introductions of some exciting new business programmes, partnerships, and mentorship initiatives.
Paris was a natural destination for IL Brand Consultancy’s new office, not only is France the iconic heart of beauty but it offers a wealth of opportunity for brands who are looking to grow and not just in France but throughout Europe. Located in the 16th arrondissement, ILBC Paris will develop the existing London headquarters outreach to offer a wider platform for growth with more extended partner potential as well as expand the consultancy’s portfolio. “I can’t think of a better way to mark my 7th Anniversary than with the official launch of my new Paris Bureau. For the last few years, I have been looking to expand my representation into Europe and being French by birth Paris was top of my location lists. It is also one of the most engaging and interesting destinations for the beauty business, it combines its acclaimed heritage with a very advanced and innovative approach not just to retailing but to the overall experience. From Paris, I can scale my representation of brands even further and in ways they previously had not considered,” said Valérie Kaminov, Founder & MD International Luxury Brand Consultancy.
ILBC started in 2014 as a niche beauty consultancy specialising in international growth, since then it has helped over 100 businesses around the world to flourish and exceed their business objectives. From the early days focusing mainly on global distribution, Valérie has evolved her business to be a recognised for its expertise not just in business development and market expansion, but as a trusted and expert advisor by brands, investors, and organisations. She has been an instrumental intermediary in multiple acquisitions and is frequently the go-to person for investment firms looking for brands as well as business owners seeking the M&A sector.
Valérie prides herself on her tailored and forward-thinking approach which has made ILBC one of the most desired independent consultancies in the beauty industry. “My founding premise was to always add value to a client’s business, having spent many years in the industry I know what it takes to be commercially successful and I have created a precision-focused methodology to achieve this. Long-term growth is about finding the right channels and the right partners for each individual brand, this requires knowledge, insight as well as financial acumen. Supporting my work is a diverse and influential network of personal contacts gained through being in the business for more than 25 years, this data spans almost everything you might need to develop a brand on a global scale.”
Also, being officially rolled out is the Market-Ready 360 x ILBC initiative first introduced in 2020. Designed to support brands looking to grow internationally, ILBC’s Market-Ready 360 is a selection of modular services from pre-qualified industry experts whose knowledge will help prepare a brand for global expansion. This dedicated programme recognises how much of an investment entering a new market can be, working with the right people makes a vital difference to both a successful launch and the ongoing management of the business.
A further key and very personal focus for Valérie will be the development of her mentoring and education activities. “There has never been a more important time to help entrepreneurs, founders and brands to succeed. In 2020 I was fortunate to be a Guest Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London as part of their MA Programme on Luxury Brand Management, connecting with the next generation on an international scale and being able to share insights and industry intelligence is inspiring. This year I am looking to join forces with industry experts and associations to create programmes aimed at growing skills and expanding horizons.”
Valérie is also the author of an ‘Inside Cosmetics’ Series covering some of the top global markets.
To view Valérie’s CEW member profile, please click here, or get in touch at [email protected].
