CHINA’S so-called second-tier cities are fast becoming the first stop for luxury goods vendors as middle-class consumers seek high living standards in lower-cost locales, taking with them their penchant for pricey parkers and expensive extras.
With luxury spending in places like Nanjing, Changsha and two dozen other middling cities exceeding that of a handful of economic powerhouses such as Beijing and Shanghai, bling brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton owner LVMH are following the money and booking sales that point to a recovery in China’s battered luxury sector.
“The fact that you have all these second-tier cities now in the top 10 (luxury sales) ranking – it’s crazy if you think about it,” said Zino Helmlinger, head of China retail at CBRE.
China accounts for roughly a qu
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