What: The Galeries Lafayette Group announces the finalisation of the sale of BHV Mrais and BHV Parly 2 to the SGM Group.

Why it is important: Galeries Lafayette has owned the two department stores for 30 years and strongly believes that the SGM Groupe will be the most committed and innovative player to continue growing the stores' potential with the commitment of its teams.

Galeries Lafayette group finalises the sale of BHV Marais to Groupe SGM

What: Magasin du Nord has a 70 sqm pop-up store in the Swedish city during November and December.

Why it is important: The department store intends to increase brand awareness on the territory to boost online sales and get more Goodie programme members.

Magasin du Nord opens a pop-up store in Malmö

What: The Mall Group has undertaken a major rebranding and renovation of 2 malls in Bangkok to focus them as food and dining destinations.

Why it is important: Whatever is happening in experience and dining retail in Thailand should be watched carefully by other worldwide players.

The Mall Group has rebranded and renovated The Mall Bang Kapi and The Mall Bang Khae in Bangkok as "The Mall Life Store" shopping centres.

The concept is "A Happy Place To Live Life" with a focus on food and dining.  Both malls will serve as "Food Destinations", bringing together over 700 leading restaurants covering Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Western cuisines.

The Mall Bang Kapi has over 5,000 sqm dedicated to dining including famous local street food vendors, Michelin-rated chefs, and international brands. The Mall Bang Khae also has a 5,000 sqm dining hub with a mix of local favourites, Korean BBQ, Japanese cuisine, and international brands. Both malls feature pleasant outdoor garden dining areas as well as indoor dining floors.

The renovations aim to make the malls foodie paradises and lifestyle destinations for all customer demographics. The Mall Group hopes the rebranding and positioning as dining destinations will increase foot traffic by 20% at both locations.

The Mall Group rebrands 2 stores as food destinations

What: Breuninger was awarded the German Retail Prize by the German Trade Association.

Why it is important: The award recognises the company's innovative integration of online and physical retail strategies, customer-centric focus, and successful adaptation to the evolving retail landscape, setting a benchmark for excellence in the industry.

Breuninger received this accolade during the Germany Trade Congress held in Berlin from November 15-16, 2023. The award, presented in the medium-sized business category, acknowledged Breuninger's effective integration of online activities, strong customer focus, strategic growth through physical expansion, innovative formats, and an emphasis on customer experience. The CEO of Breuninger, Holger Blecker, accepted the award from Mark Rauschen, President of the Textile Trade Association (BTE), in front of approximately 800 retail industry guests.

Breuninger wins German Trade Prize

What: The Breuninger flagship store in Munich celebrated the festive season with a grand Christmas party, themed "A Night of Joy."

Why it is important: Breuninger CEO Holger Blecker and Munich managing directors Alexander Entov and René Weise hosted around 600 guests, including celebrities from various fields at the newly designed store.

Breuninger hosts a Christmas party in the former Konen in Munich

What: El Palacio de Hierro in Mexico began its holiday season with the lighting of its Christmas tree, which was designed by Dior.

Why it is important: The collaboration between El Palacio de Hierro and Dior showcases a unique luxury experience in Mexico that visitors can enjoy until December 31.

The tree is accompanied by a Dior-signed carousel featuring decorative elements inspired by the fragrances "Miss Dior" and J'adore l'Or. Inside El Palacio de Hierro, there is also a pop-up store dedicated to Dior beauty and makeup products.

El Palacio de Hierro teams up with Dior for its Christmas decor 

What: Galeries Lafayette announced that it will be closing its Berlin department store after 28 years in operation.

Why it is important: The decision is attributed to changing consumption habits in Germany and shifts in the retail market in Berlin.

The Berlin store, located in the Mitte district, was Galeries Lafayette's first venture outside of France and spanned four floors with over 88,000 square feet of selling space. The lease with property owner Tishman Speyer will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2024, and the closure will result in the redundancy of 190 employees.

Galeries Lafayette is planning to open 20 stores outside of France by 2025, focusing on China, Asia, and the Middle East. The company recently unveiled a store in Shenzhen and has plans for stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. Additionally, Galeries Lafayette has existing stores in Doha, Qatar, Luxembourg, and Shanghai, with future projects in Macau and Chongqing.

