The SM Store, the largest department store chain in the Philippines, will deploy Aptos Merchandise Financial Planning to optimize its omnichannel merchandising strategies. Aptos is a recognized market leader in retail technology solutions, and this particular solution is set to provide end-to-end support for SM merchandise planning activities across its physical and online channels. It includes strategic planning and budgeting, planning by attributes, buying and assortment strategy, in-season management, and more. This will ultimately serve the customer experience better.

The SM Store Advances Omnichannel Merchandising Strategies with Aptos Technology

John Lewis is making some important strategic changes which were announced by the new chairman in July, working with a renewed management board. It is closing stores, increasing online, developing partnerships and seriously looking at new businesses. It has also been consulting its employees (partners) on these issues.

JLP Progress update on our Strategic Review Securing our Success

IADS member The Mall Group has announced this summer a reorganization of its activities, into three business structures: retail estate (including malls), trading (including department stores) and finance, accounting and IT. A new generation of managers, both Thai and foreign, coming as a replacement of retiring executives, will help the group transformation. 6 locations will be renovated within next year and a change in leasing policy will help collecting increasing sources of revenue with rental fees, from previous locations that were previously managed with leasehold. According to chairwoman Supaluck Umpujh, the covid-19 pandemic will not stop nor slow the investment program already started.

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The Mall reworks structure

Dutch variety store chain Hema, created in 1926 by department store De Bijenkorf, has filed for Chapter 15 court protection in the U.S. as part of a plan to reduce its debt and manage the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. A group of creditors took over the business and are looking to sell it to a new owner. If the bidders turn out not to be suitable, the creditors must commit to owning Hema for a year before they can seek to exit again.

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Iconic Dutch Retailer Hema Files for Chapter 15 Bankruptcy

In an interview for the ‘Future of Department Stores’ series, Philippe Houzé, current chairman of the IADS member Galeries Lafayette Group, gave his vision on the future of department stores, and the Galeries Lafayette brand in particular. For instance in believes that stores will have to become phygital, mixing both physical and digital shopping, in order to reach to every customer. Also, talking about expansions, he mentioned the latest Galeries Lafayette store openings locally: Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées,  and Galeries Lafayette stores in the shopping centres Beaugrenelle in Paris and Royal Hamilius in Luxembourg. All three are very different unique shops that offer an assortment adapted to their local environment to cater specific segments of customers.

Read Philippe Houzé’s full interview below

Philippe Houzé: The future of our department stores will be ‘phygital’

British brand Burberry just opened a social retail store in Shenzhen, China in partnership with Tencent. The store is aimed at younger shoppers, especially Gen Z, that are both tech-savvy and luxury shoppers. The experience is centered around a custom WeChat mini-program that allows for customers to book in-store appointments and items to try on for example. The brand discovered that although most customer journeys for Millennials and Gen Z (the brand’s target customers) start on social media — particularly in China — they still want an in-store, experiential element that they then share online; and that 80% of its customers have used a digital touchpoint before they purchase.

full article: Burberry tests “social retail” in China’s tech capital

Fisher-Price is launching new toys that encourage kids to role-play working from home, to imitate parents that are spending more time at home due to the pandemic. The "My Home Office" playset features a laptop, a smartphone, headset, and coffee cup. The brand is also rolling out an at-home fitness "Baby Biceps" set with sweatbands and dumbbells.

Amid a sanitary crisis you've got to get creative to bring experience to customers. That's what Breuninger did. The German department chain organised a live theatrical show in the parking lot of their Stuttgart store, for customers to watch directly from their cars. The night included a dinner, served directly in the clients' car.

In the US, Walmart is taking a similar approach. To help families enjoy this particular summer while adapting to the safety rule of social distancing, the giant retailer is launching virtual summer camps and turning its parking lots into drive-in movie theatre. The internet-based summer camp include celebrity and expert-led camp sessions, and is accessible through the Walmart app.

John Lewis Partnership is permanently closing eight of its 50 department stores, with the likely loss of 1,300 jobs. According to John Lewis, the eight shops were already "financially challenged" before the coronavirus crisis and the pandemic had accelerated the switch from shopping in-store to online. John Lewis also confirmed that nine shops that had closed because of the coronavirus lockdown would reopen on 30 July. Read the press release to see which stores are reopening and which are closing.

press release: EIGHT JOHN LEWIS SHOPS NOT TO REOPEN

Iconic luxury department store Harrods in London is cutting nearly 700 jobs, around 14% of its workforce. The cuts are a direct result of the pandemic, which kept Harrods' flagship store closed for several months. CEO Michael Ward said the axe would fall in areas of the business hardest hit by the lockdown. Jobs in parts of the store that remain closed, including beauty services and cafes, are expected to be among those to go. He added that it would take a "drastic improvement in external conditions" for Harrods to recover and return to growth. The retailer is set to open its first outlet store this month, as a way to shift excess stock that had built up during lockdown.

