What: Merlin Properties has closed the purchase of the commercial space of El Corte Inglés in Marineda City.

Why it is important: El Corte Inglés will close the center which spans a total commercial area of 45,000 square meters and Merlin will become the sole owner of the shopping center.

El Corte Inglés sells its center in Marineda City 

What: The department store has begun its restructuring with new managers.

Why it is important: The new leadership will be in charge of negotiating the redundancy plan.

Gonzalo García Barbadillo, formerly the regional director of Madrid Centro, has assumed the direction of human resources in retail and Julio Núñez who was previously the director of Sicor alarm division, will take over the leadership over the Central Services personnel.

Additionally, people director, Alfonso Gordon, and Ángel Gestaca, human resources director will continue to lead the transition. The company has also hired Jorge Benlloch to lead the food division.

The restructuring of the company will involve replacements and substitutions in the management committee and central services, some subsidiaries, and four shopping centers in Madrid.

El Corte Inglés changes its staff in full restructuring

What: Silbon has opened a 32-square-meter space dedicated to its men's line at El Corte Inglés in Sanchinarro.

Why it is important: The brand plans to expand its presence in retail this year with El Corte Inglés now having four points of sale in Madrid.

The brand focuses on men's fashion in addition to adding a children's line, womenswear, and home line in 2021.

The Cordoba-born brand closed the fiscal year 2022 with a turnover of 30 million euros.

Silbon relies on El Corte Inglés to grow in Madrid

What: After extensive renovations, the supermarket in Lugano has reopened its doors with an innovative concept.

Why it is important: The renovated supermarket has eight new sections, offering high quality products and services that enhance the customer experience.

The new store concept is inspired by Mediterranean markets, with a space that reflects Manor Food's DNA and uniqueness. Customers can enjoy a full supermarket experience with food departments including a bakery, butcher, fruits and vegetables, a fish counter, and a wine cellar.

The eight different food departments invite customers to discover the vast space of local food with gastronomic stands that offer daily balanced menus and specialists who can offer sound advice, just as one would experience at a weekly market.

The Lugano supermarket also features a "Gastromania" section which has four stands and a bar, featuring fresh, seasonal dishes that are made in front of customers. Additionally, the wine cellar hosts over 500 wines, with a focus on local producers.

As customers are increasingly wanting more transparency regarding the production and ingredients of their food, Manor has prioritized transparency and local foods. The retailer's "local" program has more than 700 suppliers and 5,000 products nationwide and local suppliers most produce within a 30 km radius of a Manor Food subsidiary. At the new Lugano location, more than 600 products have the "local" label.

Manor Food has a facelift

What: The exhibitions of the artists awarded in 2023 will be held in seven cities across Switzerland.

Why it is important: The Prix Culturel Manor is one of the main prizes for promoting contemporary art in Switzerland and has kick-started an international career for many artists.

Manor's Cultural Prize allows the discovery of emerging artists throughout Switzerland. Exhibitions of the artists awarded in 2023 include painting, sculpture, drawing, plastic arts, as well as dance installations and can be found throughout the country until February 2024.

This year's winners include Linda Semadeni in Graubüden, Gina Folly in Basel-City, Reto Müller in Schaffhausen, Lou Masduraud in Geneva, Aurélie Strumans in Valais, Jan Vorisek in Zurich, and Juliette Uzor in St. Gallen.

Prix Culturel Manor 2023: exhibitions not to be missed

What: El Corte Inglés and legal representatives have reached an agreement on the reorganization of its workforce as well as the incentive leave program which those over 59 may voluntarily benefit from.

Why it is important: The measure aims to improve customer service, reinforcing the stores to meet positive sales performance.

The modernization and development of processes and systems had led to an optimization of management models, which has translated into the need to reorganize the group's central services to strengthen commercial establishments.

The agreement is based on two premises: maintenance of employment and special voluntary termination treatment for those over the age of 59. Those who meet the requirements may join the redundancy plan voluntarily and under more favorable conditions.

The reorganization plan foresees the transfer of employees from central and regional services to commercial establishments. It will affect a total of 2,100 employees, including 630 people over the age of 59.

El Corte Inglés agrees with unions on the reordering plan for its central services

What: El Corte Inglés is opening a new warehouse for last-mile delivery in Madrid.

Why it is important: The department store group is strengthening its last mile logistics to reinforce its food e-commerce structure.

The 22,000 square meter logistics platform with 30 loading docks will feature a state-of-the-art automated sorter for digital food sales. The complex will also adhere to sustainability standards of the International Breeam certification during construction and operations.

