Laura Marino, a second-year student on LSE’s Global Master’s in Management programme and President of LSE’s Global Luxury Business Society, was one of the privileged few LSE Management students to embark on the Louis Vuitton Store Trek earlier this year.

Visiting the Louis Vuitton flagship store

The experience began with an inviting breakfast hosted by alumna, Melanie and her team, within the luxurious confines of the private “Appartement” at the majestic Louis Vuitton flagship store on New Bond Street. This was then followed by a tour of the boutique. On the top floor of the Maison, each private room had dedicated and exclusive pieces, such as the beautiful portraits of its family empire and its three key figures: Louis, the founder and visionary; Georges, the inventor, and Gaston, the great traveller.

Learning about the LVMH Maison portfolio

The visit was particularly enlightening as it shed light on LVMH’s impressive growth trajectory, showcasing its dominance in the luxury sector with a portfolio of over 75 Maison’s including Dior, Loro Piana, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Givenchy, and Belmond hotels. We delved into LVMH’s strategic vision, noting their commitment to their hospitality offerings and Watches & Jewellery division, whilst also branching out into the entertainment sector. To my biggest surprise, I learnt that Sephora, Gen Zs’ top beauty brand, was one of the biggest Maison from the portfolio.

The graduate career path

Continuing with our journey, we received an informative presentation from the team about LVMH’s expansive operations, highlighting remarkable career paths available to recent graduates at Louis Vuitton, particularly within the growing UK market. The discussion centred around core characteristics when hiring across the Maison’s including the entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and to be driven by excellence. There was an emphasis placed on retail experience being fundamental for comprehending both product intricacies and client engagement.

Finalising the store visit

We were honoured to hear from Sheharbano – an esteemed LSE alumna – about her journey in the Selfridges team, as part of the Manager in Training (MIT) programme. Furthermore, we were captivated by Merve’s narrative detailing her transition from consulting to her current role as Deputy Store Director—a testament to varied routes leading into luxury retail.

As we progressed through our store visit, we ventured across various departments including Women’s Ready-To-Wear, a brief stop at the personalisation station with the iconic trunks, before proceeding to explore Pharrell Williams Men’s collection.

Summing up this immersive encounter with the Louis Vuitton Maison only served to solidify my aspiration to be part of such a vibrant brand that exudes inspiration, passion, and excitement at every turn. 

Find out more about the Global Master’s in Management programme