In January of 2003 Jimmy Sharp called his father John from New York City where he was living and working for a decorative finishing company as a Venetian plaster artisan. He informed John that Louis Vuitton officials had asked Jimmy to give them, what they called a ghost bid, for an upcoming store project. Louis Vuitton knew Jimmy was toying with the idea of forming his own company. Liking Jimmy’s work they were interested in giving Jimmy an opportunity to start his own com