About Lucci

Find out more about Lucci and the lady behind this retail concept, Livette Luken. - Article published by LadiesWithAnAttitude.nl

Livette Luken describes herself as a versatile lady with a broad interest, who likes to do things her own way. Back when she was about to go to university, she opted to study either Spanish, economics or interior design. She decided economics it would be and began her career in aviation and logistics. As much as she loved the challenges her work provided, the need for creativity in her life grew stronger and stronger. Interior design has always remained explored when spare time allowed and in combination with her travels to many countries and fairs over the years, she gained an interesting network and a lot of inspiration. “At some point I noticed the trend in retail where functional classifications of products and styles began to shift towards product diversification and an identity-orientated approach of branding. So I started forming many ideas on new retail concepts in which I nowadays advice my customers in. Today, this is the field I work and move forward in, also building on my own plans.”  

Now you question what Lucci is perhaps? “Next to my consultancy practice, I am working on my own retail concept, which stands for unique and original quality with a wink and timeless elegance with a playful twist. I want to work together with designers for their specific way of thinking or expression thereof. I find there is so much creativity outside of The Netherlands not shown here yet that I want to build a bridge between evoking designers and commercial activity. My ultimate goal is a new kind of department store, like maybe what the Metz & Co. (a well known department store in Amsterdam) was before, but for a specific target group. The “Modern Avantgarde”, as I call it: consumers of all ages, who dare to have a style that appreciates design, quality and playfullness. I want a low-threshold 'chic', something other than the common and widely available.” 

“Lucci’s goal is to offer a good mix of products, targeted at this specific group of customers, I mentioned before. Although this might be very complex to implement, I want a new shopping experience where the end customer is surprised and invited to interact. With Lucci, I want to offer my customers a selection of products: a mix of fashion, shoes, bags and accessories (for children as well), sport items and games, interior design products (furniture and accessories), books and magazines and a good café which also offers finger food. What I just described is actually no longer new in retail, but I do have a large number of ingredients which I will add to entirely make the entity unique!” Moreover, I’d like to add social functions to the concept, so it will be a fun experience as a whole and not just only a beautiful shop.

I currently have set up a tiny store at the Gummmbar in Amsterdam. “It is a pop-up initiative”, Livette continues. “It's fun to work together with different enthusiastic parties and show-case some beautiful and different products. It also provides a great test in a lot of fiels and for a couple of ideas I have. Great advantage is that I meet a lot of interesting people, providing great input as well! I feel this will lead me on to new paths. Right now, I focus on a number of image builders, including some products of JC de Castelbajac (JCDC), whose work equals my own personal definition of creativity.  I also try to be in agreement with the locations where I temporarily house my shop. My first pop-up was in the establishment Nooon in the World Trade Center in Amsterdam and now I am currently residing at the Gummmbar. It’s all on a short term basis, very small-scaled with limited resources and manpower, working with exceptional brands, designers and products. My product inventory doesn’t get replenished the next day as most of the products are produced on order. Another reason to work with themes since I have no idea beforehand on how fast a product will sell and you will always be able to make an arrangement with goods left. A small sized in-house pop-up like this turns out to be very complex as it has to meet a lot of demands, needs and restrictions by all involved. So realising this initiative has been a logistic challenge and provided me with a very steep learning curve in many ways. It gives me great insights for the scenarios that I develop for my business plan for the bigger picture.” 

I chose the theme “Let’s Rock!” for these locations and consists of some music rock and roll items, from bigger interior products to trendy gadgets and a ukulele from Hawai for kids to build and play on. Besides that, I chose bright coloured combinations to match the summer trends for the fashion (part of the spring/summer collection 2011 of JC de Castelbajac and amazing shoes, including the zebra shoe!) and I completed the theme with JCDC colourful home interior products: like divers Popcelaine collections with distinctive prints and great piano and speaker puffs of Spanish design. I also offer year-round house slippers with nice designs for all ages by the French Collegien and items designed by Richard Hutten for NgispeN and cities you can discover by building it yourself (set of five postcards per city, i.e Rome, New York, Amsterdam, London and Paris)! Also available at Lucci’s are Japanese slippers that leave animal tracks and plenty more fun stuff and gadgets… I’ve gathered a little bit of everything for this theme, all original and evoking nice emotions.”  You can get a glimpse at my website ww.lucci.nl

 JC de Castelbajac is a designer whose work equals my own personal definition of creativity. This French haute couture designer I admire for his ability to be strong in conceptual thinking while creating concepts from start to finish. He has a very distinct signature and almost every single piece can be combined with another, even throughout the different collections. It is my believe that this is his strength. It is also my opinion that his work always remains elegant and feminine whereas he combines playfulness in addition to quality and respect. These I find are great values.”

So what is different about shopping at Lucci, you’d maybe like to know. “Eventually, I want to end with a store where you feel at home and can will be surprised in different ways. It will be a place where you can experience original and unique products and brands. I’d like to offer new combinations of these products and brands by designers that you haven’t encountered as yet on the Dutch market, but who have already earned their spurs and recognition. I also have the ideal to bring craftsmanship back into retailing. Lucci is not necessarily about luxury labels but neither a place to necessarily expect a bargain! I do want to maintain broad access to my store concepts and therefore you’ll find products in different price categories, but combined in a specific style or theme. You should experience it for yourself though…”

At this stage Lucci is looking for funding (partners) and trainees Retail design / interior design

Contact details:

www.Lucci.nl

Livette Luken

L.luken@lucci.nl

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