Galeries Lafayette to close Berlin store

What: Galeries Lafayette remains true to their DNA by opening and operating their foundation, Anticipations.

Why it is important: Department stores are not only here to sell products, but also to create emotional bonds with their clientele so that they remain loyal.

Guillaume Houzé, part of the family that owns Galeries Lafayette, Europe's largest department store chain, discusses the store's rich history and its strong ties to culture and art. Founded by Théophile Bader in 1894, the store quickly grew and incorporated grand architectural designs, including Art Nouveau staircases and a prominent glass dome.

Houzé wears multiple hats. Apart from overseeing the brand's image, he's also the president of the National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts and serves on boards of Christie's France and the Municipal Museum of Modern Art. While retail is deeply embedded in his family's traditions, Houzé's art fascination was particularly influenced by his art-loving grandparents.

Notably, he founded Lafayette Anticipations, a unique private museum in Paris. While it has a collection of its own, it primarily serves as an innovative space for artists to craft new pieces. Architect Rem Koolhaas transformed a 19th-century building into this dynamic space, complete with a versatile steel-and-glass exhibition tower. Unlike traditional museums, Anticipations aims to be a 'toolbox' for artists, offering a place to create and display their work. Houzé views this initiative as an extension of his family's legacy of intertwining retail with art and culture.

Galeries Lafayette place art and artists at the heart of their business

What: Berlin is pushing to transform the Galeries Lafayette building into a library at the end of the lease.

Why it is important: Many wonder about the feasibility of such a project, not to mention the fact that this has been a historical location for the store

Berlin's culture senator, Joe Chialo, is proposing the transformation of the French department store, Galeries Lafayette, located on Berlin's Friedrichstrasse, into the city's first central library. The city has debated the need for a central library for over a century.

Chialo is looking to purchase the building, Quartier 207, currently leased by Lafayette, from its US owner, Tishman Speyer, estimating the project's cost at EUR 589m (GBP 510m).

With the store's lease ending in 2024 and considering challenging retail conditions, the space could become a library by 2026. While some are sceptical about the building's suitability and costs, librarians and the German Library Association view the proposal as a once-in-a-century opportunity.

The building, known for its architectural appeal, offers a spacious and light-filled structure, which could rejuvenate the area and provide a communal center for the city.

Berlin city hall is pushing to transform the Galeries Lafayette building into a state library

What: Jonak has opened a coffee shop on the 4th floor of Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris.

Why it is important: The opening of a coffee shop by Jonak allows customers to experience a unique combination of trying on shoes while enjoying a coffee, bridging the worlds of fashion and lifestyle.

The pop-up shop will be available from October 26th to November 14th. Customers can try on Jonak shoes while sipping on espresso, cappuccino, or mocha infused with tonka bean. The brand has also created a campaign featuring their top ten favourite cafes in Paris and incorporating them into a city guide. This venture follows Jonak's previous foray into the culinary world by collaborating with bakeries in September. Jonak is known for its high-quality shoes and has recently opened a new silver shop-in-shop at Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées.

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann opens a café as a showcasefor Jonak

What: El Palacio de Hierro reported a 14% increase in sales and a 17% increase in profit in the first nine months of the year.

Why it is important: El Palacio de Hierro experienced a profitable first 3 quarters of 2023 in all channels.

The company's turnover reached USD 1.85 billion during this period, with a compound growth of 20% over the past two years. The department store also saw a significant growth of 28% in online sales during the same period. El Palacio de Hierro has outperformed the Mexican retail sector as a whole, which saw a 5.8% increase in sales at same-store locations. The net income increased 17% to USD 86 million.

El Palacio de Hierro increases its sales in Q3

What: The Mall Group has partnered with Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited to develop new credit card products.

Why it is important: The partnership between The Mall Group and Bangkok Bank brings enhanced benefits to customers, providing a better experience and added value.

