Luxury Brand Strategy of Louis Vuitton

This case study specifically discusses and analyses the three brands i.e. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu. It contains information about their histories, products, business strategies, expansion strategies and more.

As an emblem of the French luxury, Louis Vuitton knew how to make way on the international scene, by advancing an image of quality, elegance and refinement.

Louis Vuitton “was established in France in 1854 by Louis Vuitton and became known as one of the oldest French luxury fashion houses” in the industry (Pearce & Robinson, 2013, p. 14-2). The firm’s products range from high quality “leather goods, handbags, trunks, shoes, watches, jewelry, and accessories”; manufactured by highly skilled and expensive laborers in France (Forbes.com, 2016). In addition, Louis Vuitton market their products “in 50 countries with more than 460 shops and generates more than €7-billion ($9.5-billion U.S.) in annual sales” (Wendlandt, 2013).

By 2002, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton was the world's largest luxury products company, enjoying annual sales of 12.2 billion euros. LVMH carries the most prestigious brand names in wine, champagne, fashion, jewelry, and perfume. Upon entrance of this luxury product industry, LVMH was aware that they produced products that nobody needed, but that were desired by millions across the world. This desire in some way fulfills a fantasy, making consumers feel as though they must buy it, or else they will not be in the moment, and thus will be left behind.

Gucci, a brand known for its quality, luxurious and royal association was confronted with strategic issues which made the company take notice of its strategy of expansion and brand personality. The company was not only having concerns with their product line but they were lacking unified corporate vision and strategy after its acquisition of some major names like YSL. Due to which they started having loophole in their luxurious goods market discipline. Strategic concern for the company was how does the brand image cascade down in the target market and how does it rejuvenate itself is a management lesson.

The following case analysis will assess Coach Inc. and its strategy in the accessible luxury brand goods market. The coach strategy focuses on its luxury rivals in matching key quality styles while offering it at a cheaper price. The company offers most products at a 50% off discount price less than other brands which gives them a competitive advantage pertaining to its customer base. Coach marketed its products to middle –income consumers desiring taste of luxury, but also affluent and wealthy consumers with means to spend considerably more on a handbag (Gamble, 2012. P.C-73) .The Company also has several other strategies such as to increase global distribution, improve same store sales productivity and continue its multi-channel business model which includes indirect whole sales to third party retailers but also focuses on direct consumer sales. Coach has done well in the luxury goods industry but the companies profit margin is still below the levels achieved prior to the onset of a slowing economy in 2007 ( Gamble, 2012. P.C-73.The Company had experienced a decline in sales as they are unsure if the company recent growth could remain constant and maintain their competitive advantage with other successful luxury lines Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana.

For 50 years, Ralph Lauren 's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. However, in 2015, they reported a 5.3% drop in revenue from June 2014 to June 2015 (O 'Brien, 2015), and since then, the shares began a downward trend.

At the apex of the market was haute couture with it very high-end “custom” product offering that catered to the extremely wealthy. Luxury goods manufacturers believed diffusion brand’s lower profit margins were offset by the opportunity for increased sales volume and the growing size of the accessible luxury market and protected margins on such products by sourcing production to low-wage countries. Eye-catching utilization of their products by prominent figures in society leads to increasing demands for luxury good items and it is a growing industry with the global luxury goods market growing 9% per year. These consumers buy their products for satisfaction and to boost their self-esteem rather than for ease or comfort. All these components blend in the context of a successful business of the luxury goods.

Gucci is a luxury brand made in Florence, Italy in 1921 by Guccio Gucci. These luxury brands consist of fashion and leather goods. The company first started out as a family business. It was Gucci and his two sons who expanded the business and opened it as a company. The first store was opened in Rome and opened in 1938. The second store was opened in Milan and opened in 1951. In the beginning, most of the company’s customers were horseback riders, which is how the company came up with its signature logo. Gucci has become more innovational over the years with their products. Gucci is known for their handbags, women’s and men’s shoes, dress shirts, wallets, belts, fragrances, briefcases and accessories. Today, Gucci operates in about 550 stores and in over more than 30 countries.

No two-brand identities are the same and it is crucial to consider what type of clothing the company will supply to its customers. There is a large difference in the way luxury and fast fashion brands operate which translates to how they create and maintain a brand identity. Some of the major differences are that luxury brands do not respond to rising demand because they want their product to be difficult to buy. The role advertising has for luxury brands is not to sell but to create status. Luxury brands do not use the Internet even though the importance of online coordination was just discussed. Finally, luxury brands do not look for cost reductions (Nieto). They still create an identity by creating a personality or an idea that represents the brand,

The Tiffany & Company is introducing a new product line by the name of Tiffany 's Essentials. The line will offer authentic luxury designer handbags along the lines of Gucci, Chloe, Dior, Fendi, Prada and many more. As concept of luxury changes, marketers of high-end products are wrestling with the challenges of maintaining exclusivity while obtaining higher sales. Having a well-known name as Tiffany and Company we have no limitations to create luxury pieces for the luxury lifestyles. The following paper will emphasize our product, our target market and our marketing objectives as to how we will market our handbag using a vital marketing mix. It will also provide our major competition in both the diamond industry as well

Louis Vuitton has successfully gained the title of the world’s leading international fashion house and the world’s most valuable luxury designer brand (O’Connor, 2015). Through their three 3P’s (Brand Promise, Brand Positioning and Brand Performance), it has triumphantly upheld its advantage over its contenders by not only supplying their customers with outstanding products that are incomparable in quality and features, but also offer a customer service atmosphere that is unlike any other (Fill, 2013). New surfacing Markets such as China, has also helped Louis Vuitton to continue to successfully expand, confirm and reinforce position and credibility of their business (Fill, 2013). Louis Vuitton strives on their

Burberry, founded in 1856, is a leading international luxury brand. Burberry designs, manufactures and licenses apparel and accessories for distribution through its own stores and network of prestige retailers worldwide. In early 1998, the new management team at Burberry set out its strategy to reposition and revitalise the brand, which resulted in significantly improved results and strengthened the base to build the business. With continuous growth since last five years, Burberry has faced new challenges of brand sustainability and positioning in a volatile industry (fashion) where customer behaviour is unpredictable. Thus, it requires a strategy that lays foundations for long-term growth and addresses the issues

Louis Vuitton was a French box-producer and packer who established the extravagance brand of the same name in excess of 150 years back. From humble beginnings in the French field, Vuitton 's aptitude, development and determination rapidly saw his mark trunks desired by the world 's tip top. Presently, with Marc Jacobs in charge as innovative chief since 1997, the house has extended its putting forth to incorporate packs, apparel, shoes, frill and adornments, making it a standout amongst the most profitable extravagance marks on the planet.

Luxury product sales boost in the emerging marketing like China, which has extraordinary growth and strong potential consumers for the development of luxury goods in the China market. With gradually lower and lower increase of revenue in the European countries, Louis Vuitton (abridged as LV in the following sections) commits itself to set up more stores in China. However, LV is faced with the problems of declining profits in China, which urges it to adjust its entry strategy into the China market. In this case, this report will focus on distinguishing the factors that influence LV’s development in China and