Well, OP must have already presented herself exceptionally well while interacting with the manager. Either he thought she totally looked the part and would fit in well or, as suggested above, he had some other questionable motives.
Has anyone ever worked at a LV Store before? Looking for advice on landing a job and hearing about your experience. (I hope this is allowed here)
- Thread starter bibogirl
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They use Talent Acquisition to source ADDITIONAL candidates, but not every candidate is sourced through Talent Acquisition. She will work with talent acquisition after this interview if she is successful, but you do not need to start with talent acquisition. Why would a manager need to do that? All talent acquisition does is screen the candidate and set up the date and time of the interview. Both cases were completed here by the manager.
I actually just came across Maison Malli's channel the other day. Some of her videos are on the topic of LV and her past employment as a SA.
It strikes me as extremely odd that a manager would ask you, unprompted, if you’d ever considered working for the company. I’m not sure why he would have done that, but in any case if you do attend an interview or a meeting with him, I would think LV would be looking for other high end retail experience. I’m not sure what “back of house operations” job opportunities there would be in an LV boutique either. As far as I’m aware the only staff are the sales associates, I don’t think they have stock room staff in addition to that but I could be wrong.
Never worked at LV. Know someone that was offered a job, and they declined the offer.
If the manager offered you a job, that’s a good sign. It’s easier to land a job at LV when someone that’s already working there is backing you. From my understanding, LV wants to bring in the younger crowd now, so they’re trying for candidates who can relate and sell to that demographic. You don’t need to be young, necessarily, but approachable.
I’ve never worked retail, but I get along with all the staff at my store. I’m so comfy in that store, that I’ll make conversation with other customers and even give product suggestions. I keep up to date on product launches and fashion shows. LV is my favorite brand because the house’s creative history matches my aesthetic. I prefer the “classiness” of Chanel and Dior more, but historically and creatively, I relate to LV more.
Anyway, my love for LV has gotten several of the SAs at my store to say I should work at LV. Showing genuine enthusiasm for the brand/product can influence other people to buy… it’s how I get other customers to buy the things I suggest for them
Do your homework on the brand. Look at other brands too, but not as extensively. You want brands in the same price point and level of recognition as LV. You want to be able to have a conversation with value, not just be an encyclopedia on LV. If you know your brand and your competition, you can sell your brand better.
As for attire, LV pretty much only wears black. Most women wear A-line dresses and pencil skirts. Most guys wear suit pants with a long-sleeve collared shirt. Blazers are worn, but can be removed, guy or girl.
Know your store’s area too. If it’s mostly conservative, dress safe and professional. If it’s “anything goes,” you can add a little of your own personality, but nothing distracting. When in doubt, just dress as if you were applying to a corporate job. LV and other top tier luxury brands are literal and figurative “corporations,” meaning that they expect the highest level of professionalism because of a specific clientele. You can look fashionable while looking like you work a corporate job. Bonus points if you wear clothes that fit you well/look like they’ve been tailored for you.
Makeup, whether guy or girl, keep it to a minimum. Just look refreshed and healthy. Trim and clean your nails. Girls, nude nail polish, if possible. Shoes, black again. I wouldn’t wear sneakers, guy or girl. Wear dressier shoes. As for hair, just have it look “healthy” and styled neatly. No fly away hairs. Deep condition your hair, if you have to, so it doesn’t look dry and lifeless.
If the manager offered you a job, that’s a good sign. It’s easier to land a job at LV when someone that’s already working there is backing you. From my understanding, LV wants to bring in the younger crowd now, so they’re trying for candidates who can relate and sell to that demographic. You don’t need to be young, necessarily, but approachable.
I’ve never worked retail, but I get along with all the staff at my store. I’m so comfy in that store, that I’ll make conversation with other customers and even give product suggestions. I keep up to date on product launches and fashion shows. LV is my favorite brand because the house’s creative history matches my aesthetic. I prefer the “classiness” of Chanel and Dior more, but historically and creatively, I relate to LV more.
Anyway, my love for LV has gotten several of the SAs at my store to say I should work at LV. Showing genuine enthusiasm for the brand/product can influence other people to buy… it’s how I get other customers to buy the things I suggest for them
Do your homework on the brand. Look at other brands too, but not as extensively. You want brands in the same price point and level of recognition as LV. You want to be able to have a conversation with value, not just be an encyclopedia on LV. If you know your brand and your competition, you can sell your brand better.