The new Bangkok Bank M Visa credit card will be available from December 1, 2023 onwards. Customers who currently hold the SCB M Visa credit card can continue using it until January 31, 2024, after which it will be automatically cancelled.

M Points accumulated on the SCB M Visa credit card will remain in the member's M Card account and can be used for discounts and benefits. The M Points will also be combined with the new Bangkok Bank M Visa credit card once it is applied for and approved. The card can be applied for at any branch of The Mall department stores and shopping centres, as well as through the Bangkok Bank mobile banking service.

The Mall Group collaborates with Bangkok Bank to introduce new credit card products

What: The Mall Group is actively supporting tourism by adapting to visitors' needs and modifying its store opening hours.

Why it is important: The Mall Group is currently creating a shopping entertainment hub in the heart of Bangkok which aims to be recognized as a global retail destination.

Supaluck Umpujh, the Co-chairwoman of Thailand's Mall Group, has put forth a strategy to boost Thailand's economy by attracting more foreign tourists.

While she commends the government's current tourism initiatives, she proposes special incentives for investments in artificial tourist attractions. Rezoning tourist attractions could increase their appeal and encourage tourist spending. Supaluck suggests that tourist hotspots like Chiang Mai and Phuket should extend their service hours, emulating popular locations like Bali. For tourists to spend more, a variety of day and night attractions with educational and experiential value is essential.

She envisions Thailand as an international tourism and entertainment hub. To attract more tourists, Supaluck proposes free visas for more countries and organizing signature festivals. She also mentions reducing import taxes on luxury items, similar to neighboring countries, to support Thailand's tax-free businesses.

Her company is partnering with companies from countries including Japan and South Korea to attract more tourists to Thailand.

The Mall Group plans to extend opening hours to promote Thailand tourism

What: Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées is hosting a pop-up experience to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bape from October 27th to November 14th.

Why it is important: The celebration highlights Bape's significant influence in streetwear and its exclusive collaborations, reinforcing its global brand presence.

The brand will showcase its anniversary collection and exclusive collaborations with Adidas Stan Smith, Adidas Golf, Highsnobiety, and Casio. Over 700 items, including the iconic Bape Sta shoes and an exclusive Bearbrick Baby Milo figurine, will be available, with prices ranging from EUR 39 to EUR 500. Bape has also held anniversary events in New York and Tokyo. The brand's collaboration with Adidas features items adorned with Bape's signature ABC Camo pattern.

Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées celebrates 30 years of Bape

What: Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann is exhibiting five iconic dresses in its windows on behalf of the 90th anniversary of Air France as well as highlighting the airline's legendary planes, comfort, uniforms, gastronomy, and design.

Why it is important: The exhibition highlights its rich history and offerings and provides a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with Air France's legacy and experience.

Each dress in the windows, created by Xavier Ronze, represents different aspects of the airline, such as planes and technology, uniforms and fashion, posters, gastronomy, and design and architecture. The dresses are made from elements of Air France's heritage and current pieces, creating a connection between history and modernity.

Inside Galeries Lafayette, pop-up stores will be open, offering specially created or reissued objects to commemorate the anniversary.

The collection will be displayed from September 28th to October 10th.

To reach a wider audience, Air France has created an immersive website in French and English, where visitors can explore the history of Air France and its assets over time. Additionally, Air France has released an anniversary film showcasing the collection, featuring models wearing the dresses in various locations, including the airline's industrial hangars and aircraft which will be broadcast at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, airport lounges, and onboard Air France planes.

EnVols, a media outlet, will also release a supplement dedicated to Air France's 90th anniversary, offering readers insights into the airline's history, the dresses, and interviews with notable individuals involved in Air France's offerings.

Galeries Lafayette celebrates 90 years of Air France in its windows 

What: Manor Solothurn is celebrating its 100th anniversary since opening on October 13, 1923.

Why it is important: The department store aims to continue developing its range of products and services in the future and delighting customers with new brands, exclusive partnerships, and a strong assortment of their own brands.

Manor Solothurn offers a shopping experience in various categories including fashion, accessories, beauty, jewellery, home, toys, electronics, and more. Manor is committed to improving its online channels and will be launching a new version of its mobile app by the end of the year.

