French luxury leather goods maker Louis Vuitton is closing its Parisian stores an hour early to preserve stocks ahead of the Christmas rush, shop assistants said on Tuesday. The shops, which are hot spots for tourists, are particularly popular among Japanese, Chinese and Russian buyers and make up a significant portion of the French brand’s total western European revenue. Stores affected include Louis Vuitton’s flagship on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, as well as its outlets on Avenue Montaigne and on Place Saint-Germain des Pres. Tourists say the brand’s leather bags are often cheaper in the French capital than at home in cities such as Shanghai, Tokyo and Moscow. “We are closing at 1800 instead of 1900 to rebuild our stocks before the Christmas season,” one assistant said, adding the new closing time could last until December 1. – Source, Reuters