{"id":21418,"date":"2023-02-17T09:35:24","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T09:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meretailnews.com\/?p=21418"},"modified":"2023-02-17T09:35:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T09:35:24","slug":"from-small-boutique-to-billion-dollar-brand-the-story-of-chalhoub-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meretailnews.com\/2023\/02\/17\/from-small-boutique-to-billion-dollar-brand-the-story-of-chalhoub-group\/","title":{"rendered":"From small boutique to billion-dollar brand: the story of Chalhoub Group"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 1955, husband and wife Michel and Widad Chalhoub opened a Christofle boutique in Syria\u2019s capital, aiming to bring French fashion to the region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The boutique was opened by the Chalhoubs by becoming the main franchiser for Christofle in Syria.<\/p>\n Their first son, Anthony, was born the same year.<\/p>\n Having bought the licensing rights to French luxury brands Christofle, Baccarat and Jean Patou, the husband-and-wife team started their own company, called the Chalhoub Group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Its primary goal: to be a distributor of luxury brands in the Middle East.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 1958, their second son, Patrick, was born.<\/p>\n How did this small Syrian boutique reach such great heights? While in Lebanon they opened a subsidiary company in Kuwait with the same name.<\/p>\n When civil war broke out in Lebanon in 1975, all operations moved to Kuwait. Here, Chalhoub opened a number of luxury lifestyle stores, including lifestyle brand Tanagra in 1980. Tanagra, which sells branded home and kitchen ware, has ten stores across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 1983, the Chalhoub Group partnered with Louis Vuitton to open the first Louis Vuitton store in the Middle East.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Launching its own brands Faces is present in 85 stores in the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain and Oman.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 1990, with Iraq invading Kuwait, the company relocated its headquarters to Dubai, where it has remained since.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is in Dubai where the company flourished, forging partnerships with companies such as Dior Couture, Sephora, Fendi, Puig, Celine, Givenchy, Louboutin and Havas, to become their main franchiser.<\/p>\n Expansion in the 2000s Between 2001 and 2006, the company\u00a0entered into franchise agreements with Fendi, Sephora, Christian Dior Couture and Parfums.<\/p>\n I<\/span>n 2007, the company opened Chalhoub University. Its Retail Academy, which includes courses on sales and marketing, offers courses that are accredited by Dubai\u2019s Knowledge and Human Development Authority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Chalhoub Group has also developed a professorship in luxury brand management with the American University of Sharjah.<\/p>\n In the mid-2000s, the company went on an expansion spree. In 2008, it announced it had opened more than 90 shops in the region, which included brands such as Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Lacoste and Tory Burch, among others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2010, Chalhoub Group became a franchiser for\u00a0brands such as French footwear designer brand Christian Louboutin and watch company Chaumet.<\/p>\n In 2012, the company launched Level Shoes \u2013 one of the largest shoe stores in the world. Located in Dubai Mall, Level Shoes spans more than 96,000 square feet.<\/p>\n The company runs several retail own-concepts, created and managed by the Chalhoub Group. Tanagra, Faces, and Level Shoes are three of them. But it also owns the luxury oriental fragrance brand Ghawali<\/a>, and department store Tryano, apart from Katakeet, which is a children\u2019s luxury store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The company said it intends to create more of its own brands in the future.<\/p>\n In 2017, the group acquired French manufacturer and retailer of high-end tableware, jewelry and home accessories Christofle. This was one of Chalhoub Group\u2019s major investments, as Christofle\u2019s revenue hit more than \u20ac51 million in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2018, Anthony Chalhoub passed away at the age of 63. Patrick became the CEO of the company.<\/p>\n Over the years, Chalhoub has developed its name as a luxury brand retailer and distributor, gaining several recognitions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/b>In 1965, Michel and Widad relocated to Lebanon, along with their children Anthony and Patrick. Political and economic instability in Syria had made it impossible for the family to stay.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>The Chalhoub Group launched another brand in 1989, called Wojooh, a beauty store selling fragrance, skincare, bath and body, makeup and haircare. The company later rebranded to call itself Faces.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/b>In 2001, Patrick and his brother Anthony were appointed co-chief executive officers, with Patrick overseeing operations at headquarters in Dubai.<\/p>\n