El Corte Inglés continues to invest in and advance its logistics structure with this new operation as the department store group focuses on its strategy to diversify and optimize business.

El Corte Inglés opens new logistics warehouse in Madrid

What: The department store ran a successful pop-up store in parallel with the Paris Fashion Week.

Why it is important: After a venture at Selfridges, this is the brand's first foray into the French market.

Actor, rapper, activist, model and fashion designer, Jaden Smith is the son of the actor duo Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. He launched with his sister Willow Smith and brothers Moises and Mateo Arias a hybrid collective in March 2012, mixing the worlds of fashion and lifestyle.

The label currently has 16 resellers in Europe, including Mr Porter, the Swedish lifestyle platform Caliroots, the high-end Polish retailer Vitkac and the Luisa Via Roma network in Italy. Outside Europe, Jaden Smith's brand is also at Saks Fifth Avenue and the Webster, the Hypebeast e-commerce site in Hong Kong and Harrolds in Australia.

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées hosted MSFTSrep, Jaden Smith's brand 

What: Wethenew has opened two new concessions at the department store's flagship branch.

Why it is important: Galeries Lafayette is partnering with a key player in the sneaker resale market, which is expected to top the USD 20 billion mark in 2025 and is currently worth USD 6 billion globally.

Driven by exclusivity and rarity, the brand makes the connection between resellers and consumers, authenticates products, and makes 200 pairs of sneakers available each week.

This partnership gives Galeries Lafayette the opportunity to showcase the most sought after sneaker models, which it doesn't typically have access to in its dealings with major streetwear brands.

Wethenew sets up shop at Galeries Lafaytte Haussmann

What: The French eco-responsible footwear brand has officially landed in Mexico with a strategic alliance with El Palacio de Hierro.

Why it is important: The footwear brand is exclusively physically available in the Mexican market at the department store's Polanco location.

El Palacio de Hierro displays Veja's men's collections on the second floor of its store, with the first level displaying the brand's women's and children's lines.

Veja is also available for the rest of the country on El Palacio de Hierro's e-commerce platform, with more than 40 products available.

Veja lands in El Palacio de Hierro

What: Supaluck Umpujh shares her view on modern retail, including the need for differenciation.

Why it is important: For her, the biggest problem is not tech or rivals, but relationship with luxury brands.

Supaluck Umpujh, the chairwoman of the Mall Group, is a key figure in shaping Bangkok's retail industry, with 30 years of experience in building malls.

Her latest project, Emsphere, is set to open soon and is a 200,000 sq m mixed-use development with Ikea as its anchor tenant and American live-entertainment giant aeg as a partner for its first arena in southeast Asia.

Umpujh believes in the value of entertainment and the importance of difference to attract consumers. She also emphasizes the importance of compromise, striking deals through entertainment, and not becoming a retailer as a mall operator.

Despite the pandemic, Umpujh sees opportunity in every crisis and her retail masterplan for Bangkok includes the upcoming Bangkok Mall, which will be five times the size of Emsphere and is set to open in 2026 to cater to wealthy tourists from China, India, and Indonesia.

The Mall Group's Chairwoman Supaluck Umpujh in Monocle 

What: Jacquemus has brought its Mediterranean vibe and visual obsessions to the floors, shop windows, and sidewalks of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.

Why it is important: The collaboration is an opportunity for Galeries Lafayette to attract younger customers and the first time an independent brand has taken over the store's 16  windows.

Visitors come across a variety of immersive experiences from a white cube hosting a café with flowers and coffee outside, to a giant toaster that ejects Jacquemus-branded slices of bread. A giant handbag welcomes customers in the entrance of the women's section while a laundry mat with a large washing machine invites visitors to take selfies in the store's men's section.

The store windows feature a bright, pared-down aesthetic with sunglasses, clotheslines, raffia, and many other cult objects which nod to the French designer's Provence upbringing and Mediterranean inspiration.

Jacquemus takes over Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris

Jacquemus takes over Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris article

What: The Spanish footwear brand has landed at Galeries Lafayette Hausmann and four El Corte Inglés stores.

Why it is important: The digital native brand has strategically formed long-term alliances with the two department stores as part of its goal to promote wholesale.

Augusta the Brand has added El Corte Ingles and Galeries Lafayette to its list of thirty points of sale.

The brand is setting international growth and the expansion of its catalog as its main challenges for 2023 and expects wholesale sales to account for 51% of its total sales this year.

Augusta the Brand expands its commercial network with El Corte Inglés and Galeries Lafayette

What: Galeries Lafayette is revealing the renewal of its men's fashion spaces this spring at its Haussmann location.

