21 Astonishing Facts About Louis Vuitton for All Luxury Shopping Fans
Posted on |
Louis Vuitton has made a name for itself not only as a high-luxury fashion brand but as one of the most esteemed businesses in the world. Now owned by the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Group, these facts about Louis Vuitton show the brand’s humble beginnings and just how big it has become.
Top Louis Vuitton Fun Facts and Stats (Editor’s Choice)
- Louis Vuitton’s brand value is currently £11.2 billion.
- Louis Vuitton is the 13th most valuable brand in the world.
- With a net worth of £197.6 billion, Louis Vuitton’s owner is currently the third richest person in the world.
- Urban Satchel is the most expensive Louis Vuitton bag that costs £112,000.
- The LVMH Group owns 5,003 stores around the world.
- In 2020, the LVMH Group generated £37.8 billion in revenue.
- Fashion and leather goods account for 47% of the total LVMH Group’s revenue.
- Louis Vuitton opened his first boutique in 1854.
Essential Louis Vuitton Facts
With a brand value of more than £10 billion, Louis Vuitton is among the most profitable luxurious companies in the fashion industry. Known for its handbags, the brand stays relevant with its unique designs that blend art with function. Despite the high price tag, this company maintains a high following, making the owner of the company, Bernard Arnault, the richest man in the world.
1. Louis Vuitton’s brand value is £11.2 billion.
(Statista)
Louis Vuitton’s value decreased in 2021, but LVMH statistics show that the highest value recorded was in 2020. The brand’s value was estimated at £12.4 billion during that year, a £2.2 billion increase since 2019.
2. Louis Vuitton is the fourth most profitable luxury handbag brand.
(Statista)
With a price premium of 35.4%, Louis Vuitton is among the most profitable luxury companies around the world. Brandon Blackwood, a US luxury brand, was the most profitable for 2021, with a price premium of 100.4%. A leading competitor of the famous Louis Vuitton bags, Dior, reported a price premium of 38.1% during 2021.
3. With a net worth of £197.6 billion, Louis Vuitton’s owner is the third richest person in the world.
(Forbes)
The Louis Vuitton owner, Bernard Arnault, is the third richest man in the world, falling behind Elon Musk’s net worth by $74.6 billion. The former number one richest man, Jeff Bezos, is in second place with $197 billion.
4. Louis Vuitton was mentioned 4,817 times in the British media from 2019 to 2020.
(Statista)
When it comes to clothing brands, Louis Vuitton is among those most frequently mentioned in the British press. Other top noted competitors of Louis Vuitton are Chanel with 9,605 mentions, Gucci with 8,811 mentions, and Dior with 7,258 mentions.
5. Louis Vuitton has 46.9 million followers on Instagram.
(Instagram)
Louis Vuitton is one of the most popular luxury brands on social media, maintaining a strong social media engagement. A leading reason behind this company’s social media success is each and every Louis Vuitton brand ambassador. By frequently choosing popular figures on Instagram to promote new campaigns and products, Louis Vuitton keeps itself relevant in the changing social media world.
6. The LVMH Group spent £117 million on research and development in 2020.
(Statista)
Despite a tumultuous 2020, filled with uncertainty for any economy, the LVMH group continued to invest in research and development. Louis Vuitton facts from previous years, however, show that investment was slightly lower than in 2019 when the company spent £118.5 million. Still, estimates show an increase from years prior, with an investment of £110 million in 2017 and 2018 toward the same cause.
7. In 2020, the LVMH Group spent over £4 billion on advertising and promotion.
(Statista)
Like most companies, the LVMH Group lowered its expenditure in 2020. According to an official Louis Vuitton information report, the company invested £5.3 billion in 2019 in ads and promotions, a £1.3 billion more than during 2020. In 2018, the LVMH Group also invested more than in 2020—£4.7 billion.
8. Urban Satchel is the most expensive Louis Vuitton bag, costing £112,000.
(WP Diamonds)
Urban Satchel is a unique handbag, difficult to make, and carries an important message about sustainable fashion. More importantly, it’s the seventh most expensive handbag in the world and way more expensive than other LV bags.
It’s also pretty controversial as many claim it’s neither pretty nor wearable. Still, it was valuable to Louis Vuitton enough to sign a multi-million dollar deal with Ashley Olsen for its advertisement.
Facts About Louis Vuitton Stores
Louis Vuitton offers a special experience to the customers who visit one of its 5,000 brick-and-mortar stores worldwide. Customers get the feeling like they are in an art exhibit rather than a retail store. Modern design, expensive installations, and luxurious products are what customers get when they visit Louis Vuitton.
9. The LVMH Group owns 5,003 stores around the world.
(Statista)
The number of stores this company owns has been steadily increasing in the last decade and a half. In 2019, Louis Vuitton had 4,915 official stores, while the number sat at 4,592 the year before. In 2017, the LVMH group had 4,374 shops, while ten years back in Louis Vuitton history, the company only owned 3,040 stores worldwide.
10. The LVMH Group employs 163,000 people.
(Statista)
With a gradual increase in retail stores, employees of Louis Vuitton also increased. For instance, in 2019, the LVMH Group employed 156,000 people. Just one year prior, only 136,633 people were working for the company. If one were to look at Louis Vuitton history facts, it might be said that things have changed significantly for the company in the last decade. For instance, in 2011, the LVMH Group had just 97,559 workers.
11. The LVMH Group has 1,175 stores in Europe.
(Statista)
Louis Vuitton manufactures its products in France, and it comes as no surprise that a significant number of its stores are in Europe. Out of 1,175 stores, 512 are in France. Still, the biggest number of stores this company owns is in Asia—1,514. The LVMH Group currently has 866 stores in the US.
