PARIS (FRANCE) – Sales of Hermes, the Birkin handbag maker, gained momentum in Q-3 and clocked a 7% rise. The group said this positive momentum extended into October following a rebound in Asia and other regions where the pandemic curbs have been eased.
Closure of boutiques and stores affected luxury goods groups during lockdowns. But a slow reopening has helped their sales recover.
High-end labels have usually been reluctant to sell their costly products online. But they are seeing a surge in online sales.
Hermes is known for its $12,000-plus handbags like the Birkin and they often generate waiting lists. But now the luxury group has said it would make a larger push for online sales.
“We are going to gradually increase our offer of products online, except for the very iconic products such as Birkin,” finance chief Eric du Halgoüet told reporters.
He said its online platform has become the group’s biggest store with revenues exceeding those of any of its flagship outlets. Online sales grew by nearly 100% in all regions in the first nine months of the year.