Why it is important: The department store is renovating and reinforcing its offer to meet the changing consumer behavior in men's fashion.

The project highlights a more sensitive man who is inspired by self-care, more casual fashion, sophisticated luxury, and fashionable outdoor style. The men's supply and purchasing director noted that men want to be more daring and dress for themselves, buying out of desire and love, rather than coming to the department store to meet a specific need.

On the first floor, the sports and outdoors categories are displayed with an "essentials of the season" space that features brands like Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and Element.

On the second floor, creative fashion flourishes with a focus on relaxed tailoring. New brands in this space include Walk in Paris, Maison Labiche, Iro, Les Deux, Blue Garage, and Officine Générale.

Tom Ford takes over a large measure of the men's building, with beauty products and leather goods on the ground floor and a large corner of the third floor which is now dedicated entirely to luxury ready-to-wear.

The third floor also features new brands such as Loro Piana, Nahmias, and JW Anderson who join existing brands like Prada, Celine, and Ami that have opted for larger sales areas.

The store's beachwear offer has also seen the addition of new brands like Orlebar Brown and Frescobol Caricoa.

Galeries Lafayette also hosts Café du Cycliste and has recently added the sneaker retailer Wethenew to its offer.

Additionally, each floor has multi-brand spaces installed with exclusive and creative brands for customers to discover.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann adapts to changes in men's fashion

What: SM Investments was recognized as among the Top Rated companies in the industry globally and in the Asia Pacific in a 2023 Top-Rated ESG Companies list by Morningstar Sustainalytics.

Why it is important: The rating reflects SM's commitment and initiatives towards sustainability, allowing them to affirm their stakeholders confidence in the company as a stable, sustainable, and responsible organization.

The company received an ESG Risk Rating of 13.3  and was assessed to be at low risk of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors.

With this rating, SM Investments belongs to the strongly performing 6.7 percent of companies with lowest ESG risk score within its defined peer group.

SM recognized as top rated sustainability company in both industry and Asia Pacific

What: After a successful pop-up in September 2022, the second-hand seller, Jaiio, will join Galeries Lafayette's (RE)STORE space permanently.

Why it is important: Jaiio offers a selection of premium brands products that are otherwise hard to find second-hand, and also allows customers to sell their own products.

The 43-meter-squared space will open in early March on the third floor of the Haussmann location.

Jaiio has the goal of simplifying selling second-hand pieces by offering a turnkey service, where they take care of posting and selling items for customers. Additionally, unsold merchandise is donated to partner charities.

Jaiio will offer a selection of premium designer clothes, bags, and accessories at up to 80% off the new price and 100% certified authenticity.

Jaiio is settling permanently at Galeries Lafayette

What: El Corte Inglés has been named among the 120 largest family businesses by the Family Business Index.

Why it is important: The report reveals that the most important family businesses globally grow twice as much as the world's main economies despite moments of uncertainty in the current economic climate.

El Corte Inglés was ranked 117th in the World Family Business Index of the 500 most relevant family businesses globally.

The department store is joined by other Spanish brands including Inditex and Mercadona.

El Corte Inglés named one of the 120 largest family businesses in the world

What: The Galeries Lafayette group continues to reduce its store portfolio. After franchising 38 of its department stores between 2018 and 2021, the group will sell BHV Marais, as well as the BHV located in Parly2 shopping mall. The buyer is SGM (Société des Grands Magasins), which already acquired 7 Galeries Lafayette stores in the past.

Why it is important: Galeries Lafayette focuses its efforts and investments on the continuation of works in its boulevard Haussmann flagship store (and its own network of 17 units), on its omnichannel strategy and on international growth (in China, India and the Middle East).

Galeries Lafayette will continue to operate Eataly Paris Marais.

The news comes at a troubled time for one of Galeries Lafayette's affiliates Hermione People group & Brands (HPB) which took over 25 stores through franchising. Employees were on strike to alert on the lack of transparency and on the financial situation of their parent company.

HPB stated that there are no layoffs or store closure plans, adding that the company is healthy, with a turnover increase of +4.1% in 2022 vs 2021, and of +9.8% increase in January 2023 vs 2022.

Galeries Lafayette to sell BHV 

Galeries Lafayette to sell BHV

What: The Mexican department store closed fiscal 2022 with an increase of 34% compared to 2019. Accumulated operating flow (EBITDA) increased by 38% and net income increased by 58%.

