The reason for all the Louis Vuitton price increases…

(Yves Carcelle, LVMH Chairman & CEO)
While the dollar flounders, house values plummet and folks from the very top are no longer only whispering rumors of a US recession… Louis Vuitton again posts huge gains in first quarter sales.
LVMH reported 5.3% gain first quarter. They saw growth in every catagory but wines and spirits (folks must be resorting to cheap liquor to drink away their economic woes). Watches & Jewelry rose 11.6% with $332.9 million in revenue.
But, my personal favorite- the fashion and leather goods group reported the highest revenue. With all the price increases we’ve seen in the last year, I am not suprised. Fashion and leather goods rose 7.1% to $2.3 billion.
Interesting quote:
“But it’s not as if the economy hasn’t affected LVMH altogether. If the euro wasn’t so strong compared with other currencies — particularly the dollar — revenue would be much higher. There’s little doubt the brands have lost some aspirational customers — those who buy small items like Louis Vuitton keychains, or J’Adore Dior perfume. The company plans to combat this by continuing to expanding in emerging markets, particularly China and Russia.”
Read the article from Forbes…
From FoxBusiness…
From Marketwatch…
From Bloomberg…
From Reuters…
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Tags: Forbes, Louis Vuitton, LVMH, Quarterly, Yves Carcelle



April 16th, 2008 at 7:48 am
my undestanding of the LV price hike in the US is that the US $ has gone weak and they’re just trying to standardise their pricing worldwide. Australia has had price DECREASES in the past for similar (but opposite) reasons.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:49 am
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April 16th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Duck,
Exactly… It makes sense to me that it’s all about profits. Other companies are losing money hand over fist. LVMH protects itself by raising prices.
I mean, if the dollar is weakened by 5%, why no increase prices to make up the difference. And why not. Most of us will pay it. LVMH is weathering this period of relative economic slowdown better than most. Kudos to them.
It’s capitalism at it’s finest.
http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/GBP/hist2008.html
http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/EUR/hist2008.html
Sarah