Aquarius Luxury Concierge Arrives in Dubai: The New Personal Shopping Service That Needs To Be On Your Radar
Specialising in procuring the most coveted items — from accessories and handbags, to watches and furnishings — the concierge service breaks ground in the region’s shopping capital…
Following an ‘ask-and-you-shall-receive’ philosophy, there’s now a new team of personal shoppers that will scour shelves to cop today’s most desired luxury items, turning wish-lists into reality at the touch of a button. After London and Marbella, Aquarius Luxury Concierge is ready to take on the GCC region’s biggest shopping destination: Dubai.
In honour of its regional debut, Bazaar Arabia sits down with Aquarius Luxury Concierge‘s Rania Harb who unveils how their bespoke service will disrupt the mise en scène at some of Dubai’s most exclusive boutiques.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Why was Dubai a natural next step for Aquarius?
Rania Harb (RH): Dubai was the next step after Europe because we really wanted to expand into the Middle East. We already have quite a few clients in Dubai and when one of our clients in the public realm reached out and wanted to work with us in the UAE, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
The trends in Dubai reach an audience faster due to its influencer culture and so that was a great opportunity. We found the market to be young and affluent all while having a discerning customer base.
HBA: Why are there no annual fee or membership dues?
RH: We don’t need to retain our clients with a membership fee. Since we launched, we have found that once our clients start working with us, they will usually come back- we don’t worry that they will leave for someone else! We are both price competitive and we deliver. The idea is not to force commitment on clients, we want them to enjoy the journey and the service.
HBA: How do the demands of the clients here in Dubai differ from the ones in other parts of the world?
RH: Part of the demographic we deal with in the UAE is beautifully modest so our sourcing and styling offer differs massively.
Because of the safety aspect in the UAE, people are more willing and likely to wear luxury items, including jewellery and watches without worrying about being robbed or attacked.
We also feel that there is a mindset of speed in Dubai which is very important compared to those in Europe and the UK. The clientele in this city are used to a fast delivery process and the city’s beauty lies in its ability to cater to the demands of its population. Our clients in Dubai are happy to pay a little bit more to get it faster.
HBA: Are we seeing any particular trends, specific to the items being sourced for GCC clients?
RH: The colour palettes we work with in the GCC are different. It’s more climate appropriate, colourful and lively- summer colours are an all year-round rage. We also get a lot of requests for smaller, mini-sized bags in the GCC like the mini Hermés Kelly or micro bags.
Our GCC clients are also very digitally savvy whereby most of our work here is done over WhatsApp. We also get asked to source very distinct pieces for the UAE as some of our most fashion-forward clients reside in the GCC and are not afraid to take risks.
Lead Image Courtesy Instagram/ @aquariusluxuryconcierge