LVMH Fundamentals in Luxury Retail program extended through 2015

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Mar 3, 2015

Based on success in job placement and wage growth, LVMH Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, the Chinese-American Planning Council ("CPC") and the Parsons School of Design have announced the extension of the LVMH Fundamentals in Luxury Retail program through 2015.
 
The ten-week education and training program helps applicants find employment among luxury retailers by providing retail skills to bilingual English and Mandarin speakers who are unemployed, underemployed and those who have recently moved to the United States. LVMH and CPC professionals and Parsons professors educate the students enrolled in the program in addition to the students partaking in an intern program in one of the LVMH retail stores.

Chantal Gaemperle, Group EVP, Human Resources and Synergies at LVMH, who invented the concept of the program, said, "We are delighted with the early success of this program, which is fulfilling our goal of addressing the needs of luxury retailers to best serve their Mandarin-speaking clientele while also helping to generate employment and enhanced economic opportunities for unemployed and underemployed immigrants in the United States. The goals of this program reflect a greater focus within LVMH of establishing creative, innovative initiatives across our Group that enable us to make a positive and enduring impact on society."
 
Out of the 90% of students who completed the program (41 individuals), 70% had immediate job placement with an average increase in wage per hour of more than three-fold, not including bonuses and commission. The program also received support the Robin Hood Foundation due to its success rate.

The program is open to English and Mandarin-speakers who can legally work in the US, are unemployed or underemployed with a high school diploma or the equivalent, and want to start a career in fashion retail. The recruiting process for March 30th has now begun.