Several high-end stores in Paris have opted to close temporarily, while others have increased private security and strengthened entrances and windows amid concerns that renewed demonstrations could trigger further violence. The precautionary measures have transformed normally bustling shopping streets into quieter, heavily guarded areas.
France, the world's most visited country, attracts millions of international tourists, many of whom spend heavily on luxury goods such as Chanel handbags and Hermès scarves. The spending provides an important source of revenue for luxury brands, which are already grappling with slowing demand and an uncertain global economic outlook.
However, the unrest has prompted some retailers to reconsider their usual trading schedules. Rioters reportedly smashed and looted hundreds of shops in Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux last weekend, raising fears of further damage as demonstrations were planned for Saturday.
A Rolex retailer and a De Beers store near Paris's Place Vendôme were expected to remain closed, according to staff members. Managers at other outlets, including Richemont-owned IWC, said decisions on early closures would depend on the scale of the protests.
On the Champs-Élysées, signs displayed on the boarded-up windows of Adidas and Boss stores informed customers that the outlets would not open. Employees at Swatch Group stores also said they planned to close early.
A Lacoste store, which suffered what one staff member described as “enormous” damage during the previous weekend's unrest, was covered with metal cages. A café owned by the brand was also completely boarded up.
The latest security measures came as groups including France's main student union, UNEF, and the Yellow Vest movement prepared to march through central Paris to protest against rising living costs and cuts to public services. The Yellow Vest movement emerged as a major anti-establishment force in 2018.
Around the Arc de Triomphe, tourists photographed boarded-up shops and restaurants while attempting to take selfies beneath the landmark before the demonstrations began. Hotel employees said they were advising concerned guests on protest routes and areas to avoid, while major tourist streets remained relatively empty despite a strong presence of police officers and private security personnel.
Luxury brands increase security
French authorities announced a substantial security deployment in anticipation of the demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Friday that 70,000 police officers, supported by specialist units, would be deployed to prevent a recurrence of the previous weekend's violence.
Luxury conglomerate LVMH was among the companies taking additional precautions. Employees at its Louis Vuitton, Dior and Bulgari brands said security had been increased at stores near Place Vendôme, while additional private security personnel had been deployed to patrol high-end shopping districts.
Department store Printemps, located nearby, also strengthened its security arrangements, repaired damaged areas and reinforced shop windows and entrances, according to a spokesperson.
Hermès has taken similar steps. The company's finance chief, Eric du Halgouet, said earlier in the week that security had been strengthened across its French stores, although he added that it was too early to determine the financial impact of the unrest.
The developments pose another challenge for an industry that depends heavily on its international reputation, tourist spending and the appeal of luxury shopping destinations. Global consumer sentiment remains subdued, while tourism has been affected by the Iran war, contributing to disappointing quarterly results reported this month by LVMH, Hermès and Kering.
For shop employees, the immediate concern is whether customers will feel comfortable visiting stores while demonstrations are taking place.
Lidiya Shevchenko, a sales assistant at a Graziella Braccialini store, expressed doubt that the protests would encourage much shopping.
“I suppose the mood is just as important when it comes to shopping,” Shevchenko said.
Her observation reflects the importance of consumer confidence to luxury retail, where purchasing decisions often depend as much on the shopping experience and atmosphere as on the products themselves.
Some tourists have already begun reconsidering future visits. Cambodian tourist Jerry Lay, who purchased several items from Louis Vuitton on the Champs-Élysées earlier in the week, said his experience of the previous Saturday's protests had left him uncertain about returning.
“We do enjoy shopping in France, but after experiencing the protest (last Saturday), I'd say it's 50/50 whether I would consider coming back next time,” Lay said.
His comments underline the potential longer-term consequences of the unrest for French retailers, particularly those that rely on international visitors to sustain sales.
With businesses tightening security and authorities preparing a major police deployment, luxury retailers face the immediate task of protecting their staff, customers and merchandise. The wider concern is whether repeated unrest could undermine the confidence of tourists and shoppers at a time when the luxury sector is already confronting weaker demand and economic uncertainty.