Instead, she discovered that the boxes contained an entire collection of Hermès china. "I was totally in a state of disbelief," she says. "I mean, who finds a complete Hermès china collection ...

Roll said this strategy was critical to the brand's longevity and ability to withstand tougher economic cycles, such as the slumping demand in China that is hitting the luxury industry.

From the US to China, Hermès is expanding But Hermès is growing. Last year, it opened two factories in France: one in Louviers, which will focus on the Kelly bag, and one in the Ardennes region.