About Louis Vuitton Revenue
The LVMH group consistently generates billions of pounds in revenue. The company wasn’t immune to the effects of the pandemic, however. Louis Vuitton recorded a significant change in its income in 2020. Still, the brand showed resilience in a time when many luxury brands were facing a downturn in business.
12. In 2020, the LVMH Group generated £37.8 billion in revenue.
(LVMH)
Reporting almost £7 billion less than in 2019, Louis Vuitton is still generating a lot of profit. In the first nine months of 2021, the Group recorded earnings of £37.4 billion, an almost 46% higher LVMH revenue than in the same period in 2020. Experts predict a full recovery in 2021 and years to come.
13. Europe, excluding France, accounts for 16% of the LVMH Group’s revenue.
(LVMH)
Europe brings a large portion of revenue to the LVMH Group. France alone is responsible for 8% of the company’s entire revenue. Japan accounts for 7% of the Louis Vuitton net worth, while the rest of Asia accounts for 34%. The United States generates 24% of the total company’s revenue.
14. Fashion and leather goods account for 47% of the total LVMH Group’s revenue.
(Statista, LVMH)
Fashion and leather goods bring the highest earnings to the company. In 2020, this sector generated £18 billion in revenue. Even though this number is astounding, 2019 brought even higher profits with £18.8 billion, making fashion and leather goods at Louis Vuitton the most expensive sector in the last two years.
15. The watches and jewellery sector generates 7% of the total LV’s revenue.
(Statista, LVMH)
According to the official LVMH Group’s data, the watches and jewellery sector generates a steady profit each year. In 2020, however, the earnings were significantly lower than in previous years. Still, Louis Vuitton sales revenue for watches and jewellery was £2.8 billion. In 2019, on the other hand, the sector grossed £3.7 billion in profit.
16. The perfumes and cosmetics segment accounts for 12% of the total LVMH’s earnings.
(Statista, LVMH)
Last year, this sector generated £4.4 billion in revenue. Among the discouraging facts about Louis Vuitton is that this number is the lowest recorded in recent years. For example, in 2019, this sector made £5.8 billion, and in 2018, the revenue sat at nearly £5.2 billion. In 2017, the income was also higher than in 2020, with £4.7 billion.
About Louis Vuitton, the Founder
The story about Louis Vuitton laid the foundation for the brand’s values. His life story has inspired people to follow their dreams, work hard, and fight for themselves. Born in the 1800s, Vuitton experienced tragedy in his early life that spurred him to go on the journey that led to his success.
17. Louis Vuitton was born in 1821.
(Bright Side)
Many wonder, “where was Louis Vuitton born?” His birthplace is a small, mostly unknown village in the East of France. His mother was a hat maker, while his father was either a carpenter or a farmer. They both died early in his life.
18. Louis Vuitton walked 470 km over two years to reach Paris.
(Bright Side)
When he was just 13 years old, little Louis had a fight with his foster mother and decided to leave. Instead of relocating somewhere close by, he decided to go to Paris. As people learn about Louis Vuitton and his life choices, they are amazed by his resilience. It took him over two years to complete his journey. Along the way, he took odd jobs to sustain himself.
19. He became a box maker for Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife in 1853.
(Bright Side)
Vuitton started as an apprentice under Marechal, who made travel trunks for the rich. He stayed there for over a decade before Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife recognised his talent and invited him to work for her, exposing him to famous clients.
20. Louis Vuitton opened his first boutique in 1854.
(Bright Side)
What Louis Vuitton is known for is its luxurious, rectangular-shaped suitcases. Many don’t know that these products emerged years after he opened his first shop. Louis first became famous for his craftsmanship and high-quality dome-shaped leather trunks. Then, he started experimenting with the products that would skyrocket him to fame.
21. Louis Vuitton died in 1892.
(Biography)
So many people are curious about Louis Vuitton and the cause of his death because details are unknown. Experts know that he died at the age of 70 and was pretty popular during his life. After his death, his son Georges assumed the leadership of his company, creating the LV monogram and continuing his father’s legacy.
Conclusion
Despite a large number of competitors, the LVMH market share has been steady. It’s one of the most valuable brands and is extremely popular on social media. In addition, 5,000 official LV stores offer a unique experience to their customers, making it irresistible for those with a distinct taste.
Like many clothing and designer brands, Louis Vuitton’s revenue decreased in 2020. In 2021, however, the Louis Vuitton company net worth had a swift recovery. Without a doubt, Louis Vuitton will continue to be a relevant luxury brand for years to come.
FAQ
What is an interesting fact about Louis Vuitton?
There are so many fascinating facts about the founder of Louis Vuitton. His work is inspiring as he was only 13 years old when he decided to follow his dreams and change his life. Still, what most Louis Vuitton customers would probably be more interested in are fun facts about the brand’s products. For example, LV bags are both fireproof and waterproof due to a combination of PVC and canvas materials.
What is Louis Vuitton famous for?
The most famous Louis Vuitton products are bags, trunks, shoes, watches, and jewellery. When the founder of the brand created a rectangle trunk that was both luxurious and durable, it became widely popular among the wealthiest population.
What should I know about Louis Vuitton?
Many handbag experts praise Louis Vuitton’s products for their durability. What they usually don’t know is that all LV products undergo extremely thorough quality tests. LV bags are filled up with weights and dropped from different heights for days to test their durability. The material they are made of and the zippers also face vigorous quality testing before being approved.
Why is Louis Vuitton so expensive?
Louis Vuitton is a luxurious brand that stands behind its high-quality products. As such, LV bags are waterproof and fireproof and undergo various tests before they go up for sale.
The leather used for making the bags is the finest on the market. Still, among the more interesting facts about Louis Vuitton is that the brand has one of the highest quality products while remaining relatively affordable.
Sources: