Jean Madar
Analyst · D.A. Davidson. Please state your question
Thank you, Russ, and good morning, everyone. I know we highlighted the many achievements of the past year in the press release we issued yesterday. Record financial results, the addition of several important new brands, the successful execution of major product launches, the acquisition of our new headquarters in Paris, and the establishment of a new Italian subsidiary among them. There is another accomplishment that delights me just as much, namely market share gains. That certainly happened in 2021 when our sales grew by 63% or 3x the 21% industry estimate quoted in womenswear daily publication last month. The 2021 growth rate for fragrance, which barely moved the needle in past years, far outpaced skin care and makeup. The timing couldn't be better because our business is nearly 100% fragrance. So rather than diluting our concentration into other aspects of the beauty business, we are laser focused on fragrance, growing our existing brands and new ones still to come. One of the reasons why fragrance sales are on fire is an outgrowth of a pandemic, in which something extraordinarily happened, especially in the U.S. where in the past, consumers bought and wear fragrance when they left home. During the of COVID, consumers increasingly bought fragrance to wear at home, to feel good about themselves, and as a personal sales indulgence. They purchased fragrance online more than ever, and they experimented with different scents. Happily, this trend has traction and is showing no signs of relenting. Another favorable trend that we see developing is the strong interest by young customers in China who are creating fragrance wardrobes around their favorite high-end niche brands. As exemplified for us in Ferragamo, Moncler and, we have and will continue to devote advertising and promotional dollars to attract and retain that expanding market. By the way, when we talk about advertising and promotional dollars, about 80% or more of that is in nontraditional media. We are talking about digital ads, social media like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WeChat, influencers in the beauty, music, actors and sports fields as well as TV and billboards. Throughout 2021, one of the biggest challenges we faced was the disruption in the supply chain. So far this year, we are feeling continued pressure for sourcing components and finished products. In general, we are taking the steps we deem necessary to have sufficient inventory to meet our sales goals for 2021 - 2022, I'm sorry, and beyond. As we have stated, we have been carrying more inventory overall. We had also sourcing similar components from multiple suppliers and when possible, manufacturing products closer to where they are sold. We have had to become better forecasters of future needs as some items that require almost one year lead time. At the same time, we have been investing in more sophisticated inventory management systems and added more people to the inventory management function. In that regard, our U.S. distribution subsidiary for European-based product has encountered some shipping-related issues following a change in the distribution software by a partner. It should be resolved soon, but 2022 first quarter U.S. sales could be impacted. As planned, our operations in Italy have helped mitigate some of the supply chain disruptions. For example, the labor shortage in the U.S. and France are far less a factor in Italy. So we are moving some of our manufacturing to Italy. Well beyond our Ferragamo business, Italy is playing an important role as a point of manufacturing and distribution. Supply chain disruptions have and for the foreseeable future will have an impact on costs in raw materials such as glass, cardboard, wood and aluminum, plus rising energy costs and of course, shipping costs. Some items have increased only 5% to 10%. Other items have doubled in price. So on January 1 of this year, we enacted price increases ranging from 3% to 5% and another price increase of a similar magnitude will be enacted in August. As we approach $1 billion in annual sales, we have conducted a self-examination in all functions. In addition to rectifying shortcomings in inventory management that I just mentioned, we have elevated HR to a C level and recruited a Chief Human Resources Officer reporting directly to me. Attracting and retaining the best talent throughout our operation is as important as new product launches are to our future success. 2022 is poised to be another record year. The official launch of scents for Moncler, The Moncler Pour Homme and Moncler Pour Femme has begun, and the rollout will ultimately reach 3,000 doors. We have major new men's fragrance launches for Coach with Open Road, for GUESS, Do More and for Boucheron with Single. Most of the new product launches are brand extension or strong selling lines. For example, Montblanc is adding this quarter Legend Red. Jimmy Choo is adding I want Choo Forever. And we have also new sister scents coming to market for GUESS, Lanvin Clada Page, Kate Spade New York, and Oskar, et cetera. We will also have sales of Ferragamo fragrance for the full year as opposed to three months last year. And Dona Karan and DKNY fragrance will start on July 1 of this year. With no significant, Ferragamo fragrance are being sourced and produced in Italy and the brand's travel amenities business continues uninterrupted. To keep consumers, retailers and distributors engage with the brand, we have extension and billing for the Senior and Bright Lever collection later this year and the new pillar is being readied for full 2023, beginning of 2024. Among our objectives for Ferragamo is to streamline distribution, elevate brand perception and to establish a clear business focus regarding brand market distribution and investment. While the outlook for our business in 2022 is exceedingly good, there may be further upside as international travel resumes in earnest, supply Chain disruptions are largely behind us and the spread of COVID-19 wanes. Of course, the duration and impact of the heartbreaking war in Eastern Europe is a big unknown. But if you have questions, I will be happy to answer after. We remain on the lookout for additional brands. Our targets are names with established business reserve and start-ups. That said, we are also open to IDs with great potential that could be said about MCM in 2021 and back in time, Jimmy Choo, neither of which had established fragrance business when we teamed up. In 2021, MCM blew through our sales budget, 3x over, and Jimmy Choo is our second largest brand. Italian fashion brands are a priority for us, both ones with established fragrance business and fragrance. I was in Milan last week for Fashion Week, exploring potential opportunities. Finally, many of our existing licensors have multiple brands under their control and they may seek to have us partner with them on several of their brands. That brings me to what makes Inter Parfums an attractive partner for brand owners. As we have said before, we are small but not too small. So that we are able to devote the attention and resources necessary to grow a licenser fragrance business, which translate into higher royalties and broader brand recognition. Brand owners value the fact that we are a pure play in fragrance. Our distribution network has deep roots in 120 countries with expertise in their local market. And Inter Parfums also has a very strong balance sheet. We don't need to raise money to execute any business plans. Our new Paris headquarters will be operational end of this month, giving us greater brand capacity and enhanced coordination of our teams. And as I just mentioned, our office in Florence is now fully functional and ready to support and optimize the fragrance potential of possible additional brands. Now operator, you can open the lines for questions.