Hermès entering the Romanian market marks a significant moment for the local luxury fashion industry, as it is the most important news in the last 16 years, since Louis Vuitton opened its store in Bucharest.
The French group Hermès, a family business with an impressive history now in its sixth generation, is among the most important global players in the luxury industry. According to ZF sources, Hermès plans to enter the local market by opening its own store in downtown Bucharest. Brand representatives have already made several visits to Bucharest in search of a suitable space for a monobrand boutique and have chosen the Ateneul area of Bucharest for developing their own retail network.
It is notable that Hermès has chosen to enter the local market directly, avoiding the franchise model. In an environment where the local market has long been considered small and underdeveloped, luxury brands have generally preferred franchise partnerships. These involved working with local entrepreneurs familiar with consumer habits and with a deep understanding of the market. Opting for a direct presence reduces the risk for the brand, but places a greater burden on the entrepreneur making the investment.
With an impressive global presence, Hermès operates 300 stores across 45 countries, with locations in all the world’s major cities. Its exceptional production takes place mainly in France, in the brand’s more than 50 factories. In the Eastern European region, Hermès has so far been present with stores in Warsaw and Prague, and now Bucharest and Budapest are being carefully evaluated for a new stage of expansion. Hermès also operates stores in Greece, Turkey and Austria.
In 1837, Thierry Hermès founded the company by opening a small workshop in Paris specializing in the sale of luxury horse harnesses. The company’s history is also reflected in its logo, which depicts a carriage and a horse. The first store opened after his death, in 1880, when his son moved the workshop. The new store opened at 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Their first store is still located there today.
When is the Hermès Bucharest store opening?
At the moment an exact address is not known, however the store is set to open in the Ateneul area of Bucharest, according to ZF sources. No official opening date for the store has been announced yet. Check the sneakers stores in Bucharest page, where we will publish information about the new Bucharest location.
On another note, Adidas is announcing the launch of Yeezy products starting February 2024. See also the press release published in January 2024.
Photo source: Chi Lok TSANG (via Unsplash).
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Vlad Ciutacu is a writer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He has been working in the footwear industry for more than a decade, with hundreds of pairs in his collection. His favourite models are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
