What: incorporation of Bizum as a new payment method for online purchases via the El Corte Ingles Website and App.

Why is it important: convenience has become a priority for retailers in order to bring easy, seamless services and experiences to their customers. With the crisis and the rapid growth of digital retail, department stores need to act fast to bring said convenience to their clients through their online stores.

This program refers to both organisations' interest in providing clients the highest and most reliable service. The incorporation of Bizum is part of El Corte Inglés' commitment to digitalisation and omnichannel, its dedication to customer service and its continuous adaptation to the needs of the customers.

For some time, El Corte Inglés and BBVA have been working together on numerous ventures, such as the integration of Alipay or Wechat Pay through physical shop payment terminals, in order to fulfill the needs of international customers, especially the ones from Asia.

El Corte Inglés y BBVA se alían para incorporar Bizum como medio de pago en compras online

What: Sogo relaunches its VIP program.

Why it is important: A much awaited relaunch making the most of Sogo's experience on customers loyalty and expectations.

The new VIP program is a streamlined, simplified system, though to be easy and rewarding. 3 tiers, names after Japanese flowers, accessible upon spending specified amounts, grant various advantages, from gift certificates to members events, exclusive events and even dining discounts.

2020 SOGO Rewards Apps Leaflet

What: a new opening for SM Group

Why it is important: despite the  pandemic and the uncertain situation, SM continues its expansion in the Philippines with the opening of its first mall in  Zamboanga City.

Zamboanga City, located on Zamboanga Peninsula is the 3rd largest city in the Philippines and a strategical busy port. Dubbed SM City Mindpro, the four-level 59,383 square meter mall caters to shoppers in the bustling city, as well as those in the rest of the peninsula. Major anchors include The SM Store, Mindpro Supermarket, SM Appliance Center, and more. It will add fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, bookstores and services. The mall also features dining options on each floor, and new dining experiences include touch-free, cashless payment services. Entertainment options include a cinema.

SM linkedin announcement with video

Business Mirror - SM Prime opens first mall in Zamboanga

What: a vintage corner opens inside Swiss department store.

Why it is important: sustainability has been a central issue these past few years, especially in retail and in fashion. One way to be sustainable: resale, and second-hand clothing.

Switzerland-based department store Manor has welcome its first second-hand items boutique Tilt Vintage at its Geneva store.

LinkedIn Post of Jérôme GILG CEO of Manor AG

Update 01 December 2020: The four Fnac shop-in-shops have opened in Manor's outposts in Switzerland. If the trial is concluding, the partnership could extend to more Manor stores.

Fnac opens in Manor - release

September 2020: Swiss department store Manor has announced a partnership with Fnac Switzerland, that will result in the opening of Fnac shop-in-shops in four Manor department stores from November 2020. The shop-in-shops, working as a concession model, will offer Manor's clients a larger assortment in multimedia, culture and gaming among others, as well as professional advice. Fnac will benefit from the premium Manor's locations in the country. The partnership continues online as instore Manor's clients will have access to Fnac's online assortment for more products; the physical locations will serve as Click-and-collect hubs. Should the partnership be a success, it will extend to more Manor's stores.

Press release (in French) below

Fnac Suisse et Manor annoncent un partenariat pour le développement de shop-in-shops en Suisse

What: Breuninger at 1st and 2nd place in the TextilWirtschaft Autumn ranking.

Why it is important: The group confirms position as a top player on domestic market.

Breuninger took first and second place in the "Best of Store" TextilWirtschaft Autumn 2020 ranking. First place went to their new flagship store in Nuremberg and second place to the recently redesigned luxury area of the flagship store in Stuttgart, both in collaboration with architecture firm Blocher Partners.

Breuninger linkedin news

Die Top 5 Läden

What: 2GO expands store footprint and teams up with SM.

Why it is important: Logistical support is now key for department stores.

2GO Group Inc., the Philippines' largest and broadest integrated transportation and logistics provider, is solidifying its partnership with SM Retail Inc., to expand 2GO's store footprint and make transactions more convenient and accessible for its consumers.

