LVMH launches single e-commerce platform for all its brands

LVMH is working on an ecommerce site that would bring together all of its brands — and those of competitors — on one portal and represent the most ambitious attempt yet by the French group to capitalise on fast-growing online sales of luxury goods.

LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company by revenue, plans to launch a website in May that will be branded as its department store Le Bon Marché. It will offer labels from the group’s own stable as well as distributing non-LVMH brands — putting it head-to-head with online platforms such as Net-A-Porter, Matchesfashion.com and Farfetch, which already distribute several LVMH brands themselves.

Such an approach to offer a diverse range of labels mirrors the strategy of LVMH’s bricks-and-mortar distribution channels such as Le Bon Marché, DFS Group and Sephora, which has grown to become the number one selling beauty distributor in the US by representing competitors. An LVMH spokesman declined to comment.

An e-commerce platform of this scale would be the first major digital move since LVMH hired Ian Rogers from Apple in 2015, in the newly created role of chief digital officer, to lead the expansion of the French group’s online retail. There is also a team within Le Bon Marché that is working on the project. Alexandre Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault who was appointed joint chief executive of German luggage maker Rimowa when the French group acquired a stake in October, has also been instrumental in driving digital up the agenda.

LVMH’s 70 creative houses have the autonomy to choose their own digital strategies and have so far taken a variety of approaches. Fendi, Marc Jacobs and Nicholas Kirkwood are sold on Net-A-Porter; while Louis Vuitton and Loro Piana sell a selection of products on their own websites; and Céline has announced it is launching an ecommerce platform later this year. LVMH reported a 5 per cent rise in revenue for 2016, to a record €37.6bn, and operating profit increased 6 per cent to €7bn.

Brands are increasingly blending their digital and in-store sales strategies, offering options such as “click-and-collect” in recognition of the fact that revenue is driven by a combination of both. Six out of 10 sales are digitally influenced, said BCG, and in-store purchases often follow online research. The growth of online sales of luxury goods encompasses everything from platform aggregators such as LVMH’s new offering to discount sites such as Ynap’s Theoutnet.com. There are also sites for flash sales such as Vente-privee.com and Showroomprive.com, plus luxury resale platforms such as Vestiaire Collective.

LVMH Louis Vuitton

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