MILAN (Reuters) - Italian fashion and leather brand Gucci will take direct control of its shops in Moscow and open two new points of sale in the Russian capital, the company said on Monday.
The label founded in Florence in 1921 has six shops in Russia, including corners in luxury villages and malls. It will start to manage its three Moscow stores directly while its shops in other towns will continue to be run by local partners.
Chief Executive Patrizio di Marco said the move was part of a strategy to "enhance the consistency of our customers' experience across different markets through progressively taking control of stores that have historically been operated by franchisees and wholesalers". Gucci has also been putting this into practice in the United States, the Gulf and India.
In a statement, di Marco said the influence of Russian luxury consumers was growing, echoing Prada's <1913.HK> chief executive, who recently brushed aside questions about whether geopolitical troubles there posed a risk for its business.
Gucci, owned by French group Kering
Luxury brands including Prada and Moncler
(Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Mark Heinrich)