Great article. I thought about your luxury beliefs right away. Using you luxury clothing backdrop, it is easier to carry a bag than wear a tophat. I love fashion but I would do my own fast-walking past that even after living for 2 years in Paris. You have to cut a swath like Birkin or Kelly to pull that off.
Well researched article. The atmosphere is very self-conscious, very quiet, very elegant. Just opening the door and walking in makes more noise than what's happening inside. I bought a 'pedestrian' $200 scarf for a French woman I knew would like it. My only saving grace was I was able to speak French with the salespeople. I'm sure they looked at how I was dressed and hoped I'd get out of there as soon as possible.
Contrast the Hermès-Dumas family's long-term dedication to their business with certain tech serial entrepreneur/founder aspirations to profitably exit ASAP, pivot, and move on to the next venture. I would guess the latter's reaction to Trung's post would be Hey, that's a sector that needs to be disrupted!
Fascinating article. Even though I am 'middle class' made it in your graph. . . own a Kate Spade handbag my husband purchased as a Christmas gift a few years ago. (Your wife might like one. . . this could last a long time in the brownie points area.) Correction: Last paragraph, *Anyways is considered a slang, *Anyway is more appropriate at the end of a sentence if you were to use it. I suggest using *However, but in your article, *Whatever or *In any event, would have sufficed. However, I do understand you were finishing up with a little more casualness or snark. 🤓
This is a fascinating piece, Trung, I enjoyed it. Hermes does indeed have that "aura" and is inaproachable by most of us barbarians. I am at the opposite end of the money spectrum but I can certainly appreciate the dedication to excellence of craftsmanship, quality and "materiel". There is nothing wrong with things of great beauty and I am a life-long lover of all things fabric, garments and style. I still remember a Paris Hermes store refusing service to Oprah Winfrey, as Ms. Winfrey apparently approached the store right at closing time and they would not let her in, despite her fame and wealth. Strange. I still have my humble Coach leather "hobo" handbag, bought in the year 2000. It has wear and tear on it but still looks reasonably good and I still carry it a time or two per week. I do not shop for "fast fashion". Thank you again for your excellent efforts in sharing all this information about the amazing Hermes empire. The idea of "long-term" thnking is a very good one, not as much practiced in the USA. Thank you also for the recommend on Rob Henderson's book, I look forward to reading it as soon as it arrives in my local library. I always have my nose in a book, keeps my brain working!
That Oprah story did come up in my research. Apparently, the store was preparing for an after-hours event and it loooked still open. The junior employees coudlnt make a fast decision and should have just let one of the most famous people in the world in.
Hermes went into full crisis mode and the american CEO flew to see Oprah to apologize a bit later!
Totally agreed on the long-term thinking. Similar approach in Japan, which also has a lot of great craft.
For excellent coverage of luxury brands, might I suggest Monocle (the magazine). For example, do a search at the Monocle website for Hermes; perhaps has some Tyler Brûlé interviews you can listen to.
Man this whole thing was fascinating. And thanks for the shoutout Trung!
Great article. I thought about your luxury beliefs right away. Using you luxury clothing backdrop, it is easier to carry a bag than wear a tophat. I love fashion but I would do my own fast-walking past that even after living for 2 years in Paris. You have to cut a swath like Birkin or Kelly to pull that off.
Thanks for the read!
I actually never went to Hermes HA when visited. How is it?
Well researched article. The atmosphere is very self-conscious, very quiet, very elegant. Just opening the door and walking in makes more noise than what's happening inside. I bought a 'pedestrian' $200 scarf for a French woman I knew would like it. My only saving grace was I was able to speak French with the salespeople. I'm sure they looked at how I was dressed and hoped I'd get out of there as soon as possible.
Love this! Need to pay a visit (hopefully in 2024).
Absolutely man! Congrats on the upcoming week.
And look forward to any future insights to help explain this wild Birkin effect.
Contrast the Hermès-Dumas family's long-term dedication to their business with certain tech serial entrepreneur/founder aspirations to profitably exit ASAP, pivot, and move on to the next venture. I would guess the latter's reaction to Trung's post would be Hey, that's a sector that needs to be disrupted!
Agreed on short-termism. I get the criticism of family businesses but the ability to think long-term is a huge advantage.
Fascinating article. Even though I am 'middle class' made it in your graph. . . own a Kate Spade handbag my husband purchased as a Christmas gift a few years ago. (Your wife might like one. . . this could last a long time in the brownie points area.) Correction: Last paragraph, *Anyways is considered a slang, *Anyway is more appropriate at the end of a sentence if you were to use it. I suggest using *However, but in your article, *Whatever or *In any event, would have sufficed. However, I do understand you were finishing up with a little more casualness or snark. 🤓
Thank you for the read and the edit Darmony!
Will take all editorial help 🙏
Love this attitude Trung! Not everyone is as open to edits or corrections. You’re the man!
Ha, that Lyft tweet at the end was the perfect button
Dude, Daniel knocked it out the park with that one
This is a fascinating piece, Trung, I enjoyed it. Hermes does indeed have that "aura" and is inaproachable by most of us barbarians. I am at the opposite end of the money spectrum but I can certainly appreciate the dedication to excellence of craftsmanship, quality and "materiel". There is nothing wrong with things of great beauty and I am a life-long lover of all things fabric, garments and style. I still remember a Paris Hermes store refusing service to Oprah Winfrey, as Ms. Winfrey apparently approached the store right at closing time and they would not let her in, despite her fame and wealth. Strange. I still have my humble Coach leather "hobo" handbag, bought in the year 2000. It has wear and tear on it but still looks reasonably good and I still carry it a time or two per week. I do not shop for "fast fashion". Thank you again for your excellent efforts in sharing all this information about the amazing Hermes empire. The idea of "long-term" thnking is a very good one, not as much practiced in the USA. Thank you also for the recommend on Rob Henderson's book, I look forward to reading it as soon as it arrives in my local library. I always have my nose in a book, keeps my brain working!
Hey Wendy!
That Oprah story did come up in my research. Apparently, the store was preparing for an after-hours event and it loooked still open. The junior employees coudlnt make a fast decision and should have just let one of the most famous people in the world in.
Hermes went into full crisis mode and the american CEO flew to see Oprah to apologize a bit later!
Totally agreed on the long-term thinking. Similar approach in Japan, which also has a lot of great craft.
Thanks again for the read,
Trung 🙏
For excellent coverage of luxury brands, might I suggest Monocle (the magazine). For example, do a search at the Monocle website for Hermes; perhaps has some Tyler Brûlé interviews you can listen to.
Ah this is a great recommendation.
Will do so now. Thanks, Ted.
This just in: the WSJ looks at the Birkin Bag: **The Crazy Economics of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag**
*The Hermès Birkin is one of the fashion world’s most conspicuous markers of wealth. Is it worth the investment?*