NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Based on its success to date, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, in partnership with the Chinese-American Planning Council (“CPC”) and Parsons School of Design today announced that the LVMH Fundamentals in Luxury Retail program will continue through 2015.
The partnership further stated that, of those enrolled in the program, more than 90-percent have completed it (a total of 41 individuals) and over 70-percent of graduates had immediate job placement, with an average increase in wage per hour of more than three-fold, not including commission or bonuses. This makes it the most successful training program in terms of placement rate and wage growth within its first year in the CPC’s 40-year history of providing workforce development programs in New York City. The program will continue to receive support from The Robin Hood Foundation.
Chantal Gaemperle, Group EVP, Human Resources and Synergies at LVMH, which conceived the concept for the program, said, “We are delighted with the early success of this program, which is fulfilling our goal of addressing the needs of luxury retailers to best serve their Mandarin-speaking clientele while also helping to generate employment and enhanced economic opportunities for unemployed and underemployed immigrants in the United States. The goals of this program reflect a greater focus within LVMH of establishing creative, innovative initiatives across our Group that enable us to make a positive and enduring impact on society.”
David Chen, CEO of the CPC, said, “We had high expectations for the Fundamentals in Luxury Retail program, and to date they have been wonderfully surpassed. The program is providing participants with an exceptional range of skills and knowledge that has and will continue to serve them well in finding employment and embarking on exciting career paths. We are delighted with the results already being achieved and the near and longer term impact they will have.”
LVMH Fundamentals in Luxury Retail Program Overview
The ten-week education and training program is designed to provide a wide range of retail skills to bilingual English and Mandarin speakers, including those who are unemployed and underemployed and individuals who have recently immigrated to the United States, to help them in gaining employment in luxury retailing. The first of its kind in the industry, the innovative program includes classroom education at Parsons, led by professors from the school, LVMH professionals and CPC Workforce staff, followed by an internship program working in a retail store of one of the LVMH Group brands.
Joel Towers, Executive Dean of Parsons, said, “Our core mission for this program and partnership has been to bring design education to those who may not have had access to it with the goal of positive, social change. The program participants have been deeply engaged and clearly committed to learning and putting their new knowledge to work. We are delighted by the program’s track record to date and the opportunity to see it continue.”
Christine AuYeung, program officer of Robin Hood, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization, said, “From its earliest days, we recognized that Fundamentals in Luxury Retail had the potential to offer unemployed and underemployed members of an important immigrant community in New York City – mainly individuals from China who are fluent in Mandarin and English – with the training and skills that help them find employment and build careers. It is a very innovative and successful program that has yielded great benefits for those involved, and we are glad to provide support as it continues in 2015.”
Application Information for 2015 Cohorts
As a result of the program’s success in 2014 and the partners’ commitment to continue advancing career opportunities within luxury retail, two additional sessions will be held in 2015. The first cohort will begin on March 30, and recruiting for the program is beginning now.
The program is open to bilingual English and Mandarin-speakers, who are legally able to work in the United States, are under- or unemployed with a high school diploma or its equivalent, and are passionate about fashion and retail. For more information about eligibility and enrollment, please contact the CPC (information provided below).
About LVMH
For further information about LVMH’s focus on developing Talent and the focus across the Group with respect to Social Solidarity and the Arts, please visit www.lvmh.com. A broader description of the Group is as follows:
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is represented in Wines and Spirits by a portfolio of brands that includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Krug, Ruinart, Mercier, Château d’Yquem, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Wen Jun, Belvedere, 10 Cane, Chandon, Cloudy Bay, Terrazas de los Andes, Cheval des Andes, Cape Mentelle, Newton et Numanthia. Its Fashion and Leather Goods division includes Louis Vuitton, Céline, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy, Thomas Pink, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Loro Piana and Berluti. LVMH is present in the Perfumes and Cosmetics sector with Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Parfums Kenzo, Perfumes Loewe as well as other promising cosmetic companies (BeneFit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Acqua di Parma and Fresh). LVMH is also active in selective retailing as well as in other activities through DFS, Sephora, Le Bon Marché, la Samaritaine and Royal Van Lent. LVMH's Watches and Jewelry division comprises Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Chaumet, Dior Watches, Zenith, Fred, Hublot and De Beers Diamond Jewellers Ltd, a joint venture created with the world’s leading diamond group.
About Parsons
Parsons School of Design is one of the leading institutions for art and design education in the world. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of art and design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.
About the Chinese American Planning Council
Chinese-American Planning Council’s mission is to serve the Chinese-American, immigrant and low-income communities in New York City by providing services, skills and resources towards economic self-sufficiency. As one of the largest Chinese-based social services agencies in the northeastern United States, the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) provides culturally sensitive programs for all ages. CPC currently serves over 8,000 people daily through 50+ contracted programs in 33 locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