Related items:

• Harrods to open an outlet
• Harrods to offer VIPs remote personal shopping before reopening

Edcon Holdings Ltd. agreed to sell part of South African clothing chain Edgars to private equity-backed regional rival Retailability Pty Ltd. Following a five-week strict lockdown to contain the coronavirus in South Africa that wiped out sales and curtailed a recovery from a 2019 restructuring, Edcon was put into a local form of bankruptcy protection in late April. Edgars was put up for sale alongside sister chains Jet, which specializes in low-cost clothing, and Thank U, a finance and loyalty-card unit. A sale of Edgars and the preservation of at least some jobs comes as South Africa's retail sector and the wider economy reels from the Covid-19 pandemic and various forms of lockdown.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, UK chain John Lewis and Partners is likely to cut jobs, axe the annual bonus, close one of its London headquarters and permanently shutter some stores. In a letter to staff, chair Sharon White said that the cuts were imminent and would form part of a post-lockdown cost-cutting drive. The news comes at the same time as the partnership announced the next phase of its lockdown exit strategy, which includes reopening of about ten John Lewis stores. However, the future of 18 still-closed stores remains uncertain. Although John Lewis was supposed to open more of its shops later in summer, White said there are plans to close a several unnamed shops.

JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS ANNOUNCE FURTHER TEN SHOP REOPENINGS INCLUDING SHOPS IN SCOTLAND AND WALES

Related item:

• Executive Directors appointment at John Lewis

Facing additional 90 store closures out of 271 in the US, Apple has taken new measures, not limited to sending to each employee's home a test kit. Willing to improve the experience provided to customers, they are now asking their sales staff to cater for the needs of Apple's customers - from home.

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Apple asks retail staff to work remotely

What should we expect when it comes to selling Beauty and Cosmetics over a counter, when physical interaction is prohibited? Samples are a strong tool to sell. What if they were never to come back on the salesfloor?

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Say goodbye to in-store swatching and sampling

Mukesh Ambani, CEO of Reliance and India's richest man, has launched JioMart, an online venture designed to compete with the likes of Amazon and Walmart. Backed by Google among others, it seems that its debuts are facing some issues in a country where the mom-and-pop boutique culture is predominant.

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India: Reliance founder defies Amazon and Walmart in e-commerce

The Covid-19 crisis has shown how important the DTC business could be for brands, when relying on too many intermediaries. In addition, big brands are also looking to muscling up their own retail networks. In these conditions, wholesalers, including department stores, might feel pressure. Read what Galeries Lafayette and Selfridges, among others, are doing to counteract and make the most of the situation.

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How the Wholesale crisis could benefit independend Fashion brands

The good the bad and the ugly in retail diversity. Even the good acknowledge that they need to make significant progress. And department stores are not among the best.

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The business case for diversity at workplace is overwhelming

A disappointment: the digital Fashion Weeks were "a flop". Even brands with physical show (Jacquemus, Etro) garnered a smaller audience than last year. Launchmetrics predicts that physical shows will remain the norm, and the challenge lies in the amplification of share-worthy moments both offline and online.

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How impactful were the digital fashion shows?

Streetwear and sneaker business models have been a source of retail inspiration for many, with their ability to adapt drops and pricing to tribes of customers, who consider their purchases as collectibles. But have you heard of Aglet? An app allowing players to design, collect and trade digitally-created sneakers. What category could be customer-designed in the Department Store world?

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Lessons from sneaker culture's innovation playbook

Figures of the Indian online market are impressive: 388m users for Jio Platforms (the digital arms of Reliance Industries) within 3 years, and a target of dominating the digital economy within 5 years. Jio is now striking multibillion dollars deals with Facebook, Google, Qualcomm, Intel, in order to be at the center of the game.

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India: what is Silicon Valley's plan in India

As the VP of Cushman & Wakefield puts it, "there's no doubt high streets around the world are going to have a rent reset". Many questions are now left open for retail units, accross segments, even in prestigious locations. Is it still worth to open a new boutique in an untapped European city centre, or just focus on China?

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Retail's big rental reset

![Bosses say they want to tackle racial injustices

Is corporate America finally getting serious about diversity in the light of recent events? Customers are looking more closely at the composition of governance and management boards and may start taking decisions about shopping on the basis of companies’ diversity records. Making the right noises may no longer be enough – actions are required.

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Bosses say they want to tackle racial injustice

Nike is accelerating on the front of Instore Experience, with the fourth retail concept, after Nike House of Innovation, Nike Live and Nike Factory outlets. The Rise concept is making the most of the digital enhancements to improve the experience of the customers, while also serving as a platform for their sports needs outside the store.

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Nike to debut "Rise" retail concept in China