2GO expands store footprint, teams up with SM

What: a documentary series on department stores

Why it is important: released in 2017 by French-German TV channel ARTE, the documentaries tells the stories of several department stores: Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Macy's in New York, KaDeWe in Berlin, and Gum in Moscow.

The current context is very different from what it was three years ago as new stakes and challenges arose with the health crisis. Department store will need to reinvent themselves once again, as they have been doing over their long years of existence.

The TV show is not only an ode to the glorious past of Galeries Lafayette, but also explores the reasons of its present success and why this retail format is still relevant. Arte explores the backstage of Galeries Lafayette, including an interview of Nicolas Houzé. The series includes episodes on Gum, Macy's and Kadewe.

Galeries Lafayette, Paris

Goum, Moscow

Macy's, New York City

KaDeWe, Berlin

What: second French lockdown has ended, allowing non-essential stores to reopen across the country.

Why it is important: December is a crucial period for retailers, especially this year where the Holiday shopping is desperately needed after stores had to shut for several months this year because of the pandemic

As French lockdown has become more flexible, non-essential stores have reopened across the country. It includes all Galeries Lafayette stores, Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées and BHV / Marais.

Shops in France allowed to reopen after coronavirus lockdown eased

What: solidarity initiative in favour of the Aladina Foundation to donate toys for children and teenagers with cancer.

Why is it important: as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy, El Corte Inglés and the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) are organising a solidarity initiative from Saturday 5 to 8 December.

Customers who wish to collaborate in this donation campaign can give away unused toys at the Castellana and Goya centres (Madrid). Volunteers from the EMT will provide information about this initiative in these establishments.

To strengthen the cooperation campaign initiated by EMT, El Corte Inglés will contribute to this action by bringing to Aladina Foundation the toys its customers deliver and donating one toy for every toy donated at both centers. The Spanish department store is further reinforcing its commitment to the Tres Reyes and Christmas days by collaborating with various organisations in the donation of toys.

El Corte Inglés y la EMT organizan una recogida de juguetes a favor de la Fundación Aladina

What: SM launches mobile app for virtual "malling experience".

Why it is important: Moving further onto a fully omnichannel capacity.

Shoppers can have their virtual "malling experience" with SM Malls' newly launched app. Available from the App Store and Google Play, the new app lets customers buy online from various stores, shops, brands, boutiques, restaurants, food kiosks and many more within SM malls. The new device is different ShopSM online store and app where only items from The SM Store are featured, and SM Markets online store and app where people can buy grocery items from SM supermarkets. To use, customers should select the mall of their choice, explore items from shops and brands, "add to cart" items for purchase, and proceed to check out and payment. For now, only SM Megamall is accessible, but SM City North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia will be available soon.

SM launches mobile app for virtual 'malling experience'

What: SM opens first mall in Caraga region with SM City Butuan.

Why it is important: SM keeps expanding with a new store.

SM Prime Holdings opens SM City Butuan, its first mall in the Caraga region.  With a floor area of 40 000 sqm, the sixth mall for SM in Mindanao, will have three floors, offering 80% of space for lease. It will feature a mix of local and foreign stores and brands, as well as SM's own lines such as The SM Store, SM Supermarket, SM Appliance Center, Our Home, ACE Hardware, Uniqlo, Sports Central, Surplus Shop, Miniso, Goldilocks, Watsons and BDO. It will also house four up-to-date SM Cinema facilities, SM Cyberzone, an open parking and a helipad.

SM to open first mall in CARAGA region with SM City Butuan

What: a rebranding for IADS member Thailand-based member The Mall

Why it is important: department stores constantly need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant and one way to remain close to their costumers is to bring modernity to their image

The group aims to turn all The Mall complexes to "The Mall Lifestores", in response to customers' changing lifestyle. The rebranding is translated into a new retail model and a new corporate identity with a red "M" new logo. The group's chairwoman Supaluck Umpujh said "The Mall Lifestore is no longer a department store or shopping complex, it is a place for people of all generations to have new experiences that mix between technology and humanity." The new retail model has been applied for the first time at The Mall Ngamwongwan branch, which is scheduled to launch on 26 November. All existing malls should be rebranded by 2023.

