On location: LVMH unveils ambitious plans for La Samaritaine in Paris

FRANCE. Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton (LVMH) today (19 November) unveiled its plans for the iconic La Samaritaine department store in central Paris, which is due to reopen in April 2020.

As reported, the ambitious €750 million (US$817.9 million) renovation of the 70,000sq m historic building will see the introduction of a T Galleria by DFS alongside a 76-room hotel, office space for LVMH, apartments and a nursery.

The ambitious renovation will create one of the world’s great shopping destinations

At today’s press conference, which featured LVMH Chief Financial Officer Jean-Jacques Guiony, Cheval Blanc Group Director Olivier Lefebvre and LVMH Regional President Europe & Middle East Eléonore De Boysson, further details for the impressive development were revealed.

Senior figures at LVMH reveal details of the project ahead of next year’s opening

The renovation of the LVMH-owned landmark central Paris location, which closed its doors in 2005, is one of the largest development projects the city has seen, attendees heard. The idea is for the building, which will use sustainable energy after the renovation is completed, to play an important part in influencing the life of the first arrondissement neighbourhood.

La Samaritaine will further enhance the first arrondissement as a global destination

The T Galleria by DFS in La Samaritaine, the second T Galleria in Europe after the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS in Venice, will focus on established LVMH houses, but will also house niche French and other brands, including Charlotte Tilbury and Clé de Peau Beauté.

An early glimpse as the €750 million renovation project takes shape

LVMH added that, where the T Fondaco in Venice is focused on Italian brands, the 20,000sq m of retail space in La Samaritaine will be more focused on French brands. However, as the Parisian location is a larger space, the store will be able to accommodate the majority of LVMH brands.

Model retail offer: A sneak peek of the exterior of the renovated facility

The luxury company is anticipating an even split between locals and tourist shoppers at the T Galleria by DFS, but for tourists to account for a larger share of the spend.

The department store will also include 12 dining options and a series of additional services, including a spa, beauty salon, personalisation area and a private room for VIPs.

Eléonore De Boysson gives her vision for the project

De Boissière added that LVMH would focus on customer experience French hospitality and know-how, attention to detail and delivering a unique project.

Paris in the autumn: A prospect that will only be enhanced by the new development

Background: La Samaritaine, a Parisian institution since its founding in 1870 by Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Jaÿ, was acquired by luxury goods giant LVMH in 2001. Four years later the building was closed for safety reasons, sparking more than a decade of controversy over its proposed design and redevelopment. All the legal and regulatory challenges have since been overcome, setting the scene for what LVMH described as La Samaritaine’s “renaissance”.

The new-look La Samaritaine embraces a cluster of old and new buildings spread over two blocks between the Quai du Louvre and the Rue de Rivoli, next to the Seine river.

Going strong on Globuy

As a lead business partner of The Moodie Davitt Report, the La Samaritaine story will also appear in coming days in Chinese and with a consumer voice on fast-growing Chinese B2C WeChat social media account Globuy [玩转全球免税], as part of a new collaboration between Globuy owner Extra-Aile Media in Shanghai and The Moodie Davitt Report.

Globuy aims to become “the KOL of Chinese travel retail” and already has 400,000 followers and a monthly audience of 1 million views for its WeChat social media platform promoting new launches, product availability, promotions and special offers. Underlining the strong affinity and complementary nature of the two companies work, Globuy has dubbed The Moodie Davitt Report “the KOL of travel retail B2B media”

Under the agreement, selected stories from The Moodie Davitt Report.com’s lead brand partners in beauty, fashion, luxury, confectionery and premium spirits are also published by Globuy in Chinese. These include product reviews by the Globuy team.

Globuy is promoting The Moodie Davitt Report’s platform to China’s travel retail sector and to its own consumer audience in China. The Moodie Davitt Report subsequently also publishes a curated selection of Chinese consumer feedback on the chosen stories and will reveal the results of regular consumer surveys conducted in association with Globuy.

 

 

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