The doom and gloom of the past year and a half have undoubtedly changed our attitudes to spending. Long gone are the opulent 90s and rapacious ‘noughties’ – 2010 marks the beginning of a new, more frugal decade. More than ever, people appreciate value for money; and it is this attitude that has led to the birth of Little Emperors & Co – an exclusive membership service offering privileged, reduced rates in luxury travel, retail, lifestyle, dining, gifts, beauty, health and fitness. As the ideal response to the economic downturn’s impact on luxury consumer spending, Little Emperors & Co offers fabulous rates which cater to individuals with a taste for the good things in life as well as an eye for a great deal.

The company was masterminded in January 2009 by two directors from London’s Square Mile, Rebecca Masri and Elizabeth Sieff (the great-granddaughter of Michael Marks, no less, who set up Marks & Spencer in 1884).  During the months following the financial crisis, in an area where luxury goods and services had been an everyday expectation, Elizabeth and Rebecca saw their peers continuing to desire these luxuries while at the same time growing increasingly price-conscious. But as Sieff explains, ‘Discounts in their simplest form do not fit luxury profiles, so we created Little Emperors & Co as an exclusive service allowing brands to offer their most valued customers a special reduced rate without compromising brand integrity. Our memberships are already highly sought-after, due to the fantastic brands we work with.’

And fantastic they are. Little Emperors & Co members receive a directory and card entitling them to unprecedented offers – including discounts of up to 65 per cent – from over 1000 sought-after brands and companies. Brand partners fall into the categories of dining (including Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s and Hakkasan); luxury retail (Prada, Dunhill, Smythson, Bang & Olufsen, Harrods and many others); health, beauty and fitness (from Urban Retreat at Harrods to The Wentworth golf club); lifestyle (such as NCP Car Parks, Jeeves of Belgravia and Banham Security) and travel (Blakes Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Orient Express Hotels, The Pierre New York and The Ritz in London, to name but several). These are the kind of brands with whom one wouldn’t dream to haggle over a price, but now, thanks to Little Emperors, it is suddenly both chic and acceptable to get a discount – all without even having to negotiate.

Little Emperors & Co is the ideal membership for those who have had their expense budgets slashed but are still required to host those all-important restaurant meetings, client drinks and business trips; or who simply want to entertain friends and family without compromising on quality. Over 800 luxury and boutique hotels across the globe now offer members slashed rates, making travel for both business and pleasure more affordable. Little Emperors has also introduced a concierge service through which members can book their travel and dining at no added cost. So, whether it’s for a luxury or a necessity, Little Emperors will be at your beck and call with a sizeable discount.