In honour of this milestone, Manor is offering a 20% anniversary discount to all Manor cardholders on nearly everything, on October 14, 2023.

Manor celebrates 100 years of Manor Solothurn 

What: El Corte Inglés is in talks with banks to extend the maturity of their debt to 2029.

Why it is important: This move would allow El Corte Inglés to continue benefiting from low-interest debt in a time of rising interest rates.

The company had previously secured a loan of EUR 2.6 billion in 2022, and now it wants to extend the repayment period by one year. The debt reduction efforts made by the company in recent years have contributed to its improved financial position. In the fiscal year ending in February 2023, El Corte Inglés reported a 22.5% increase in revenue, reaching EUR 15.3 billion. The positive performance of the company's business activities led to a significant increase in net profit, reaching EUR 870 million.

El Corte Inglés negotiates to extend the maturity of the debt to 2029

What: El Corte Inglés has launched a new concept of luxury watch boutiques in Madrid in collaboration with TimeVallée.

Why it is important: The store aims to be a destination for both watch enthusiasts and newcomers to the luxury watches world, with expert sales ambassadors guiding customers on a discovery journey.

The boutique, located in El Corte Inglés Castellana, showcases renowned watch brands such as Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Chopard, IWC, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Panerai, and Piaget. The permanent space spans over 200 square meters and offers an immersive and personalized shopping experience. The boutique features a unique design with watchband-inspired marquees, elegant displays, and open exhibition areas. Each brand's DNA is expressed on the surrounding walls, creating a personalized shopping experience.

The collaboration between TimeVallée and El Corte Inglés started in 2019 with a space in El Corte Inglés Diagonal in Barcelona. TimeVallée's CEO, Michael Guenoun, is excited to showcase the new TimeVallée concept in Madrid and provide trustworthy and attentive service to guests.

El Corte Inglés launches the new concept of luxury watch boutique by TimeVallée in Madrid

What: El Corte Inglés has launched a campaign called "Welcome to the New Era" to connect with the younger generation.

Why it is important: The campaign aims to unite fashion, beauty, technology, and food, positioning El Corte Inglés as the go-to destination for Generation Z.

The new campaign features singers Ana Mena and Judeline, as well as actors Óscar Casas, Nicole Wallace, and Álvaro Mel. It showcases both El Corte Inglés' own brands for the youth segment and external brands like Converse, Lacoste, Levi's, and Dr. Martens. "Welcome to the New Era" was presented in Madrid and highlights the department store group's understanding of the new codes and languages that Generation Z lives by.

El Corte Inglés appeals to Gen Z in its latest campaign 

What: Manor has partnered with Zurich-based design brand Round Rivers to launch an exclusive sustainable fashion capsule collection.

Why it is important: The collaboration aims to promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry and raise awareness about upcycling.

The unisex collection, limited to 1,050 items, is made from PET bottles retrieved from the Swiss Limmat river and transformed into recycled swimwear and winter jackets. The collection, which emphasizes sustainability and style, will be available in 15 Manor stores and online from October 30, 2023. Round Rivers' approach not only cleans Swiss waters but also ensures a transparent value creation chain.

Furthermore, Round Rivers' method has a negative carbon footprint. Without their intervention, river waste would be incinerated, turning into CO2. However, due to their short transport distances and sustainable production, the startup emits less CO2 than what would be produced by incineration. Since 2019, Round Rivers has retrieved over 50,000 PET bottles, with 12,950 of them now transformed into reversible unisex winter jackets for the exclusive Manor collaboration.

Manor places a high emphasis on sustainability, evident in their growing range of sustainable products and their commitment to environmental and societal causes. Their sustainability standard in fashion is notably high, with a product only labeled as sustainable if it contains at least 70% sustainable materials. Customers can easily identify Manor's sustainable products through the "REThink Everyday" label.

Manor launches fashion capsule collection with Round Rivers

What: El Corte Inglés has increased its offering of sustainable products by 8.5%, reaching a total of 132,694 sustainable references.

