At IE University, we place a high value on connecting students to the professional world, whether it be through internships, networking, or hands-on projects. This helps students get a foot in the door so that come graduation, they’re more than ready to dive into the modern world of work and carve out a successful and fulfilling career.
To that end, the Talent & Careers team coordinates events in conjunction with leading multinational companies. Last month, three IE University students had the chance to partake in the LVMH Retail Tour, alongside 15 other students coming from top business schools in Madrid.
The objective of the tour—hosted by LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, known simply as LVMH—was to give students insight into what goes on in the retail world. The French multinational luxury goods conglomerate, headquartered in Paris, controls around 60 subsidiaries that each manage a small number of prestigious brands. The consisted of visits to the Madrid stores of some of these brands, including TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, LOEWE, Dior, and Bvlgari, as well as the Loewe headquarters and flower shop. And to top it all off, the experience ended with a champagne tasting by MOËT & CHANDON.
Inés Benz, who studies the Dual Degree in Business Administration and International Relations, was one of the IE University students who participated in the tour. “We learned about how the stores function, the history of every brand, and the clients that represent the highest share of the traffic,” she told us.
She went on to highlight two benefits of attending the event. “One is learning more about the brands and the stores, and thus about the conglomerate as a whole. The other is the employees. Learning about their values, passions, and work makes us students want to join the group and encourages us to contribute to the fulfillment of the company’s goals.”
Current Bachelor in Business Administration student, Belén García, added, “It is a great opportunity to meet people from the fashion industry and create networks. We even met the general directors of the stores, who shared with us their experiences in the luxury fashion industry.”
Another attendee, Master in Management student Carolina Pereira da Silva, who is also Co-founder and Vice President of the IE Luxury Business Club, explained why she is so interested in working in this sector. “It connects customers to a world of exclusivity. It’s a sector that is also constantly adapting to trends and takes attention to detail to a higher standard and focuses on providing meaningful experiences to its customers.”
She also explained what she enjoyed the most about the event. “For me, the highlight of this experience was definitely the focus on retail. During the tour, as a participant, I understood how each store is organized and designed. I also learned about the different roles in retail, and how the culture of a brand has to be reflected in each store. The tour was very well organized, and I learned a great deal about the culture and people behind the LVMH group.”
The students left the experience encouraged to pursue a career in this changing industry. “There are so many opportunities in this sector. The luxury industry is growing and changing every day,” Inés told us. “In our 24/7 social media age, millennials, generation X, and even baby boomers are part of the luxury experience online. Luxury is no longer only for the wealthy. Luxury fashion firms are targeting millennials of all economic backgrounds, who experience and follow their favorite luxury brands over social media. The digital revolution has changed the perception of time and space, opening up new possibilities. I would love to pursue a professional career in this industry.”
The LVMH Retail Tour was an all-around success. It gave IE University students a peek into the day-to-day life in the luxury fashion industry, and they got to meet and network with professionals from the field. The event is just one of the many initiatives Talent & Careers undertakes to connect students with the real world, preparing them to jump into the world of work with a leg up on the competition.
