LVMH HAS ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 15TH AND 16TH AS ‘BEHIND-THE-SCENES DAYS’

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy has announced ‘Behind-The-Scenes Days’ at their European artisan workshops, ateliers, and vineyards for two days in October.

WWD reports that on the 15th and 16th of October the public will be able to experience what happens behind the doors of the luxury conglomerate’s brands which include fashion houses Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Dior, jewelry maker De Beers, and Champagne labels Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon.

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH has recently stated: “Products are one thing, but how they’re made, who makes them, and where is also of interest to the public.”

LVMH is not the first luxury house to come up with this idea of “behind-the-scenes days”, last year Gucci toured the world with its Artisan Project, showcasing its production methods.

Most of events will take place in France and workshops are planned for locations in Italy, Spain, Scotland, and Poland. More information will be released later this month when bookings will go live online.

List of Participating Properties:
Christian Dior Couture, Salon de Haute Couture, Paris
Parfums Christian Dior, Siège Parfums Christian Dior, Paris
Louis Vuitton, Ateliers d’Asnières, Asnières
Berluti, Salons Berluti, Paris
Givenchy Couture, Studio de Création, Paris
Kenzo Mode et Kenzo Parfum, Showroom, Paris
Emilio Pucci, Archives, Italy
Loewe, Showroom, Madrid, Spain
Chaumet, Salons Chaumet, Paris
Guerlain, Maison Guerlain, Paris
Moët & Chandon, Résidence de Trianon, Epernay, Champagne
Dom Pérignon, Abbaye d’Hautvillers, Hautvillers, Champagne
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Hôtel du Marc et Pavillon de Muire, Reims, Champagne
Champagne cellars of Maison Krug and Maison Ruinart, Reims, Champagne
Hennessy, Château de Bagnolet, Poitou, Charentes, Cognac
Chai de la Faïencerie, Poitou, Charentes, Cognac
Quais Hennessy, Poitou, Charentes, Cognac
The Glenmorangie Company, The Glenmorangie Distillery, Scotland
Belvédère, Belvedere Distillery, Poland
Château Cheval Blanc, Aquitaine
Château d’Yquem, Aquitaine
La Grande Epicerie de Paris, Paris
Le Jardin d’Acclimatation, Maison de Kiso, Paris

LVMH Sales Beat Forecasts

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world’s biggest luxury group, posted a 17-per-cent rise in first-quarter sales on Monday that beat analysts’ expectations despite the earthquake disaster in Japan, a key luxury market.

The owner of handbag maker Louis Vuitton, Hennessy cognac and Moët & Chandon champagne had sales of €5.25-billion ($7.2-billion) in the three months to March 31. The average estimate in a Reuters poll of nine analysts was €4.97-billion.

“All business groups recorded double-digit organic revenue growth in the quarter,” including Louis Vuitton, LVMH said in a statement that cited strong momentum in the United States, Europe and Asia.

The wines and spirits and watches and jewellery divisions “continued their strong recovery due to a confirmed return in client demand,” LVMH said.

At its annual general meeting on March 31, LVMH said it expected the impact of Japan’s woes on overall annual sales to be limited. Japan accounts for 9 per cent of group revenue.

The company did not give any further details in its statement on Monday. LVMH is due to hold a conference call on its sales on Tuesday.

British luxury competitor Burberry is due to give a second-half trading update on Tuesday, while L’Oreal, which competes with LVMH in perfumes and cosmetics, is expected to report first-quarter sales.

LVMH provided no forecasts, but said key priorities for the year will be brand development, cost controls and targeted investments.

In March, LVMH agreed to acquire Italian jeweller Bulgari for €3.7-billion in a deal analysts said sent a message to luxury peer Hermès SA that LVMH could make a friendly deal. LVMH owns more than 20 per cent of Hermès.

The Globe