A report by Global Data and Sybarite, an architectural firm that specialises in retail space, ranks luxury department stores of the world by sales per square foot in 2017. It credits the department stores with ongoing investments to renew their shop floors for their success.

Harrods, which came first, has embarked on a $260 million investment to expand its Watch Room and Salon des Parfums, relaunched its wine and spirits room, and opened a new wellness centre. It also highlights Selfridges and its $395 million refurbishment of its Oxford Street store which is also used as a platform "to create socially-driven, state-of-the-art experiences". Le Bon Marche, Paris, Liberty, London, and SKP, Beijing were also in the top five of the ranking. Others mentioned include Breuninger, Palacio de Hierro and Galeries Lafayette.

read The Sybarite Report 2018: The future of the luxury department store