Louis Vuitton's distinctive trunks and bags have been synonymous with luxury for 150 years. Since the arrival of designer Marc Jacobs in 1997, the company has diversified its product range, spurring it to even greater levels of success. Louis Vuitton now operates an exclusive retail network of 341 stores across 52 countries, supplying chic shoppers with its famous monogram bags, as well as a range of Ready-to-Wear and accessories.

Part of the stores' success is a combination of FedEx services that keeps the right mix of products in stock at each location.

The hottest, fast-selling merchandise is shipped from factories directly to Louis Vuitton stores worldwide by FedEx Express. Rush orders are handled by FedEx International Priority. For replenishing its classic stock, Louis Vuitton relies on FedEx Express to transport multi-piece heavyweight shipments from its international logistics and information processing center in Cergy, France, to distribution centers in Honolulu and Memphis. From Memphis, merchandise is shipped by FedEx Express and FedEx Ground to Louis Vuitton stores across the United States. The retailer often uses the Web-based FedEx InSight application to receive automatic notification of critical shipments and to view shipment status without inputting a tracking number.

"Louis Vuitton is aiming to increase the responsiveness of its logistics operations," said Vincent Barale, director of Logistics and Transportation for Louis Vuitton. "The services provided by FedEx enable us to reduce lead times while optimizing stock levels within our retail network. FedEx is an integral part of our remarkable, ongoing story of innovative luxury."

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