Luxury stores caught out by surging demand

[FarCenter]

By Scheherazade Daneshkhu

Published: October 1 2010 20:04 | Last updated: October 1 2010 20:04

Outside Louis Vuitton’s flagship emporium on Paris’s Champs-Elysées Angelia, a financial controller from Malaysia, says the €920 ($1,260) bag she has just bought is her second choice.

“The monogram bag I wanted was out of stock – we tried three Vuitton stores and none of them had it. So I’ve settled for a different size,” she says.

For the past two weeks, the shop, where tourists queue to enter, has been shutting an hour earlier than usual. Along with Vuitton’s other standalone Paris stores, the shop is trying to sell fewer products and preserve stock for Christmas.

It is not the only luxury goods company to have been caught unawares by the strength of demand after last year’s slump.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fbd5fb0c-cd81-11df-9c82-00144feab49a.html

[redwitch]

1. I have been to the flagship store.

Much ado about nuthin'.

[Newsjock]

2. Conspicuous wealth could become dangerous

In the new global economy. The have-nots won't be standing for this for much longer before something pops.

[Billy Burnett]

3. First rule of Fight Club ...

[Binka]

4. Poor Thing She Couldn't Have Her First Choice

It must have been HORRIBLE to spend $1260.00 for a B list choice. What a flaming douche. Can we get a flaming douche smiley? Louis Vuitton is such hyped crap. $1260.00 for a FUCKING purse. She needs to go to Marshalls or Ross. And get a fucking life.