As for attire, LV pretty much only wears black. Most women wear A-line dresses and pencil skirts. Most guys wear suit pants with a long-sleeve collared shirt. Blazers are worn, but can be removed, guy or girl.
Know your store’s area too. If it’s mostly conservative, dress safe and professional. If it’s “anything goes,” you can add a little of your own personality, but nothing distracting. When in doubt, just dress as if you were applying to a corporate job. LV and other top tier luxury brands are literal and figurative “corporations,” meaning that they expect the highest level of professionalism because of a specific clientele. You can look fashionable while looking like you work a corporate job. Bonus points if you wear clothes that fit you well/look like they’ve been tailored for you.
Makeup, whether guy or girl, keep it to a minimum. Just look refreshed and healthy. Trim and clean your nails. Girls, nude nail polish, if possible. Shoes, black again. I wouldn’t wear sneakers, guy or girl. Wear dressier shoes. As for hair, just have it look “healthy” and styled neatly. No fly away hairs. Deep condition your hair, if you have to, so it doesn’t look dry and lifeless.
I don’t think he was hitting on you but who knows. Maybe he recognized you were a LV fan already purchasing their items and asked if it was something you were interested in, we don’t know your whole conversation with him so maybe something said prompted his suggestion? I don’t know how LV handles their hiring and recruitment but it makes sense to start it on a local level. If you have never done real retail it is tough and especially in the luxury area. I’ve been a loyal LV customer for a long time and always think it would be so cool to work there, see all the bags and chat with people who love LV like me when I go in the store but I know it’s not the total reality. Working retail means nights, weekends and holidays. Some may not be happy with their purchase and expectations for luxury items is high not like returning a pair of jeans to a store. I have worked with my SA for a long time and I totally respect that she has a hard job And I always try to make it easier on her. Although she has been there a long time and she always makes it enjoyable for me to work with her and get excited about LV items. you have to deal with returns, repairs and other situations that may be challenging. My guess is he wants you up front selling. I don’t know many behind the scenes positions in the store other than boxing items for shipment. I would act like the meeting is a formal interview..I would not be fashionable but treat it as an interview, My store it seems like they have a very conservative dress code so I wouldn’t go all fashiony for the meeting ..Let us know how it goes!!! I’m excited for you!!
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Two years ago I was speaking with a lovely Vuitton SA, first time meeting her but it was at my usual store, and she told me "You should work here!" because I knew a thing or two about the bags we were talking about, ahah. I also introduced her to this forum. I was Err, I do not like CS, but - hey - I was flattered! So yes, a little awkarwd maybe, but who knows!
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Haha omg thank you. It’s not my dog (which is a chihuahua). It fit my spirit well though
Working in luxury retail can be a good (and a learning) experience. I would try to get as much info on the commission structure. Maybe it won't be an issue for you. I believe Maison Malli and the other former LV lady (sorry I forget her YT name) talks about the decreased commission pay out on popular bags.
I don’t think it’s odd that the manager approached her. In US every employer is looking for hourly employees. And more and more corporations are offering referral bonuses and incentives. This is not the thing of even 2 years ago that you had to have so much luxury retail experience. One of the CA in my store is a young people lady that this is her first retail job. A lot of the CA I knew had switched around from one brand to another. Sadly companies are willing to pay more for the new hire than to give raise to existing employees. Hence this musical chair of employees jumping from brand to another, even one sector to another.
Your observations about the current employee pool is spot on. It is a very tough market. Many managers in highly intensive sales environments often prefer to hire candidates with no sales experience. Training is much easier than retraining.
Retail recruiting 101. Customers can make great employees, especially for part time positions. Recruiting is part of the job description for managers at all levels and is included in the annual review process. It would not look good for any store director to depend solely upon corporate to fill positions. Managers who can’t staff their own store don't usually stay managers very long. As pp stated, any applicant found locally will sill be vetted by same processes as an applicant who applies online.
Some years ago I was in my local LV looking at handbags and chatting it up with an employee about the bags and using their names. He then asked me if I would be interested in working there part time and gave me his card (he was the manager at the time). So… it happens.