RetailDetail EU reports on IADS' Global Department Store Monitor, revealing a 1.6% decline in sales for luxury department stores in 2023 and 2024. The post-pandemic peak has passed, with retailers facing market uncertainty and sluggish economic growth. Despite these challenges, emerging Asian markets offer growth potential.

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RetailDetail EU discusses IADS insights on department store challenges

Le Journal du Luxe examines IADS' Global Department Store Monitor and  highlights regional variations, noting growth in markets like India and Vietnam, while underscoring ongoing economic challenges.

Read the full article on Le Journal du Luxe:

Le Journal du Luxe explores IADS findings on post-pandemic retail landscape

IADS Press Release: Global Department Store Monitor 2023-2024

Fashion Network has published an article detailing IADS' Global Department Store Monitor report, which shows a global decline in department store activity by 1.6% for the 2023/24 period. The report, based on data from 59 department store chains, attributes this decline to significant market uncertainty, sluggish economic growth, and unfavourable interest rates. Regional trends highlight stagnation in the Americas with independent stores performing slightly better than group-owned ones, while Asia-Pacific saw declines except in India and the Philippines.

Read the full article on Fashion Network:

Fashion Network analyses IADS insights on post-pandemic retail trends, France

Fashion Network analyses IADS insights on post-pandemic retail trends, Latin America

Fashion Network analyses IADS insights on post-pandemic retail trends, Sweden

Schuhkurier features IADS' latest insights on international department store sales, noting a decline in growth as the post-Covid boom ends.

Read the full article on Schuhkurier:

Schuhkurier highlights IADS' Global Department Store Monitor

IADS Press Release: Global Department Store Monitor 2023-2024

WWD features IADS' latest report on global department store sales. The data shows a 1.9% average decline across 59 stores worldwide in 2023, attributed to reduced purchasing power and a luxury slowdown. IADS cites market uncertainty and slow economic growth as key factors, while noting regional variations in performance.

Read the full article on Inside Retail:

WWD reports on IADS' global department store sales data

The annual IADS Global Department Store Monitor was launched in 2021 by the International Association of Department Stores after realising that comparable department store data was either unavailable, poorly understood or unexploited by analysts. This was due to the nature of an ever-evolving industry, making it difficult for outsiders to understand, given the pace of privatisation, mergers, change in ownership, or simply not categorising numbers by business unit. Since then, the report has been rebuilt to enable dynamic comparison among department stores over the years.

The Monitor was designed to compare results pre- and post- the COVID pandemic, given the magnitude of changes this episode had on department stores. It isolates the impact of sales growth from the effect of exchange rate changes to track and compare sales and profits from companies worldwide while accounting for currency fluctuations. Also, given that accounting standards across countries are not uniform, financial data are refined and harmonised to provide a comparable base.

The 2025 edition of the IADS Global Department Store Monitor reviews 59 department stores with publicly available information to create a benchmark for industry stakeholders regarding the 2023-2024 period.

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 financial results: The post-Covid boom is tapering off

In 2024, the global economy, including retail, faced significant market uncertainty, slow economic growth, and unfavourable interest rate environments across regions. The post-COVID-19 peak of 2021 and 2022 has passed, and growth has now stabilised across the retail sector, with department stores largely following this trend, albeit with regional divergences. Some broad observations from the 2023-2024 Global Department Store Monitor indicate that:

• The average global year-on-year sales growth in Fiscal Year 2023-2024, after two years of significantly positive sales growth in 2021 and 2022, shows a slightly negative sales trend of around –1.6%.
• The share of department store sales in their parent companies' total retail sales is stabilising and has almost returned to pre-COVID levels.
• This is also due to the reduction of their parent companies' total global retail sales after hitting a peak in 2021 and 2022, due to considerations such as reduced purchasing power, the slowdown in the luxury sector, environmental responsibility, and particular regional factors.

