Introduction to Knwls’ Business Strategy
Mainly, Knwls’ approach involves working back from a price target in order to keep the costs for the end consumer low. This is a clever step in today’s retail climate, where strenuous buyers withdraw luxury expenses. The brand’s designers often find themselves saying, "It would be so nice if we would do all these complicated surfaces, but we don’t have the units to buy so much of this stretcher. But we really want it, so just let us do it." According to Arsenault, it is about being a bit clever without affecting quality.
Production and Quality
For this purpose, the brand moved the production from Italy to Portugal and Turkey, where they can create a similar (or even better) quality. This strategic move allows Knwls to maintain its quality standards while keeping costs low. The brand’s ability to adapt and find alternative production locations is a key factor in its success.
The Importance of Cooperation
Cooperation is the key to scaling for most brands on the current market. Knwls is often addressed due to the experiences of the designers. "This is the advantage that we have built this world in the past eight years. We are able to use these advantages," says Arsenault. The brand’s ability to collaborate with others has been crucial in overcoming the challenges of the current market.
Overcoming Challenges
Market Challenges
The United States is the "largest market," says Arsenault, referring to the additional costs of the US tariffs. Knwls produces in Europe, so it’s not a bad road, but it still weighs the end result. South Korea is a growing market after Knwls has become popular with several K-pop stars, including Jennie and Lisa von Blackpink. When Jennie was wearing the brand’s Ace Longleeve Jersey dress this year, it was sold out by all retailers, and the brand had to bring pre-orders onto the market and create an additional batch to satisfy the demand.
Retail Challenges
How many brands work in the new retail environment invests Knwls in its DTC channel (Direct-to Consumer) in order to connect with its community and to mitigate a slowdown. "Retailers no longer want to pay deposits. So they are like: ‘You should finance my company with several million dollars with your.’" Arsenault says. While the brand experienced a large number of visitors to its website, the conversion was "tiny," says Arsenault. To address this issue, the brand employed two friends, a kind of director and a programmer, to redesign the website. "Even if we improve the conversion by 1 percent, they are tons of money." The new website will start in November according to the publication of the new collection at retail.
