<p>Birkin handbag maker Hermes' comparable sales picked up again in the third quarter, rising 7%, and the group said this positive momentum had extended into October after a rebound in Asia and other regions as some coronavirus restrictions eased.</p>.<p>Luxury goods groups were hit hard by store closures during lockdowns to combat the pandemic.</p>.<p>But a gradual re-opening, even as governments bring in fresh measures to fight rising Covid-19 infections, has helped sales recover. High-end labels, which used to be more reticent to sell their pricey products online, have also seen web revenues surge.</p>.<p>Hermes - known for its $12,000-plus handbags like the Birkin, which often generates waiting lists - already sells a selection of leather goods online but said it would make a larger push.</p>.<p>"We are going to gradually increase our offer of products online, except for the very iconic products such as Birkin," finance chief Eric du Halgoüet told reporters.</p>.<p>He said the online channel had now become the group's "biggest store", with revenues exceeding those of any of its flagship shops. Sales online grew by nearly 100% in all regions in the first nine months of the year.</p>.<p>Hermes' comparable sales, which strip out the impact of foreign exchange rates and acquisitions, came in at 1.8 billion euros ($2.13 billion) in the three months to end-September.</p>.<p>Sales of leather goods grew 8% in the third quarter while fashion sales were also up, echoing buoyant trends at Louis Vuitton owner LVMH. Revenue from Hermes silk scarves, however, were down 32% in the period. The group said that was due to an unfavourable comparison to a year ago and lower travel retail activity.</p>.<p>In the first nine months of the year, sales were down 11%. Hermes said that for 2020 the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic "remain difficult to assess, as the scale, duration and geographic extent of the crisis evolve every day."</p>
<p>Birkin handbag maker Hermes' comparable sales picked up again in the third quarter, rising 7%, and the group said this positive momentum had extended into October after a rebound in Asia and other regions as some coronavirus restrictions eased.</p>.<p>Luxury goods groups were hit hard by store closures during lockdowns to combat the pandemic.</p>.<p>But a gradual re-opening, even as governments bring in fresh measures to fight rising Covid-19 infections, has helped sales recover. High-end labels, which used to be more reticent to sell their pricey products online, have also seen web revenues surge.</p>.<p>Hermes - known for its $12,000-plus handbags like the Birkin, which often generates waiting lists - already sells a selection of leather goods online but said it would make a larger push.</p>.<p>"We are going to gradually increase our offer of products online, except for the very iconic products such as Birkin," finance chief Eric du Halgoüet told reporters.</p>.<p>He said the online channel had now become the group's "biggest store", with revenues exceeding those of any of its flagship shops. Sales online grew by nearly 100% in all regions in the first nine months of the year.</p>.<p>Hermes' comparable sales, which strip out the impact of foreign exchange rates and acquisitions, came in at 1.8 billion euros ($2.13 billion) in the three months to end-September.</p>.<p>Sales of leather goods grew 8% in the third quarter while fashion sales were also up, echoing buoyant trends at Louis Vuitton owner LVMH. Revenue from Hermes silk scarves, however, were down 32% in the period. The group said that was due to an unfavourable comparison to a year ago and lower travel retail activity.</p>.<p>In the first nine months of the year, sales were down 11%. Hermes said that for 2020 the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic "remain difficult to assess, as the scale, duration and geographic extent of the crisis evolve every day."</p>