2023-2024 results: Regional Analysis

In the Americas, for department stores owned by groups – the share of department store sales has stabilised and contribute more to their owners' retail sales than pre-COVID. This is due to increased department store sales and lower total retail sales per company. However, the average total retail sales trend of these group-owned department stores is negativei. On the other hand, stand-alone department stores are almost stable and slightly positive in year on-year sales growth.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the share of department stores in their owners' total retail sales has stabilised but has not reached pre-COVID levels in terms of contribution to their owners' total retail sales. Department store sales have reduced due to a regional retail slowdown, especially in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The average sales trend for department stores was negative after two consistent years of sales growth in 2021 and 2022. In India and the Philippines, on the other hand, department stores saw a positive sales trend.

Similarly, in Europe, for department stores owned by groups, the share of department store sales in their owners' total retail sales is higher than their pre-COVID contribution due to the reduction in owners' total retail sales. For both group owned and standalone department stores, sales performance saw an average trend of less than 1%.

Outlook for 2024-2025

The election of President Donald Trump in the US and impending tariffs are sure to restructure global retail supply chains. Though inflation across other economies has decreased, the US market fears stagflation despite Trump's prodomestic growth agenda. The ripples of US-American economic actions will be felt worldwide, with the EU, China and Canada, among other countries, discussing retaliatory tariffs. The potential US TikTok ban pending its sale to a US owner adds to the uncertainty, given that it is an essential social media channel that drives trends and influences consumer behaviour in the fashion industry.

Emerging Asian markets like Vietnam and India will significantly impact the global retail landscape. Galeries Lafayette's first Indian department store, in partnership with Aditya Birla Group, will open in Mumbai this year and a second one in Delhi in 2026. In the EU, revised sustainability directives mandate comprehensive environmental reporting and due diligence from retailers by 2028. The global economic forecast for 2025 is uncertain and will digress sharply from 2024 results.

The next edition of the Global Department Store Monitor will examine Fiscal Year 2024-2025 results. While the global retail landscape is constantly changing, the factors discussed above will definitely impact department stores, adding to their current transformation, which includes prioritising omnichannel presence, experiential retail, and adapting to changing consumer preferences.The full list of companies covered in the Global Department Store Monitor is available on the following page. The data sheet can be downloaded by clicking here.

i : Due to the limited availability of public financial data, this section analyses only three Latin American department stores owned by groups, so

inferences may not be fully extrapolatable at the continental level.

Read the full press release below:

IADS - Press Release - Global Department Store Monitor 2023-2024

Read the full press release, in French, below:

IADS - Communiqué de Presse - IADS Global Department Store Monitor 2023-2024

Access the IADS Global Departments Store Monitor datasheet here.

IADS GLOBAL DEPARTMENT STORE MONITOR

Inside Retail examines Printemps' entry into the US market with its new NYC store. The article references IADS insights, suggesting that Printemps is focusing on complementing the traditional department store model rather than reinventing it. According to IADS, Printemps aims to leverage its brand strengths, like curated products and a broad digital ecosystem, to gain traction in the US.

Read the full article on Inside Retail:

Inside Retail cites IADS on Printemps' US strategy

Business of Fashion (BoF) has referenced IADS in its analysis of Indian tourists as a rising demographic in luxury retail. The article highlights IADS' perspective on how Western department stores have been slow to fully recognise the importance of Indian consumers compared to past waves of Chinese tourists.

Read the full article on Business of Fashion:

BoF quotes IADS on the growing importance of Indian luxury tourists

LSA Conso spotlights IADS' selection of 10 creative CRM initiatives transforming customer relationships in department stores worldwide. These strategies, ranging from advanced data integration to innovative rewards systems, highlight how department stores are personalizing experiences and building stronger connections with their customers.

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LSA Conso explores IADS' top CRM strategies

Fashion Network highlights IADS findings on how department stores are evolving loyalty strategies to meet modern customer expectations. From El Palacio de Hierro's unified CRM in Mexico to Magasin du Nord's segmentation in Denmark, and Selfridges' rewards for time spent in-store, the article illustrates innovative approaches blending online and offline experiences to retain customers.

Read the full article on Fashion Network:

Fashion Network features IADS' insights on customer loyalty strategies

Fashion Network published an article focusing on how department stores worldwide are transforming customer relationship management (CRM) to better meet consumer expectations post-pandemic. The piece highlights IADS' insights, including initiatives like El Palacio de Hierro's unified data platform, Magasin du Nord's personalised loyalty programs, and Selfridges' innovative in-store engagement rewards.

