“We are a very cautious family, (for Chanel) We have never said anything. Chanel Coco Chanel is about is about Carl is on the work of every one in the Chanel, creative people, and not about family. “De Mol
As we all know, Chanel can have today, can not be separated from Chanel and Lagerfeld credit. However, we must also admit that, if there is no three generations of family tradition, there will not be Chanel today. Without them, for Chanel earn the most honor and money will not be on the 5th perfume onto the market; Without them, the last century 50s Chanel’s comeback is the only fantasy; Without them, it is difficult to imagine pulling will become dominant in today’s fashion … …
Many years ago, described him as Lagerfeld and Chanel owners relations: “In the whole cause, there is one extraordinary person, and that is De Mol (Alain Wertheimer). If not him, I will not be able to work, he is a hundred percent behind me. Therefore, I can do what I want to do, even if I wanted to do and the political, business issues When there is a conflict. ”
Chanel same hero, compared to Chanel and Lagerfeld’s high-profile publicity, a great deal of attention, many family is obviously a low-key, and even many people do not know the existence of this family, or know little about. This, of course, not because they do less, but they just do not speak or talk. Chanel now as the head of one of De Mol (Gérard Wertheimer) in 2001 to attend a Chanel fashion show said: “We are a prudent family, (for Chanel) We never said anything. Chanel Coco Chanel is about is about Carl is on the work of every one in the Chanel, creative people, rather than on family. ”
Entrepreneurs are competing in this era become a star, a low-key family undoubtedly some hidden incredible, especially for family businesses. However, this apparently did not affect their act. Foreign commented that such practices family, perhaps the strategy is a professional bar. That being the case, then let us make every effort to close the family and its strategic professional. It is not useful to use in the second, failed an eye-opener, expand some ideas, it can be considered rare valuable ah.

And the origin of Chanel

Chanel family and origins, began in the 20th century, Pierre age 20, of acquaintance with Chanel. However, it family can be traced back the origin of the Middle Ages As for Germany. Prussian War period, Pierre’s father, Ernest came to Paris to leave Alsace. 70 era of the 19th century, Ernest investment, a cosmetics company – Bourjois. By the 20th century, 20 years, Ernest’s two sons: Pierre and Paul, the company has become France’s largest cosmetics and perfume company.
In 1922, Chanel and the famous tune Shannon division, known as “Mr. nose” in Ernest (Ernest Beaux) created the No. 5 perfume. The perfume will soon be the customer’s enthusiastic response, but Bao’s laboratory, production is very limited. The famous Lafayette department store, founder of Fun forli Paterson (Théophile Bader) good perfume on the 5th, hope to be able to store its own sales of it, so he introduced to his friend Chanel Pierre awareness, look at the can whether the matter of cooperation.
In 1924, Chanel, Pierre and Paterson tripartite agreement, the establishment of a Chanel perfume company (Les Parfums Chanel). Pierre so on the 5th in his Bourjois perfume factory production, and 70 percent of profits, Paterson earned 20 percent as an intermediary fees, Chanel only 10% of the profit distribution.
In 1929, Pierre was introduced for the mass market nights in Paris (Soir de Paris) perfume by Bourjois marketing companies. At the same time, near the Louvre in Paris, Chanel launched a successful fashion design room. to reach agreement with the family, her career from her own design to operate independently, the sale of clothing named by Chanel. Despite the perfume and fashion business are thriving, but the relationship between Chanel and Pierre started at this time worsened. Split because Chanel initially dissatisfied with the agreement. Chanel think she should get 10 percent more than the distribution of profits, and that her name is in her knowledge was used. For her wronged family pointed out that funding is that they take the first step of her to help her creativity to the market, will she become rich. According to Health (Axel Madsen) in the biography, “Chanel: her own woman (Chanel: A Woman of Her Own)” in said, there is a family lawyers to deal with specialized and Chanel.
In 1940, the Nazi occupation of Paris, Pierre and brother Paul went to New York, USA. They entrusted the Americans, George Thomas (H. Gregory Thomas) back to Paris to complete a mission: to try to get No. 5 perfume formula and the main raw material. Thomas also helped the son of Jacques Pierre fled to New York, and later, he became the president of Chanel’s U.S. subsidiary, in this post has worked for 32 years.
At the same time, Chanel stop her fashion business, but continue to live in Paris. She soon met a Nazi officer. She hoped that the adoption of the Nazis, from the hands of family for their own gain more benefits (in this unwise to make Chanel’s name and the “Law on bad guys” linked together).
However, it family is obviously not so good deal: they acquired the company Felix (Féix Amiot) 50% stake. When Chanel betrayed them, family Chanel perfume company transferred to the company, while companies and the Nazi of arms transactions. By doing so, despite the “Law on bad guys” shameful acts, but in wartime Germany did not move a Chanel perfume company remains. After World War II, Chanel company will “also” to the family .
However, because the relationship between the experience of Nazi arrest, was released and the Chanel, and did not give up and entangled family. Chanel went to Switzerland, where she threatened family – the production of their own perfume on the 5th – Miss Chanel No. 5 (Mademoiselle Chanel NO.5). Finally, family and became a agreement: It is not distributed to the Chanel France 10% of sales, but to her 2% of global sales, at the same time give her the power to produce its own apart from outside on the 5th Other perfume.
In 1953, when No. 5 perfume sales weak, the Pierre to Lausanne, Switzerland, visited the 70-year-old Chanel. Soon, Chanel decided to come back to Paris, the restructuring of her senior fashion house. When she first series failed, she told Pierre: “You know, I would like to have done has been done, until it succeeds.” Pierre decided to continue to support Chanel.
This time, Pierre with Chanel also reached an agreement: family will help to establish at Chanel Cambon Street (rue Cambon) 31 issue of the headquarters, Chanel their own costs and taxes will be in return she was named after his own perfume and fashion control. Chanel because there are no heirs, after her death, the family will receive its perfume concessions. Many years later, Paterson family from the hands of the family it has bought a 20% stake, in full possession of a Chanel.

