The pandemic might have slowed other markets, but China remains buoyant. China’s luxury goods market is going full steam head. While global sales of luxury goods are facing 20-35% decreases this year, China is forecast to show continued growth. Rumours that some European luxury goods might be raising prices, and that in general inventories of luxury brands were scarce, had consumers lining up in front stores for a chance to buy handbags and shoes from top international brands. Louis Vuitton raised its prices two times in the first half of this year . This gave Chanel and Christian Dior the opportunity to boost their prices too. Ferragamo and Tiffany are also raising their prices. From March to June, LVMH's China fashion business saw sales soar 65%. In the U.S.sales fell 39%, while in Europe sales were down 54%. So it’s not surprising that luxury goods brands have increasingly been tuning their promotions and styles to meet the tastes of the Chinese consumer. While China is the big growth driver for luxury goods sales, Korea is now the key test market for brands. <blockquote> While global sales of luxury goods are facing 20-35% decreases this year, China is forecast to show continued growth.</blockquote> Galleria Department Store (Korea) only operates five outlets around the country and it has been focusing on attracting the "superrich" in different regions. In September last year, it opened a separate facility outside its Daejeon department store for VIP customers only called "Maison Galleria." The store invited selected customers and exclusively introduced them to its latest luxury items. The concept of Maison Galleria was very well-received by the VIP customers and the department franchise opened another in March. This led to an 18 percent increase in sales at the Yongsan outlet moving it to second place from fourth in sales volume in the sector in the capital. The retailer lost 10 percent of its sales due to the pandemic, but replaced them with new customers who were attracted through its new VIP facility, according to a Galleria Department Store official. Shinsegae Department Store collaborated with Louis Vuitton to promote the men's fall and winter collection, for the first time, at a pop-up store in its Gangnam branch July 31. The branch previously opened temporary boutiques for Prada in January, Chanel in June and Bottega Veneta last month. Young customers are credited with the increase in sales of luxury goods at the local department stores. At Lotte department stores, the sales growth rate among young customers in their 20s increased 25.7 percent and 30s were up 34.8 percent in the first half of the year. At Shinsegae Department Stores, the rate also climbed by 20.3 percent for people in their 20s and 30.1 percent for people in their 30s. "We are seeing a decreasing number of young customers overall at department stores. However, we are seeing an increasing number of young customers who are purchasing luxury goods here. “This is because they want to purchase high-end products after seeing them in real-life. Department store franchises are reflecting this by hosting more international luxury brands' boutiques in their outlets," an industry source said.