Read these sentences taken from the text that follows. Then read the text and complete it with
   the sentences.

   

   1  A strategy to increase distribution expanded the market to thousands of retailers,
   detracting from the brand's essence of exclusivity.

   2  Fashionable celebrities such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn were counted among the
   enthusiastic collectors.

   3  Its watches alone number more than a dozen distinct models and are exclusive items,
   generating millions in revenue.

   4  The Gucci group was amongst those reporting far fewer profits during that period.

   5  The two men responsible for this revival were the creative director Tom Ford and the
   president/CEO Domenico De Sole.

   

   

   GUCCI has come through challenging times to see its fortunes rise again

   

               The name Gucci conjures up an image of exclusivity and prestige, an Italian brand
   of quality. As one of the world's leading purveyors of personal luxury goods, Gucci stands for
   more than just fine quality shoes or suits. The Gucci Group is now a multi-brand conglomerate,
   with a collection of high-fashion brands like Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Boucheron and Yves
   Saint Laurent, YSL Beaute, Bottega Veneta, 136clat & Co and Sergio Rossi under its finely
   crafted umbrella. Gucci sells its brand of leather goods, shoes, clothes, ties, scarves and
   jewellery in directly operated stores around the world as well as outlets licensed to sell
   their

   products. (a) __________________________ .      

               The beginnings of the Gucci empire go back to Florence, Italy, in 1921, when
   Guccio Gucci opened an exclusive leather shop. He understood the importance of building a
   reputation for his brand and did so by putting an identifier on his special edition creations.
   He concentrated on

   producing fabulously high-quality products, making them status symbols synonymous with luxury.

               After Gucci died, his sons Aldo and Rodolfo took over the management and led the
   brand to iconic status in the 1950s. They succeeded extremely well in promoting the brand to
   the rich and famous. (b) __________________________ . The Guccis took note of this popularity
   and expanded aggressively, opening stores in glamorous locations such as London, Paris and
   Palm Beach. However, for all the glamour Gucci represented externally, there were increasing
   disagreements within the family. Aldo and Rodolfo each had two sons who began pulling the
   brand in different directions in the eighties, and decisions made about product distribution
   affected the brand's reputation. (c) __________________________ . Eventually, retailers were
   selected more judiciously and the brand's reputation returned. However, during this period of
   disagreement over distribution the brand went from headlines to sidelines, perceived as an old
   standard in the fashion world.

               Since then, smart leadership has driven the Gucci brand to more visibility and
   success than ever before. (d) __________________________ . Tom Ford was responsible for the
   design of all product lines from clothing to perfumes and for the group's corporate image,
   advertising campaigns and store design from 1994 to 2004. It was his elegant vision that
   placed this once staid brand back on the backs of the wealthy. Known today as one of the
   world's leading visionaries in fashion, Ford has accumulated a great number of accolades on
   his way to the top.

               Italian-born attorney Domenico De Sole was the other half of this dynamic duo. By
   integrating elaborate advertising and communication campaigns with a marketing strategy that
   placed the focus on Gucci's core leather products and ready-to-wear, De Sole brought the much
   needed attention back to the quality of the brand while streamlining the back-end of the
   business and expanding the network of directly operated stores. He has received as many
   prestigious accolades as Ford, and his efforts were recognised by the European Business Press
   Federation, which selected Gucci as European company of the year from among 4,000 other
   companies.

               Strong leadership and an image revamp literally breathed life back into the Gucci
   brand. Even so, the rocky economic climate of the past few years has made for a really bumpy
   ride for the

   luxury goods market. (e) _________________________ . Despite the numbers, however, analysts
   still cite Gucci as one of the stocks with the greatest upside potential, giving it plenty of
   room for further development.