• In pairs, try to find the reasons why Agnès b uses Les Galeries Lafayette to sell her products instead of opening her own store. Try to think of the advantages and the disavantages of her method. (you do not have to be a business major to find out!) Good luck.

1)Advantages for the fashion designers and for the stores.

The cost of openning a new store is usully the main problem. If you open a store in a foreign country, you are more likely to pay taxes on the goods you are selling. You would also have to pay for your own store (building and taxes). Also, if you are not well known in the country (you can use advertissement), a store already settled there is a very good bridge. As the customers are already used to going to this store, they will discover your brand as they shop. This is a less expensive way to be known. Les Galeries Lafayette are pleased to sell these brands because they are prestigious. You come for a specific brand and you end up buying something from another brand which you did not intend to get int he first place.

2)Disadvantages for the designers and the customer.

The main disadvantage is that you will probably not have as specific items as you would have in an Agnès b store for example. the section you are paying for in a store is never as big as your own store. It is also a problem for the designers since the customers can compare prices, quality with other brands. Finally, when the customer come to a Agnès b store, you know that they are looking for something specific of the Agnès b brand whereas in the other stores, they are not necessarily.

• Try to find the equivalent of "Les Galeries Lafayette" in your country. How to you call those stores? Do you like the concept of having almost all the good brands under one roof?