Chanel push to reach new heights

In 1963, Pierre’s death, his son inherited Jacques Chanel. He was already 55 years old, a good time is spent on the race on. Jacques was born in 1910, have two sons, Alan and Inder Kumar, the 50’s with his wife divorced, died in February 1996 in Paris. Jacques is not an experienced businessman, Chanel is not his favorite, but he witnessed the most successful commercial brand for 30 years, Chanel has also experienced the last 8 years of design life, then see Lagerfeld took over the fashion housing.
In 1974, Chanel’s business has become depressed, 25-year-old Alan from the hands of his father, Jacques took over the company, the brand is now made from his many achievements. Alan took over at Chanel, there is no business experience, but he was soon to see what the. He began to control the development of channels, to Chanel No. 5 channels from cosmetic removed, and launched only in the high-end sales channels beautiful Chanel (Chanel Beauté) cosmetics series. In 1978, Chanel introduced its clothing line, from fees (Philippe Guibourg) design. In 1980, Alan hired (Kitty D’Alessio) to operate the U.S. subsidiary.
Chanel has been responsible for the advertising business for many years to understand the rapidly changing fashion industry, companies need to adjust what is fast: a new designer. She looked at the Lagerfeld. “I have the attention of his work a long time. I think he is very talented, but also of modernity have a good feeling. He used to work, not copied from or affected by Chanel, very original, which I am very attractive. “Therefore, if there is no Alan, there will be no , there will be no Lagerfeld Chanel into the Army.
It can be said that there is no Chanel, family is very rich. However, the success of Chanel gave the family more honor and wealth to the next level. Now, family property is estimated to reach seven billion to 80 billion dollars.

Low-key art

Many people have pointed out that Chanel’s culture is conservative. However, it seems, and Chanel, Lagerfeld less in line with the publicity. Therefore, some doubt what is the strength and success of such a conservative culture Chanel has been passed so far. Think carefully, and perhaps behind family will give us some answers to it. family of low-key, subdued and Chanel give people a sense of security, it seems that we have some understanding.
Times have changed, family in the development and growth, even if developed to Alan and Inder Kumar of this generation, and their low-key, as always, remains a tradition. That may be the characteristics of their family now.
Alan in New York, Inder Kumar work in Geneva, they were very quiet, diligent to deal with family affairs. Alan, compare thin, have beards, the two brothers and a more cynical, and his wife Brigitte, with three children living in a Fifth Avenue mansion where. They are family operations are very secretive, rarely participate in charitable activities such as dinner. New York celebrities that (Nan Kempner) once said: “We recognize the many years, but only playing greeted never visited each other.” Gerardo, then some short, some fat, some kind. He is also and his wife Valerie live the same life hidden. A Geneva-based businessman and, like many other celebrities, have refused to say why. He said: “They are very hidden, you can not see them at the hotel.”
When Alan and Inder Kumar to take part in Chanel’s fashion show, they take the most conservative French-made hatchback car, and went quietly, to sit down at the third row or the fourth row position. They rarely take part in Chanel’s new store opening or other activities, but also never let his name appear in the publicity.
When family to Paris after the staff, but also rarely go out. French edition of Vogue has an editorial said: “They love classical music, go to theaters, because I often came across them. I do every year in longchamp (Long Champ) Race Course, the Arc de Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe) Happy to see them play. they will not force themselves to go out socializing, even and Chanel-related activities, this is indeed very strange. ”
In addition, it is worth mentioning is that in family history, the horse is very important. Pierre and Paul are very fanatical horse owners. family in the race received the first prize in 1911. Pierre was the biggest success in 1956, his horse lavender (Lavandin) was Award (Epsom Derby). Jacques not to mention the input of the horse. Today, Inder Kumar monitoring of the horse family. In 1995, family already have 120 horses, this is a property of hundreds of millions of dollars.
They refused to permit the operation, refused to wantonly expansion. Alan many years ago in his rare time to accept the “Wine Spectator (Wine Spectator)” the interview said: “The operating license can make money, but it was not done the way family business. I will accept your interview, because I am very pleased with you to talk about wine and horses. because we sell brand value, Ma is the brand value brothers. but I do not accept the interview Chanel because it operating for Chanel are not useful. ”
Perhaps it is such a low profile in order to enable them to heart more calm, more ups and downs of the world is not about to see more high and see far. They are not subject to external growth figures released by the , they focus on long-term investment. As Alan has pointed out: “We do not think the total return. We are not in order to sell and buy. We bought in order to make it even better.”