The Mall embarks on first-ever rebranding

What: Filipino department store continues to invest in its ecommerce and launches more omnichannel option

Why it is important: as customers turn to a mix of online and instore shopping amid the pandemic, retailers need to respond fast to that demand by extending their omni-channel offer

SM Investments Corp. in the Philippines is betting on several omni-channel options to extend its reach. It has opened a virtual mall, so far available only in the Manila area but that should open nationwide soon. Other developments include personal shopping and more delivery and pick-up services. The idea is to follow the Chinese "omni-channel" retailing approach where people shop both on and off line, and therefore to cater to more customers.

This year the group has also introduced small-format outlets and al fresco (outside) dining and lounge spaces to respond to the virus-driven trend toward bigger open spaces.

Philippine Mall Titan Quickens Shift to China-Style Mixed Retail

What: El Corte Inglés extends its range of online services for Christmas.

Why it is important: The company keeps moving onto a fully omnichannel approach.

Customers can order the toys of the Three Kings and Father Christmas at the 177 Supercor and Supercor Express centres and collect them from the shop or have them sent home, in the case of the larger ones. These new points of sale are in addition to the El Corte Inglés centres, the company's website and app that allows for a total omnichannel approach. With this initiative, El Corte Inglés expands its range of services for this Christmas season, offering more facilities to all groups in a simple and convenient way through its usual supermarket.

El Corte Inglés amplía a Supercor la opción de encargar y recoger los juguetes esta Navidad

Related items:

• El Corte Inglés rethinks logistics, turns stores in distribution centres
• El Corte Inglés becomes logistician for 100 brands
• El Corte Inglés launches mobile app

What: Cecilie Bahnsen nabs Magasin du Nord Fashion Prize.

Why it is important: Her ability to respond to the crisis and seek "sustainable solutions" stood out to the jury.

Cecilie Bahnsen has been named this year's winner of the Magasin du Nord Fashion Prize, one of Denmark's most recognized fashion awards.

The award has been designed as Denmark's answer to the LVMH Prize to support the most promising up-and-coming talent in Scandinavia. But in light of the pandemic, the Wessel & Vetts Foundation, which spearheads the award, has decided to open up applications to previous winners and finalists in a bid to support some of the country's existing fashion businesses impacted.

Bahnsen, who is a second-time winner of the accolade, will receive a grant as well as mentorship by the prize's jury, which includes the likes of Rebecca Bay, creative director at Marimekko, Copenhagen Fashion Week CEO Cecilie Thorsmark, and Ganni CEO Nicolaj Reffstrup.

Cecilie Bahnsen Nabs Denmark's Magasin du Nord Fashion Prize

What: El Corte Inglés uses 90 department stores as online logistics centres

Why is it important: online sales have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic and the trend is here to stay. Retailers need to rethink and adapt their business in order to respond quickly to the customers' demands and to stay competitive in times of crisis.

El Corte Inglés has a total of 93 centres for the distribution of online purchases, including three specialised platforms in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. Now 90 department stores have been rethought to " also assume the operations of logistics hubs" as the company explains. Turning stores into distribution centres will unify stock and allow a better control of stock in real time. The goal is to extend the retailer's convenience offer to all cities in Spain through operations such as click-and-collect or kerbside pickups, and eventually reach out to more customers.

El Corte Inglés convierte 90 grandes almacenes en centros logísticos online para batir a Amazon

Related items:

• El Corte Inglés becomes logistician for 100 brands
• El Corte Inglés launches mobile app

What: New features added to the in-house remote shopping service.

Why it is important: Another step towards a fully omnichannel approach.

Launched in May, the "Shopping à Distance" exclusive video-shopping service that brings the unique Boulevard Haussmann in-store experience into the customers' homes is now offering an even more seamless experience with new key features that include video appointment scheduling, a Luxury & Designers section, and availability at all Galeries Lafayette's physical stores, using the newly deployed omnichannel retail technologies.

