Jamie Matusow with Joanna Cosgrove, Editor-in-Chief with Contributing Editor11.01.17
Update: LVMH ranks at #9 on our latest report Top 20 Global Beauty Companies 2021.
France
www.lvmh.com
Corporate Sales:
$39.6 billion
Beauty Sales (Perfumes & Cosmetics):
$5.2 billion
Key Personnel:
Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer; Antonio Belloni, group managing director; Nicolas Bazire, development and acquisitions; Chantal Gaemperle, human resources and synergies; Jean-Jacques Guiony, finance; Chris de Lapuente, Sephora and Beauty; Philippe Schause, duty-free stores.
Major Products/Brands:
Perfumes and Cosmetics brands including Guerlain, Acqua de Parma, Parfums Christian Dior, Givenchy Parfums, Perfumes Loewe, Benefit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Kenzo Parfums, Fresh, Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
New Products:
Mon Guerlain, Christian Dior Poison Girl, Benefit-Brow Collection, La Petite Robe Noir makeup collection, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Aqua Celestia
Comments:
Even in a world with certain crippled economies, unfavorable exchange rates, and younger consumers who theoretically have less desire to spend on “things” rather than “experiences,” luxe apparently knows no limits. Luxury products group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton recorded across-the-board revenue of $39.6 billion in 2016, an increase of 5% over the previous year. Boosted by new fragrances and cosmetic line extensions, the Perfumes & Cosmetics division topped out at $5.2 billion.
Revenue in the fourth quarter increased by 9% year on year. The company reported that the American market remains strong as does Europe. Asia, excluding Japan, continued its positive momentum.
Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO, said: “LVMH achieved an excellent performance in 2016 within a context of geopolitical and economic instability… In an environment which remains uncertain, we can count on the appeal of our brands and the agility of our teams to strengthen, once again in 2017, our leadership in the universe of high-quality products.”
Key highlights from 2016 in the Perfumes & Cosmetics business group included good momentum at Parfums Christian Dior, driven by successful product innovations; and growth at Sephora, which strengthened its position in all its markets and in digital.
The Perfumes & Cosmetics business group inaugurated a new atelier for the creation of fragrances; Les Fontaines Parfumées, at Grasse was called “a highlight of the year.” Parfums Christian Dior grew market share in all regions, driven by the global success of Sauvage and of its perfumes J’adore and Miss Dior. Sales of makeup also contributed to the brand’s excellent performance. Guerlain succeeded with its new makeup collection inspired by its fragrance La Petite Robe Noire. Benefit experienced strong growth driven by the success of its new collection for eyebrows. Make Up For Ever, Fresh and Kat Von D all performed well.
In the Selective Retailing business group, Sephora gained market share across all regions and once again recorded double-digit growth in both revenue and profits. More than 100 doors were opened in 2016 including a flagship store in the World Trade Center in New York.
2017 News of Note
In the new year, LVMH continued its emphasis on fragrance, striking deals and naming influential global ambassadors.
At the end of January, the House of Dior revealed Poison Girl EDT, described as “a bittersweet floral” composed by Dior perfumer-creator François Demachy.
Guerlain launched a global women’s scent, Mon Guerlain, worldwide, on March 1. Laurent Boillot, chairman and CEO of the brand, said “We are entering a new cycle for Guerlain, which has success with La Petite Robe Noire fragrance, Orchidée Impériale skin care and a new factory. “It’s time for Guerlain to go even more international,” he continued, adding, “now is also a moment for the label to focus further on perfume.”
A key element for building awareness is the scent itself. Mon Guerlain’s juice was conceived by Guerlain master perfumer Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk. Boillot noted: “The fragrance is inspired by a woman with different facets, and so, Angelina Jolie was chosen as the scent’s muse and its face.”
When it came to the packaging of Mon Guerlain, corporate executives dug into the brand’s archives and chose a streamlined flacon with a quadrilobe stopper dating from 1908. “It’s so modern because of the pure lines, the pure design,” said Boillot of the bottle, which has the name “Guerlain” appearing directly on it; there is no label.
“We never invested so much in a fragrance [launch],” said Boillot, without providing numbers.
Jolie is donating her salary for the Guerlain advertising campaign to charity.
Looking Ahead
Fine tastes grew frenetically faster than ever in the first half of 2017, it seems, as the French luxury giant posted total revenues of $22.5 billion, an increase of 15%. All geographic areas continued to do well. During the period, LVMH acknowledged benefiting from a favorable comparison base, particularly in Asia but also in France, where activity was impacted last year by a decline in tourism.
Success of the new products at Christian Dior and the continued strengthening of Sephora’s omni-channel strategy were credited with boosting the bottom line in Perfumes & Cosmetics, which reached $2.7 billion for the period.
