Dr. Debbie Coney
Luxury Consultant • Founder • Industry Leader
Dr. Debbie Coney is a trusted voice in the world of luxury. As Founder of Coney Luxury Branding, she advises leading global brands and boutique businesses on how to build presence, deepen relevance, and create lasting desire.
Her approach combines commercial insight with creative vision — helping brands define what makes them exceptional and translate that into meaningful growth.
Beyond her consultancy, Debbie is shaping the next generation of luxury leaders. She heads the Master’s programmes in Luxury Brand Management at the University of Southampton and holds leadership roles as Non-Executive Director for Winchester BID and Director of The Agency at Winchester School of Art.
Experience & Expertise
With a career built in leadership roles at some of the world’s most prestigious luxury houses, Debbie founded Coney Luxury Branding in 2013 to offer a bespoke, strategic approach to brand growth and distinction.
Her consultancy partners with brands to refine positioning, elevate storytelling, and connect with today’s discerning audiences — across fashion, beauty, design, and lifestyle.
Our Expertise
We help brands define and express the essence of true luxury — through strategy, experience, and design.
Our core services include:
- Brand Strategy & Identity – Clarifying purpose, personality, and aesthetic to build timeless brand equity.
- Launch & Rebrand Programs – Seamless brand introductions and transformative repositioning with global impact.
- Consumer Insights – Understanding the mindset of the luxury consumer to shape strategy and innovation.
- Experiential Design – Creating immersive brand moments that engage and inspire.
- Global Retail & Distribution – Building presence and exclusivity across international markets.
- Luxury Marketing & Operations Alignment – Integrating storytelling, marketing, and supply chain for seamless execution.
- Digital & Boutique Development – Crafting spaces — physical and digital — that reflect heritage and modern innovation.
Why Coney Luxury
We partner with visionary brands seeking elevated storytelling, flawless execution, and lasting market impact. Every project is bespoke, combining creativity, data-driven insight, and a nuanced understanding of the luxury landscape.
Clients & Collaborations
Debbie has worked with an impressive roster of luxury brands, including:
Bacardi | Clarins | Clinique | Coty Prestige | De Beers | Estee Lauder Companies | Garnier | Godiva | Grey Goose | Helena Rubinstein | Jo Malone London | Lisa Greaney Facial Surgery | L’Oreal | LVMH Sunseeker | Twinings | William Grant & Son
PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS
Debbie’s excellence in luxury design and branding has earned her numerous accolades, including:
🏆 Luxury Design Awards at The Chelsea Flower Show
🏆 Managing Directors Awards in the Corporate Sector
🏆 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Teaching in Academia
Her contributions to the luxury industry continue to shape brands, inspire students, and set new benchmarks for innovation and excellence.
MEDIA:
May, 2025
THE THING ABOUT LUXURY PODCAST with Dr. Debbie Coney Pinder
Welcome to The Thing About Luxury, a podcast that delves into the evolving world of luxury—its icons, innovations, and the individuals redefining its boundaries.
I am Dr. Debbie Coney Pinder, a luxury brand specialist, academic, and consultant with a deep-seated passion for the narratives that shape the luxury landscape. As the Programme Leader for the MA in Luxury Brand Management at the University of Southampton and founder of Coney Luxury, I’ve dedicated my career to exploring the nuances of luxury branding, consumer behavior, and experiential design.
Each episode features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and visionaries who offer unique insights into what luxury means today. From the intricacies of brand storytelling to the challenges of sustainability and digital transformation, we uncover the layers that make luxury both timeless and ever-changing.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or simply intrigued by the allure of luxury, this podcast invites you to explore its many facets with curiosity and critical thought.
🎧 New episodes released monthly.
Subscribe on Spotify
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January, 2025
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, BANGKOK
I’m honoured to have been invited to speak at the Global Leadership Conference in Bangkok, where I delivered a keynote on Sustainable Luxury & Innovation. It was a truly inspiring event — bringing together global leaders, innovators, and academics to explore the future of technology, sustainability, and leadership.
I’m also pleased to be publishing a new paper and delivering further talks at the University of Southampton, where I continue to contribute to academic thought leadership in luxury brand management.
Through my consultancy, Coney Luxury, I remain committed to helping brands navigate the evolving landscape of modern luxury with purpose, creativity, and insight.
April, 2023
BBC RADIO 4 – YOU & YOURS!
When Debbie’s two favourite words collided – listen to this powerful live discussion on luxury running.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001kwv8
Is luxury running a thing? There’s a new 120 mile race where the competitors get Michelin-starred food and a sauna to help their recovery. Debbie chats to Sharli Vahl (Radio 4 host) and Kate Carter (running journalist) about the idea of luxury in ultra marathons.
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September, 2019
WIRED MAGAZINE – LUXURY AUTONOMOUS CARS
A discussion with Bentley Cars and Conde Nast Magazines.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/the-art-of-luxury-in-an-autonomous-age
The article and podcast is based around a discussion on the future of luxury and cars, in particular autonomous luxury vehicles:
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August, 2021
WEST SUSSEX RETAIL HUB
An online education tool offering knowledge and advice on the New World High Street.
It features mini videos featuring nuggets of advice on how to create the optimum retail experience, both online and off line.
BOOKS PUBLISHED:
November, 2023
March, 2023
PhD: The Airport Luxury Brand Store: The Lure of Luxury in a Transitory Environment
January, 2022
THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF LUXURY BUSINESS: Luxury Retail in the Airport
https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190932220.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190932220
PERSONAL.
Debbie is a competitive ultra-marathon runner, is passionate about health and well-being, and is a coach, mentor and ambassador for female runners.
Coney Luxury 