The service is available from 11am to 6pm Monday to Saturday on galerieslafayette.com. Visitors can contact a sales assistant from a brand in Galeries Lafayette Haussmann's Luxury & Designers department, schedule a one-to-one live-video appointment with a Galeries Lafayette Personal Shopper to find inspiration and benefit from their expertise, or choose from a special selection of items and send their wish list to the store's teams, for direct home delivery.

"Shopping à Distance", Galeries Lafayette Haussmann's exclusive, video-supported, remote shopping experience

What: Falabella was selected in the DJSI World.

Why it is important: Falabella is the only Chilean company selected.

Falabella was the only Chilean retail company selected this year to integrate the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which brings together the leading multinational listed companies in terms of sustainability, based on economic, social and environmental standards. Within the retail category, the firm ranked 5th worldwide. Likewise, it continues to be the only Chilean company to be included in four Dow Jones indexes: World, Emerging Markets, MILA and Chile.

The five priorities of work of the company are customer-focused: reduction of the carbon footprint, waste management, responsible supply chain, social investment programs and diversity & inclusion.

Falabella is the only Chilean company selected for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World)

What: The El Corte Inglés Group reports positive EBITDA for the second quarter.

Why it is important: The group has managed to boost liquidity and reduce costs, while driving its online business and omnichannel strategy.

The El Corte Inglés Group reported EBITDA of EUR 64 million for the second quarter (June-August 2020) of its financial year, driven by online sales and store reopening. Sales totalled EUR 2,817 million and gross profit EUR 811 million in 2Q despite the sharp negative impact of the pandemic, especially on the travel business.

The El Corte Inglés Group delivers positive EBITDA

What: sustainable engagements at Breuninger

Why it is important: sustainability is a key topic for retail and department stores. There are several ways for brands and department stores to engage on sustainability -like IADS exposed in its latest exclusive article here- and Breuninger is taking engagements.

Breuninger's sustainable engagements revolve around four principle:

• Focusing of all previous sustainability measures
• Four fields of action: materials, people, environment, city
• Setting binding, ongoing goals
• Sustainable seal catalog for the entire future range

Breuninger will, among others, label its products with sustainable seals such as Better Cotton and Fairtrade to bring transparency, and to signal to the customer which sustainable criteria the article meets. Overall, sustainable materials are to be promoted even more in the future. Other engagements include reducing CO2 emissions in the medium and long term and increasing natural resources care. The sustainable engagement extends from Breuninger on social and charitable engagements such as community foundations, cultural institutions and sports associations.

Nachhaltigkeit bei Breuninger

IADS member Magasin du Nord implemented an interesting initiative to ensure customers were safe when navigating the floors, and respecting the legal distance imposed by Danish health department: "Distancing Guides". In addition to the entrance staff dedicated to welcoming customers while reminding them about procedures (mask, gel and distance) the Distancing Guides are here to enforce customers dispersion on all floors of the stores and avoid unwanted gathering. 54 of them have been deployed so far (more to come for Christmas period) and this was noted by the Danish government: the Danish Minister for Commerce spent 30 mn instore in the Copenhaguen Kongens Nytorv flagship, and this generated a TV coverage. Magasin du Nord kindly shared with us their guidelines as we do believe this initiative could be interesting for other IADS members.

Magasin du Nord distance guidelines

Beco is joining the worldwide breast cancer prevention campaign by launching its own Pink campaign, astutely arguing that "prevention is not only against Covid-19" by showing a visual of two masks assembled in a bra. They are selling dedicated branded masks through their in-house lingerie brand Fru-Fru, and will redeem 60% of the earnings of such sales to the foundation "Senos Ayuda" (breast help).

Available via the Apple App Store and Google Play, the new free app allows for the user to shop online among all the different sections of the department store and Hipercor supermarket with a combined range of collection and delivery options available.  The app holder has access to insurance, financial, travel and leisure services, as well as to special offers. They can also use the in-store easy check-out option that comes with the app via the El Corte Inglés purchase card.