J’adore and Miss Dior, Sauvage, Mon Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy makeup and Benefit’s Brow Collection were of special note as first-half success stories.
France
www.lvmh.com
Corporate Sales:
$39.6 billion
Beauty Sales (Perfumes & Cosmetics):
$5.2 billion
Key Personnel:
Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer; Antonio Belloni, group managing director; Nicolas Bazire, development and acquisitions; Chantal Gaemperle, human resources and synergies; Jean-Jacques Guiony, finance; Chris de Lapuente, Sephora and Beauty; Philippe Schause, duty-free stores.
Major Products/Brands:
Perfumes and Cosmetics brands including Guerlain, Acqua de Parma, Parfums Christian Dior, Givenchy Parfums, Perfumes Loewe, Benefit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Kenzo Parfums, Fresh, Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
New Products:
Mon Guerlain, Christian Dior Poison Girl, Benefit-Brow Collection, La Petite Robe Noir makeup collection, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Aqua Celestia
Comments:
Even in a world with certain crippled economies, unfavorable exchange rates, and younger consumers who theoretically have less desire to spend on “things” rather than “experiences,” luxe apparently knows no limits. Luxury products group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton recorded across-the-board revenue of $39.6 billion in 2016, an increase of 5% over the previous year. Boosted by new fragrances and cosmetic line extensions, the Perfumes & Cosmetics division topped out at $5.2 billion.
Revenue in the fourth quarter increased by 9% year on year. The company reported that the American market remains strong as does Europe. Asia, excluding Japan, continued its positive momentum.
Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO, said: “LVMH achieved an excellent performance in 2016 within a context of geopolitical and economic instability… In an environment which remains uncertain, we can count on the appeal of our brands and the agility of our teams to strengthen, once again in 2017, our leadership in the universe of high-quality products.”
Key highlights from 2016 in the Perfumes & Cosmetics business group included good momentum at Parfums Christian Dior, driven by successful product innovations; and growth at Sephora, which strengthened its position in all its markets and in digital.
The Perfumes & Cosmetics business group inaugurated a new atelier for the creation of fragrances; Les Fontaines Parfumées, at Grasse was called “a highlight of the year.” Parfums Christian Dior grew market share in all regions, driven by the global success of Sauvage and of its perfumes J’adore and Miss Dior. Sales of makeup also contributed to the brand’s excellent performance. Guerlain succeeded with its new makeup collection inspired by its fragrance La Petite Robe Noire. Benefit experienced strong growth driven by the success of its new collection for eyebrows. Make Up For Ever, Fresh and Kat Von D all performed well.
In the Selective Retailing business group, Sephora gained market share across all regions and once again recorded double-digit growth in both revenue and profits. More than 100 doors were opened in 2016 including a flagship store in the World Trade Center in New York.
2017 News of Note
In the new year, LVMH continued its emphasis on fragrance, striking deals and naming influential global ambassadors.
At the end of January, the House of Dior revealed Poison Girl EDT, described as “a bittersweet floral” composed by Dior perfumer-creator François Demachy.
Guerlain launched a global women’s scent, Mon Guerlain, worldwide, on March 1. Laurent Boillot, chairman and CEO of the brand, said “We are entering a new cycle for Guerlain, which has success with La Petite Robe Noire fragrance, Orchidée Impériale skin care and a new factory. “It’s time for Guerlain to go even more international,” he continued, adding, “now is also a moment for the label to focus further on perfume.”
A key element for building awareness is the scent itself. Mon Guerlain’s juice was conceived by Guerlain master perfumer Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk. Boillot noted: “The fragrance is inspired by a woman with different facets, and so, Angelina Jolie was chosen as the scent’s muse and its face.”
When it came to the packaging of Mon Guerlain, corporate executives dug into the brand’s archives and chose a streamlined flacon with a quadrilobe stopper dating from 1908. “It’s so modern because of the pure lines, the pure design,” said Boillot of the bottle, which has the name “Guerlain” appearing directly on it; there is no label.
“We never invested so much in a fragrance [launch],” said Boillot, without providing numbers.
Jolie is donating her salary for the Guerlain advertising campaign to charity.
Looking Ahead
Fine tastes grew frenetically faster than ever in the first half of 2017, it seems, as the French luxury giant posted total revenues of $22.5 billion, an increase of 15%. All geographic areas continued to do well. During the period, LVMH acknowledged benefiting from a favorable comparison base, particularly in Asia but also in France, where activity was impacted last year by a decline in tourism.
Success of the new products at Christian Dior and the continued strengthening of Sephora’s omni-channel strategy were credited with boosting the bottom line in Perfumes & Cosmetics, which reached $2.7 billion for the period.
J’adore and Miss Dior, Sauvage, Mon Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy makeup and Benefit’s Brow Collection were of special note as first-half success stories.
