What:  El Palacio de Hierro is the new franchised partner of Ale Hop for its expansion in Mexico

Why it is important:  Even though El Palacio de Hierro is a recognized player when it comes to luxury brands in Mexico, the IADS member is eager to remain close to its customers and be popular as well, which might explain why they decided to team up with the Spanish gift chain.

Spanish gift chain Ale-Hop has signed a deal with El Palacio de Hierro for its expansion in Mexico through a franchising agreement with the goal to reach 30 boutiques within 5 years. Ale-Hop is accelerating in terms of international presence as it also signed a deal for its expansion in Croatia three months ago.

El Palacio de Hierro already has quite an extensive knowledge when it comes to developing brands in franchise in Mexico, and aims at countering the expansion of competing brands, such as Miniso, by making the most of its real estate assets, be it within its own department stores or in the street.

Spanish gift chain Ale-Hop makes a partnership with El Palacio de Hierro (Spanish)

What: Barely two years after its spin-off from Breuninger, the Stuttgart-based technology startup autoRetouch is taking its next step.

Why it is important: Based on an AI system, the company currently offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform for the automated mass processing of product images.

The idea for autoRetouch was born in 2019 in Breuninger's data science team when it came to solving the processing of product photos for the online shop more efficiently using artificial intelligence. From the very beginning, Breuninger supported the six-member founding team and also participated financially in the formation of an independent company. As early as 2021, the startup processed a seven-digit number of product images fully automatically in the cloud for its customers.

French unicorn acquires autoRetouch, Breuninger's spin-off 

What: A new real estate transformation of the Galeries Lafayette in Annecy, soon to host new shops, restaurants and leisure activities.

Why is it important: With this project Galeries Lafayette hopes to bring together in one place a whole community of enthusiasts around their respective know-how.

It will include the signing of new partnerships specializing in catering and services related to sport, health and well-being. There will also be a bistronomic restaurant by Vincent Favre-Félix a chef from Annecy, the first climbing center in the city center and a new experiential place designed by the collective of Japanese artists TeamLab.

An exhibition space animated by the Wondervision studio in partnership with the École Supérieure d'Art Annecy Alpes and the Haute École d'Art et de Design de Geneva will also be present at the "New Galeries." Galeries Lafayetter wants to highlight the work of local artists and designers around the themes of the environment and upcycling.

Scheduled to open to the public in June 2022, the six-story complex will revolve around a new, fully renovated 15,000 square meter Galeries Lafayette store.

Annecy's new Galeries Lafayette

What: To cope with the diversification in payment methods, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and BHV are now using RoverCash cash register software, developed by the French company Lundi Matin.

Why it is important: For Black Friday, the Alma BNPL solution has already been implemented. In 2022, Lundi Matin will deploy a solution transforming the seller's smartphone into a payment terminal. More developments are on the way to focus on the new customer journeys: omnichannel solutions, cryptocurrencies, automatic checkout and mobile app payment.

Galeries Lafayette's new payment tools

What: In March 2022, Magasin du Nord first German branch will open in Peek & Cloppenburg's former store in Kassel.

Why it is important: Until last November, P&C operated the location itself. The new store will employ 60 people and the sales area will cover 3,000 sqm on three floors of fashion.

Magasin du Nord to open in Germany

What: The retailer plans to open 30 new El Corte Inglés Supermarkets outside of the department stores, with a renewed image and a more digital and sustainable format.

Why it is important: The project aims to strengthen the Group's position in the food area. It will also promote the other food brands: Hipercor, Club del Gourmet, the recently acquired Sanchez Romero and the supermarket chain Supercor (including Supercor Express and Supercor Stop & Go in alliance with Repsol).

Regarding the most premium segment, the company intends to continue developing its Club del Gourmet brand and promote the Madrid supermarket chain Sanchez Romero, as a benchmark for high-end products.

El Corte Inglés will open more supermarkets 

What: Savemore launches a new retail format, Savemore Express, with a smaller surface than regular stores.

Why it is important: During lockdowns, neighbourhood food stores have served as the essential destination for people, especially with home cooking as the only option. The new Savemore Express addresses this shift by providing the weekly grocery needs and offering an expanded line of fresh merchandise, essential food, personal care, and household products.

With a regular Savemore store typically covering 1,500 to 2,500 sqm. in floor area, the new format's smaller size makes it more versatile in delivering basic essentials to customers.

