Louis Vuitton in Cambodia?

According to this Oct 2009 China Times article, Cambodia is on the list of new LV shops that will be launched across Asia - unsurprising, really, as reports of LV wanting to set up shop in Cambodia can be traced back to 2002.

The China Times article comes after the opening of LV's 440th shop in Ulaan Bataar, capital of Mongolia. Chairman and CEO Yves Carcelle said at the Ulaan Bataar shop opening: "LV's philosophy of opening shops is not to wait until there is a business district/market area (商圈) before we enter, but rather, whereever LV opens our shops, it is to create a market area."

Gossip is that the LV shop, if it does open, will be housed in the US$300 million Gold Tower 42 on Sihanouk Boulevard, supposedly Phnom Penh's poshest building. Gold Tower 42 is slated to be completed in October 2011.

But it could also open in Siem Reap. An Oct 2002 Australian Financial Review report:

"Visitors to the Cambodian temples may soon be able to buy a Louis Vuitton handbag nearby. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is the world's biggest producer of luxury clothing and accessories. The company's head of operations in Thailand and Vietnam, Guillaume Thery, says new stores are earmarked for Angkor Wat, near Cambodia's temple complex, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam..."

While LVMH cannot make up its mind about Cambodia, it did open in Ho Chi Minh city in Q3 of 2007.

No doubt Cambodia's glitterati and wannabes will be thrilled to welcome LV. Sad, really. I much prefer this "LV" on a Khmer street kid. LOL.

Anyway, below is an excerpt of the Chinese text for those who can read Chinese and for New York Mag's coverage of the Mongolian shop opening (nothing about Cambodia though) click here.

更新日期:2009/10/28 02:44
謝學豐／台北報導
中國時報【謝學豐／台北報導】

法國精品路易威登（ＬＶ）的開店哲學，讓許多同業參不透玄機。ＬＶ全球第四百四十家專賣店，上周末在蒙古人民共和國首都烏蘭巴托開幕，品牌時尚版圖邁入第六十二個國家。ＬＶ下一個重大展店計畫是三年內進軍黎巴嫩，不畏中東地區烽火連天，要印證「富貴險中求」的說法。

ＬＶ全球主席兼行政總裁賈世傑（Yves Carcelle）在蒙古店開幕時說：「ＬＶ的開店哲學從來就不是等待商圈成立才進場，而是ＬＶ所到之處，就要創造商圈。」

ＬＶ在時尚旱地掀起法國精品風，連柬埔寨也在預定名單裡。

...