Why it is important: The increase demonstrates the company's commitment to sustainability and provides consumers with more environmentally-friendly options.

The company has implemented internal protocols for sustainable procurement and production, as well as updated its sustainable product guide for suppliers. They have also added new sustainability certifications to their product portfolio.

In the fashion and accessories category, Southern Cotton and Green Coast have emerged as notable sustainable brands, aiming to represent at least 80% of the total brands by 2024. Additionally, El Corte Inglés has launched sustainable toys and has pursued sustainability in its fresh seafood products through MSC/ASC certification.

El Corte Inglés increases its sustainable product offer by 8.5%

What: El Corte Ingles' growth in 2022 is progressing thanks to increasing retail sales and internationalization

Why it is important: Private labels can be a source of growth and market shares when considered as brands.

El Corte Inglés is continuing its international expansion of its own brands, which are already present in more than 30 countries through partnerships with local strategic partners. The company's annual report highlights its efforts to strengthen its international presence by introducing new product categories in the home sector, in addition to its existing offerings in fashion and food. In the food sector, it has formed an alliance with a Filipino company to sell El Corte Inglés and El Corte Inglés Selection products in its supermarkets and has expanded its collaboration in Ecuador. In the fashion sector, Sfera is the most internationally recognized brand, present in 18 countries with a total of 490 points of sale.

In 2022, El Corte Inglés Group reported global revenues of over EUR 15.327 billion, a 22.5% increase over the previous year. This strong growth has driven EBITDA to €951 million, with a strong recovery in profitability. The group's net recurring profit reached EUR 207 million, the highest in recent years, despite a EUR 150 million increase in energy costs. The group's net total profit also reached €870 million, the highest figure ever achieved.

The group's solid financial position is reflected in its reduced net financial debt of EUR .295 billion, the lowest level in the past 15 years. This financial strength, coupled with a strong recovery in profitability, will enable the group to undertake new projects in the future.

The main driver of growth has been the retail business, with sales of EUR 12.213 billion, a 7.8% increase over the previous year, with a strong focus on the fashion sector. Online sales continue to grow, with over 3.2 million active online customers and approximately 14 million orders in 2022.

The group has also seen significant growth in its non-retail businesses, including travel, financial services, and insurance. The travel business, in particular, has reported revenues of EUR 1.677 billion, compared to EUR 72 million the previous year, with an EBITDA of over EUR 50 million.

Overall, El Corte Inglés is in a strong position for the fiscal year 2023, with a positive start to the year driven by a successful spring-summer campaign. The group's solid balance sheet, ample liquidity, and optimized capital structure provide greater flexibility to operate in a changing macroeconomic environment.

El Corte Inglés closes 2022 at +22% and accelerates internationally

What: El Palacio de Hierro launches a new women's brand, DHierro that encompasses slow fashion and timeless minimalist tailored garments.

Why it is important: The launch it introduces a new exclusive women's brand offering minimalist touches, sartorial art, and high-quality silhouettes, further enhancing the company's fashion portfolio.

The new brand is made mostly by hand in Europe with materials such as cashmere, merino wool, extra virgin wool, silk, linen and leathers. DHierro is available starting in September in the El Palacio de Hierro stores of Polanco, Santa Fé, Coyoacan, Perisur, Interlomas, Querétaro, and Guadalajara.

El Palacio de Hierro launches a new private label brand, DHierro

What: Magasin du Nord has implemented a new OMS

Why it is important: Omnichannel capabilities and POS efficiency are commanded by such a backbone.

Tecsys Inc., a top-tier supply chain management and omnichannel commerce software provider, has collaborated with Denmark's historic department store chain, Magasin du Nord, to modernize its multi-channel shopping experience. Utilizing Tecsys' Omno OMS software, Magasin du Nord integrates traditional retail and digital platforms, enhancing back-end fulfillment operations. The partnership empowers the 150-year-old brand to offer seamless channel transitions for its customers and efficient order processing.

The platform's features include adaptable sales channel integration, intelligent order routing based on inventory and product categories, strategic and cost-effective routing to minimize shipments, and real-time inventory management.

Magasin du Nord implements a new OMS