We Have a Confident Outlook on 2019, Says Hugo Boss CEO

The video discusses the company's confident outlook for 2019, highlighting strong growth in 2018, especially in Asia Pacific and e-commerce channels. It addresses first-quarter challenges due to high 2018 comparisons and emphasizes the importance of the Chinese market. The discussion also covers changing fashion trends, with a shift towards smart casual wear, and the company's strategy to benefit from these trends. Sustainability and production strategies are explored, with a focus on near-shore production. Finally, the video outlines plans for inventory management and store expansion, particularly in Asia.

What was a key factor in the company's positive outlook for 2019?

• Strong growth in e-commerce and Asia Pacific

• Decline in sales in Asia Pacific

• Decrease in global market share

• Reduction in production costs

What challenge did the company face in the first quarter of 2019?

• Lack of consumer interest in new products

• Increased competition from new brands

• Tough comparisons with the previous year's results

• High production costs in Asia

How does the company view the trend of less formal dress codes?

• As an opportunity to expand their casual wear line

• As a threat to their business

• As a reason to reduce suit production

• As irrelevant to their market strategy

What is the company's stance on sustainability in their products?

• They see it as a minor trend

• They believe it has enormous potential

• They are not interested in sustainability

• They think it will decrease product quality

What is the company's approach to production in light of political tensions in Turkey?

• They are shifting production to North America

• They plan to move all production to Asia

• They see a stable environment and continue production in Turkey

• They are closing all production facilities in Turkey

What is the company's plan for store openings in 2019?

• Selected openings in Asia for the Boss and Hugo Brand

• Focus on opening new stores in Europe

• No new store openings planned

• Opening stores only in North America

How does the company plan to manage inventory levels in 2019?

• By maintaining current inventory levels

• By increasing inventory levels significantly

• By further improving inventory levels to aid cash flow

• By reducing inventory levels to a minimum