Whenever you see a big business come out with a line or strategy along the lines of 'digital first' or 'priority online', as Neiman Marcus have done, what they're really telling you is 'we're going to start moving our business online because the high street isn't working out anymore'. There are persistent rumors that this luxury clothing store is on the brink of collapse, and that hundreds of staff may be cut loose any day now as they try to balance the books. Sales fell 5% during 2017, and interest payments on their debts are chewing into those takings.
At one point, Neiman Marcus entered into discussions with Hudson's Bay about a takeover, but the Canadian firm backed out when they saw the books, which showed a sharp and constant downward turn in Neiman Marcus' sales. Is there another company out there who can step in and save them?
To insure one’s house, one’s car or to underwrite a life insurance policy, that is common practice. But who would pay an insurance premium for his/her thumb, legs or smile? Stars, of course.
At the top of the ranking are the legs of Mariah Carey, worth 810 million USD: The diva became, in 2006, the Gillette brand muse for the advertising campaign «Legs of a Goddess». She then took out an insurance policy with London Lloyds to protect her legs, a decision that is far from being insignificant. Among its customers, the London insurer then included several icons of music, such as Bob Dylan or Rod Stewart.
David Beckham’s body insured for 195 million USD: European champion with Manchester United in 1999, David Beckham was in 2006 the most renowned footballer of the planet. In relation to his sporting activities, he took out an insurance cover for his legs. The huge amount paid for his insurance would reportedly exceed the 103 million USD disbursed by Real Madrid for the cover of Christiano Ronaldo in 2009. The fashion model would later extend his insurance cover to his entire body.
15 million USD in insurance for Kim Kardashian’s curves: The curves of Kim Kardashian are her number one beauty asset. The reality TV star, who is crazy about plastic surgery, has underwritten an insurance policy worth 15 million USD to protect her famous butt.
The culinary critic Egon Ronay assured his taste buds: The famous Hungarian culinary critic has insured his taste buds since 1957, for the amount of 400 000 USD. An original insurance policy which allows him to cover his sense of taste without which he will no longer be able to practice his job.