Louis Vuitton 2008 Annual Report Download - page 53

LVMH010_2008_GB:Mise en page 1 24/03/09 11:14 Page 54
Le Bon Marché enhances
its unique character
2008 was a transition year for Le Bon Marché,
characterized by the continued renovation work
that is preparing for future trends and will open
new growth possibilities. This work is intended
to highlight the architecture of the department
store and its interior decor. Year after year, this
work enhances the unique atmosphere of Le Bon
Marché and its unique character among the great
Paris department stores. In 2008, the work
focused on the home and living sector.
In a difficult commercial context at year-end, the
store recorded slightly slower activity and main-
tained solid profitability. The second-half launch
of the new website treeslbm.com was well recei-
ved. The public's interest in the site was confir-
med by the number of visitors and pages viewed
and, since December 2008, by revenue genera-
ted via this new channel.
La Grande Epicerie de Paris expanded its "deli"
activity and obtained a new catering concession
on site.
O u tlo o k
In t h e ver y u n cert ain en viro n m en t o f 20 0 9 , th e
Ab u Dh ab i b u sin ess o ver a fu ll year an d t h e o p en in g o f a
n ew sit e in M acao w ill b e p o sit ive elem en t s fo r th e a ct i-
vit y o f DFS. In t h e sh o rt t er m , t h e "t ravel ret a il" lead er
sh o u ld also b en efit fro m a series o f ad ju st m en t s m ad e t o
it s o rgan izat io n in th e fo u rt h q u art er o f 20 0 8 in o rd er to
sim p lify it , b o o st it s efficien cy a n d im p ro ve t h e p ro d u c-
t ivit y o f it s st o res. In t h e m ed iu m an d lon g t erm , DFS
w ill rem ain fo cu sed o n t h e gro w t h o p p o rt u n it ies relat ed
t o h igh - p o t en t ial Asia n cu sto m ers an d t h e ex p a n sion o f
it s p resen ce in t h e M id d le East .
Sep h o ra w ill co n tin u e to gain m a rket sh are by m a in t a i-
n in g t h e m ajo r vect o rs of its st rat egy. In p art icu lar, t h e
bra n d w ill rely o n t h e in t ro d u ct io n o f a n ew w a ve of
exclu sive p ro d u ct s, o n th e in n o va t io n s in it s o w n bran d
p ro d u ct s, an d o n gro w t h in it s lo yalty p ro gra m s. Part i-
cu lar at t en t io n w ill b e p aid to t h e efficien cy o f it s o rga-
n izat io n in o rd er to co n t in u e t h e t ren d o f p ro fit ab le
gro w t h . N ew st o res w ill b e co n cen t rat ed in m a rket s o ffe-
rin g t h e great est p ro fit a b ility in o rd er t o en su re a rap id
ret u rn o n in vest m en t an d in n ew h igh -p o t en t ia l t errito -
ries like Ch in a.
Le Bo n M arch é h as in it iat ed very rigo ro u s m an agem en t
m ea su res, w h ile m ain t ain in g its in vest m en t s in sales
p ro d u ct ivit y. Th e arch it ect u ral fo cu s o f t h e st o re w ill
st ren gth en it s id en t it y an d u n iq u e p o sit io n in g an d allo w
it t o t a ke fu ll a d van t age of t h e ret u r n t o a b et t er bu yin g
t ren d w h en t h e t im e co m es.
PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATIVITY 51