Why it is important: El Palacio de Hierro has once again outperformed the results of the entire retail sector in Mexico, which grew by 10.5% in like-for-like terms, and that of department stores in particular, which posted an increase of 15%.

During the year, the company reopened the doors of its store in Coyoacán, in Mexico City, with more than 38,000 square meters and five levels. The complex is located in the Mítikah shopping center, the largest in Latin America.

Grupo Palacio de Hierro also continued to boost revenue generation through the network, which jumped 40% in 2022 despite the fact that the comparable base was already high. The group plans to invest more than 115 million dollars in real estate projects going forward.

El Palacio de Hierro exceeds pre-pandemic revenues

What: El Corte Inglés has updated its app with a function that allows customers to pick up their order within one hour in addition to new interactive tools.

Why it is important: The new function is streamlining the shopping experience for customers as they can easily access new information, pay hands-free in store, and benefit from same-day delivery.

El Corte Inglés has introduced "Store Mode" to its app which makes shopping with the retailer easier than ever.

With this update, customers will be able to discover and learn about products, brands, services, and events at their selected location in addition to the ability to connect to wi-fi.

New interactive tools have also been added to the app that give direct access to coupons, promotions, and the status of orders.

Additionally, customers will be able to make one single payment in the app at the end of purchase, eliminating the need to carry bags around the store. The app also has a feature that allows users to request a turn in the cafeteria, supermarket, and in other departments to avoid wait times.

In addition to one hour pick up, the app also offers a same-day delivery service for more than 300,000 products which can be received as quickly as two hours later.

El Corte Inglés incorporates the "Store Mode" in its app to collect orders in one hour

What: Galeries Lafayette will be hosting Jacquemus from February 28th until April 2nd.

Why it is important: The French brand specifically wanted to partner with the department store as it works to establish itself as a luxury fashion house. Additionally, an independent brand has never taken over the store's 16 windows.

Galeries Lafayette will be hosting a Jacquemus event from February 28th until April 2nd. The store will have three pop-up shops in addition to the windows and street activations where fans of the brand can hang out and take pictures.

Over the past 2 years, Jacquemus has seen growth in popularity from its e-commerce site but has recently been focused on fun retail with its vending machines for bags and its first storefront opening in September of 2022, as well as a partnership with Selfridges.

As a result, many department stores have approached the brand but Jacquemus has strategically partnered with Galeries Lafayette as a celebration of its loyalty and support of the brand since 2017.

An independent designer brand has never taken over the 16 windows of the men's and women's stores at Galeries Lafayette. The brand is working towards establishing itself as a luxury fashion house and wants to refresh the notion of luxury by provoking emotion, then a transaction.

Galeries Lafayette will play a strategic role in this strategy as the event will create an experience for all to discover and immerse themselves in the universe of Jacquemus. Additionally, the brand will join many luxury houses at the department store and gain exposure to Galeries Lafayette's international clientele.

Jacquemus loves the sun, life, and Galeries Lafayette

What: Contrary to what was previously reported, the 26 Galeries Lafayette franchises owned by Hermione People & Brands will be placed under safeguard proceedings.

Why it is important: The 'safeguard' status will allow Hermione People & Brands to negotiate a restructuring plan under the court's direction. HPB's owner declared the business is healthy.

Galeries Lafayette Franchises to enter safeguard procedure, not receivership

What: UNIQLO Philippines and SM Foundation came together to upgrade 4 health centers.

Why it is important: SM and UNIQLO have a collective mission to uplift the lives of Filipinos, especially those in grassroots communities.

The four centers were improved to provide local residents easy access to health care services.

The collaboration rebuilt the facilities and reconstructed its layout to aptly meet the specialized needs of the community.

SM Foundation and UNIQLO also provided Emergency GoKit+ and Mobile Play Cabinets to each of the centers.

UNIQLO, SM Foundation unveil 4 health centers in Bulacan

What: SM Group has rolled out additional Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in multiple Supermall locations nationwide.

Why it is important: SM Supermalls is also the first mall chain to establish in-mall e-Vehicle charging sites in the Philippines.

SM is making traveling sustainably throughout the Philippines possible and more convenient.

SM Group initially rolled out 15 EV charging stations in Metro Manilla and one in SM City Baguio last year. The group will now be opening EV charging stations at SM Supermalls from Luzon to Mindanao, so shoppers and travelers can charge anywhere there is an SM mall.

The free EV charging stations further advance SM's Zero Emissions agenda and supports the SM Green Movement, helping decrease carbon footprint and enabling more Filipinos to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

SM Supermalls rolls out PH's biggest chain of e-Vehicle charging stations nationwide