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Swarovski Says an IPO Could Help Propel Jeweler's Expansion

Swarovski Says an IPO Could Propel Jeweler's Digital Growth

(Bloomberg) -- Nadja Swarovski, a fifth-generation member of the crystal dynasty, said an initial public offering would help further the company’s expansion as it pushes deeper into North America and digital sales, though such a move is not on the table right now.

If the closely held Austrian company were to go public, the family would keep a hand in the business, Swarovski said in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. About 70 members own stakes in the jeweler, founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895.

Swarovski Says an IPO Could Help Propel Jeweler's Expansion

“Maybe we can structure an IPO so that the family feels a connection to it,’’ she said. “It’s not a hot topic for us right now, but we are always brainstorming.’’

Upgrading the digital strategy is crucial amid the rise of Amazon.com Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Swarovski said. Luxury-goods companies LVMH and Kering have bolstered their online offerings in recent months with new e-commerce sites in China and elsewhere. Swarovski is expanding beyond jewelry with home goods and eyewear, and it’s seeking licensing partners for a perfume line.

Swarovski has annual sales of about 3.4 billion euros ($4.2 billion), with the crystal business accounting for 2.6 billion euros of that. China is the biggest market, and there are about 2,800 stores worldwide. It has production in Austria, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Serbia, and the U.S.

Nadja Swarovski, the first woman on the company’s executive board, has spearheaded a drive to raise the brand’s profile through collaborations with fashion designers such as Kering-backed Christopher Kane and the American brand Rodarte, whose crystal-encrusted tutus for Natalie Portman in the movie “Black Swan” became one of the most iconic costumes of recent cinema. 

The collaborations have pushed the company’s products into the fashion spotlight, allowing it to add pricier pieces to a jewelry lineup that offers necklaces for as little as $69. The company is also launching a line of “conscious jewelry’’ dubbed Created Diamonds as part of a strategy to target millennials and brand-aware consumers, Swarovski said.

--With assistance from Robert Williams

To contact the reporters on this story: Jacqueline Simmons in Paris at jackiem@bloomberg.net, John Fraher in London at jfraher@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, Nick Turner, Jonathan Roeder

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