SM Markets (umbrella brand for SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore) and its sister company, Alfamart, has over 1,500 stores; 206 Savemore stores, 9 Savemore Express stores, 60 SM Supermarket stores, 53 SM Hypermarket stores, and 1,201 Alfamarts.

SM Markets' Savemore introduces new store format

What: Arthur Lemoine will take over from seasoned executive Marianne Romestain, who occupied the position since 2018.

Why it is important: Lemoine, a graduate of the Essec business school, has occupied various positions within the group. He is also a member of Galeries Lafayette's Executive Board.

He has been managing director of the group's watchmaking and jewelry activities since 2018 and before that, headed the food and beverage division, overseeing the implantation of Eataly in Paris.

Marianne Romestain will take over from Lemoine as managing director of the group's watchmaking and jewelry division, which includes the Louis Pion and Galeries Lafayette — Royal Quartz brands.

Galeries Lafayette has a new offer and buying director 

What: The retailer partnered with Mrs. Rushmore agency.

Why it is important: The campaign revolves around children who make Christmas the most special time of the year.

Watch spot here

El Corte Inglés' Christmas spot news

What: After Beijing in 2013 and Shanghai in 2019, the department store will open a new store in Shenzhen early 2023 with the ambition to have 10 stores by 2025.

Why it is important: Shenzhen is a key city in the development of the 'Greater Bay Area of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau' and is one of the fastest growing tier-1 cities in‎‎ the world. ‎

‎The goal of the department store is to target this young local population, by deploying a store format that it describes as unprecedented, and "where the focus will be on design and a highly edited multi-brand selection". A concept store spirit will infuse the 5,000 square meters.‎

Galeries Lafayette announces a new location in China

Press release

What: Manor, Coop, Migros and Denner react to the growth of the Omicron variant by enforcing new measures to be applied as early as 13 December.

Why it is important: While protecting customers and employees, retailers are hoping that this voluntary self-regulation measure will prevent them from more restrictions and possible store closures.

Manor will introduce capacity restrictions, social distancing and reinforced hygiene measures including mandatory masks in its department stores from 13 December 2021.

Coop, Migros and Denner recommend to shop at the beginning of the week and to avoid weekends and rush hours. In addition, they suggest that only one person per household should be shopping. Contactless payment methods will be favoured.

Manor new Covid restrictions

What: The "Arriba Mujeres" initiatives brings together success stories of Latin American women from Peru, Chile and Colombia.

Why it is important: Falabella has been participating in many initiatives promoting women empowerment. Since 2017, the retailer is part of the PAR Ranking, which evaluates gender equity issues: in 2020 the retailer ranked 34th out of 211 companies. In Peru, 59% of its management and middle-management positions are led by women.

Falabella empowers women 

What: The company has inaugurated a new logistics hub in Chile for Sodimac, Tottus, Falabella and Linio platforms.

Why it is important: The new hub is 13,500 square meters and has a dispatch capacity of 300,000 orders per month. In addition, it will generate more than 500 jobs.

The distribution centre will support the group's ambitions to have a high percentage of orders delivered in 48 hours or less.

Falabella has a new distribution centre in Chile

What: As part of its sustainability strategy, the department store announces a comprehensive animal welfare policy with ambitious guidelines for the handling of animal materials.

Why it is important: This new policy implies a full compliance from Breuninger's partners and suppliers. Breuninger is also sending a strong signal to the industry.

After refraining from selling real fur, exotic leather and angora wool at the end of 2020, Breuninger joined the international initiative "Fur Free Retailer Program" in January 2021. The new animal welfare policy is another step to commit to the responsible handling and protection of animals in the fashion industry.

The aim is to ensure minimum standards for animal materials, to exclude critical materials and to replace them with alternatives. Breuninger's animal welfare policy addresses far more materials than the usual industry standards. Materials such as silk, corals, skins and leather, pearls, mutt pearls and shells are also taken into account.

Breuninger's animal welfare policy

What: The retailer collaborated in the reforestation of 14.4 burned hectares in Ejulve, Teruel, in what was considered the largest forest fire in Spain, in 2009.

Why it is important: This initiative is launched at the same time as Galeries Lafayette, also contributing to a reforestation project. El Corte Inglés not only compensates the equivalent of a yearly Castellana store carbon footprint, but also contributes to regenerate a forest, while betting on local economic development.

