eLuxury is officially closing its doors or in web terms, pulling the plug on their ecommerce operation. The site launched in 2000 as part of the Internet gold rush. LVMH’s Bernard Arnault planned to float eLuxury on the public market along with his other Internet properties like, Ashford.com and Shephora.com.

In January 2000, Women’s Wear Daily quoted Mike May, a digital commerce analyst and Internet consultant at Jupiter Communications. “The timing is not bad for an IPO,” he said. “Luxury is one of the hottest topics for IPOs, especially with
what Sotheby’s and eBay are doing online.”

What a difference a decade makes. In January, LVMH announced that eLuxury would cease retail operations and open a stand-alone site for Louis Vuitton. A spokesperson for the company said the decision was based on the fact that many of the brands it sells have developed their own online presences.

We’re sure the changed economy had nothing to do with the decision but then again bricks-and-clicks was a novel theory. In the meantime, watch the sales as the impending date approaches there should be some great discounts.