LVMH
1832: Jean-Rémy hands over control of the company to his son and son-in-law; business is renamed Moët et Chandon.
1854: Louis Vuitton opens his own packing and trunkmaking business in Paris.
1885: Louis Vuitton expands internationally by opening a store in London.
1969: Louis Vuitton enters the Asian market with a store in Tokyo.
1971: Moët et Chandon merges with Jas. Hennessy & Company, the largest cognac producer in France, and is renamed Moët-Hennessy.
1984: Louis Vuitton goes public.
1987: Louis Vuitton and Moët-Hennessy merge in a $4 billion deal.
Dior Fragrance
Since it was founded, the House of Parfums Christian Dior has always demonstrated intense creativity combined with expert savoir-faire. As such, the area around Grasse, loved so dearly by Christian Dior, is still today more than ever a precious terroir for the composition of Dior fragrances. Benefiting from a unique geographical location, the cradle of flowers for perfumery produces truly exceptional blooms. François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator, has established partnerships in the area with devoted growers, whose May Rose and Grandiflorum Jasmine harvests are exclusively set aside for some of the House’s fragrances. Some of these include Les Extraits, whose olfactory beauty is also accompanied by rare glass-making craftsmanship. The savoir-faire of the Dames d’Atelier Dior is an invaluable treasure and includes dexterity and ancestral traditions such as the art of baudruchage which is handed down from generation to generation.
Innovation and a constant quest for performance figure at the heart of Parfums Christian Dior’s DNA. LVMH Recherche has created Hélios, a new R&D center for Parfums Christian Dior and other LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Maisons. This world-class facility enables them to develop their activities under exceptional conditions and pursue ambitious scientific research programs. Located in the heart of Cosmetic Valley, the French competitiveness cluster near Orléans, Hélios supports the Parfums Christian Dior production site in Saint Jean de Braye. Hélios’ six buildings span 18,000 square meters, including 7,100 square meters of labs. LVMH Recherche has a staff of 500 people at five sites around the world, including around 400 at Hélios. They include leading experts and scientists in over 20 highly specialized fields. Groundbreaking products such as Diorskin Nude foundation and the Capture skincare line are continually being developed and improved at this unparalleled center.
Sephora
Sephora started out as a small perfumery in Limoges, France, called Shop 8. Dominique Mandonnaud wanted to provide a place for customers to try out the products before making a purchase, something almost unheard of at the time. Products were grouped together by type, not brand. By 1979, 12 more stores had opened.
Mandonnaud purchased the Sephora chain in 1993, according to the company history. This meant merging the 38 Sephora stores with his 12 Shop 8 stores.
In 1995, Sephora company history reports that it launched a brand of its own name. The Sephora brand included bath and body products.
In 1997, Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey purchased the chain. Mandonnaud retired right around the time of his 50th birthday. Since that time, the Sephora brand has branched out into 30 countries across the globe. By 1998, Sephora had expanded into Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Poland.
COTY
Estee Lauder
Born Josephine Esther Mentzer, Estée Lauder was raised in Queens, New York, by her Hungarian mother, Rose, and Czech father, Max. The name Estée was a variation of her nickname, Esty. Her interest in beauty was sparked in high school when her Hungarian uncle came to live with her family and created velvety skin creams, first in the kitchen, then in a laboratory in a stable out back. From her uncle, Estée not only learned how to concoct the wonderful creams but also how to apply them to women’s faces.
In the late 1920s, Estée met Joseph Lauter. They were married in 1930 and moved to Manhattan. Shortly thereafter, the couple adopted the surname Lauder
Estée had innate instincts for what women wanted and was the consummate saleswoman and marketer. She believed that to make a sale, you had to touch the consumer, show her the results on her face and explain the products. She also took the "Gift with Purchase" idea to new heights, elevating it such that it became standard industry practice.
Decades before social media became mainstream, Estée ran word-of-mouth campaigns. Her oft-repeated mantra was “Telephone, Telegraph, Tell a Woman.” She believed that women who liked her products would spread the word.