El Corte Inglés offsets carbon footprint 

What: The department store launched a reforestation programme located 40 km from Galeries Lafayette in Nantes.

Why it is important: Faithful to its social responsibilities, the group wants to participate in the collective effort to increase the French forest areas.

This program should generate a climate benefit over 800 tonnes of CO2 over 30 years. A dedicated platform will give regular achievement updates.

Galeries Lafayette further commits to sustainability

What: In strong support of the country's recovery agenda, SM recently reached over 6 million doses of Covid vaccine administered in 71 malls around the country to date.

Why it is important: In addition to supporting the population, SM also facilitated vaccination of its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) partners in coordination with their respective local government units.

SM Supermalls steps up Covid vaccination

What: The expansion will go through Sodimac, Falabella's DIY and home improvement chain.

Why it is important: The retailer benefits from a strong momentum in the home improvement business in Brazil and will develop from its existing Sodimac-Dicico and Sodimac Homecenter networks.

Falabella to accelerate expansion in Brazil

What: El Corte Inglés Group posted a positive EBITDA of EUR 234 million, a EUR 416 million year-on-year increase on the same period last year (March-August).

Why it is important: Despite the absence of tourism and the restrictions still in place throughout the period, retail revenue is USD 5.42 billion, in line with 2019.

The Group's sales performance was driven mainly by retail, led by a strong recovery in fashion. Management improvements in the Group allowed to improve the gross margin by 2.7 points, to 30.2%.

El Corte Inglés posts a positive EBITDA

What: "Diseño Latino" is the name of Falabella's new multiple collaboration. The Chilean chain selected six designers from three countries - Chile, Colombia and Peru - to design a capsule collection.

Why it is important: At a time when customers are favouring locally-made products, Falabella is the first multi-Latino retailer offering a transversal collaboration in the region, with talent and local workforce.

Francisca Larrain and Lupe Gajardo from Chile, Sisterly Style and Maygel Coronel of Colombia, and Amaro Casanova and Anis Samanez from Peru were selected by the Chilean giant on this occasion. In total, 61 references for women, with prices between USD 30 and 85.

Falabella bets on regional fashion

What: Manor partnered with ad agency BETC to imagine two different TV ads which will be broadcasted from next week on Swiss television channels.

Why it is important: The humoristic ad campaign relies on the importance of family, as well as finding the perfect gift (at Manor for sure!).

TV campaign 1

Tv campaign 2

What: The extended product catalogue will be available to all customers in any El Corte Inglés' store. The expert consultation service will offer an immediate online advice from a specialized seller through chat, telephone or video call.

The Expert Consultation service is designed to lift any customer's doubt, knowing that 74% of the people who send queries about a product, buy that same day. With this service, the online customer is offered an expert advice as if he was shopping in the store. The client chooses his favourite channel whether it's through a phone call, video call or chat.

The Extended Catalogue allows the client to access all articles from stores having the most complete offer and from the entire website. The service is provided by a sales associate using different devices and tools: PDA systems, sales terminals and, in some stores, large screens.

With this system, the customer will have access to the flagship store offer, to categories or brands that do not have a presence in their local store. It will also allow them to access the entire catalogue of a brand with a smaller presence in the local store.

El Corte Inglés launches extended services to customers 

What: Christian Dior has expanded its retail footprint in Mexico with the opening of its fourth store, a new boutique at El Palacio de Hierro in Guadalajara (following locations in Artz, Santa Fe and Polanco).

Why it is important:  El Palacio de Hierro secures and expands its partnership with Dior.

The Guadalajara store resembles a curved light box with two entrances. Women's and men's collections are displayed in the centre. Product is cross-merchandised following a new concept started at the brand's massive Paris Champs-Élysées boutique opened in 2019.

El Palacio de Hierro opens a new dior store

What: The Mall Group teams up with a Japanese company to receive introductions to interesting Japanese brands.

Why it is important: The Mall Group gains at the same time access to new brands for the Thai market but also information about their actual potential given JR West's available data.

JR West, the Japanese company operating railroads and shopping centers in Japan, has concluded a partnership with The Mall Group to provide information about its Japanese tenants and help them building relationship with the Thai operator. Within working relationship, the first of its own, The Mall Group will review proposals from JR West about brands to introduce in the EmSphere mall in Bangkok for potential openings in Q4 2023.

JR West unit inks partnership with Thailand's Mall Group