Fashion Network Covers IADS' Findings on Evolving CRM Initiatives in Department Stores

World-leading department stores have realised that tech-based customer segmentation and data-driven personalisation are pivotal for enhancing customer engagement and maximising sales opportunities. This is why they have rebuilt their approach to loyalty from scratch to maximise customer lifetime value and compete equally with online marketplaces when it comes to knowing their clients well.

The 2020 COVID pandemic significantly impacted customers' expectations as they increasingly became used to e-commerce convenience. To adapt, IADS member department stores thoroughly reviewed their in-store and online systems and processes. They shifted from a traditional, broad-based marketing approach to highly targeted, monitored customer interactions. Such a strategy allows for predicting customer behaviour and delivering hyper-personalised experiences, a fundamental consumer expectation nowadays. While, in the past, individual interactions relied on talented sales individuals, now that they need to achieve scale, department stores have gone through a systemic shift, as their ability to reach mass personalisation relies on their ability to effectively combine robust technical infrastructure with sophisticated data integration and analysis.

A similar reinvention is taking place when it comes to loyalty programmes. While they have been foundational in department stores' historical development, retailers are reinventing them by combining technology and a new understanding of rewarding loyalty to strengthen their retention strategies.

Finally, the loop is closed by looking at omnichannel strategies fresh. Going beyond friction removal in terms of customer journeys, it is all about improving the in-store experience and harmonising it with online capabilities and services to address customer relationships in a new way.

Data-driven personalisation takes centre stage.

IADS members are making unprecedented strides in leveraging customer data to build hyper-personalised experiences. While some are refining their segmentation, Boyner in Turkey is going further by implementing a sophisticated system utilising a significant number of micro-attributes per customer, drawing from distinct data sources. This initiative created an entirely new data ecosystem, with impressive results and revenue uplift through redesigned customer journeys.

Similarly, El Palacio de Hierro in Mexico has achieved a technical milestone by unifying many diverse databases into a comprehensive Customer Data Platform (CDP), encompassing everything from brick-and-mortar transactions to restaurant operations and travel agency data. This data integration has allowed El Palacio de Hierro to develop a nuanced understanding of its clients' database, driving up its customer lifetime value.

Magasin du Nord has revolutionised its approach in Denmark by developing new sets of consumer groups with several subtypes, a shift from its "one size fits all" model. Their 'Goodie' loyalty programme now employs sophisticated customer profiling, combining loyalty data with public registry information.

To deliver hyper-personalised experiences, Tsum Kyiv in Ukraine uses an advanced model to track customer behaviour. This sophisticated segmentation enables real-time monitoring of their customer base. It allows them to track customer movement between segments, helping them implement retention measures for those showing signs of churn risk. When it comes to their most valuable customers, who represent a significant portion of their business, differentiated communication strategies for each segment ensure that messaging and offers are tailored to each customer group's value and potential have been developed.

Innovative loyalty programmes transform customer retention.

Retailers are reimagining traditional loyalty programmes with sophisticated engagement strategies to drive retention, decrease churn, and increase keep rates, as reflected in Bloomingdale's (USA) strategy, which also believes that such strategies should go hand in hand with customer feedback systems. Breuninger in Germany has implemented a phased customer lifecycle approach with specific KPIs at each stage to measure loyalty. Their new automated onboarding journey has shown impressive results in driving acquisition, retention and sales. Also, the company's top-tier customer strategy has proven particularly effective, accounting for an essential chunk of the turnover.

Payment is a key component of loyalty. Manor in Switzerland has successfully integrated its loyalty programme with MasterCard, achieving remarkable results. The programme now generates a critical part of Manor's total turnover, with cardholders showing significantly higher spending patterns. Easiness is at the core of such strategies: new cardholders can begin using their cards within 15 minutes of signup.

To refine loyalty, Chalhoub Group in the Middle East is advancing beyond traditional RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) segmentation to adopt sophisticated predictive analytics, allowing them to deliver real-time personalised experiences. The company has found particular success with WhatsApp as a communication channel, achieving higher conversion rates than traditional email and SMS campaigns.

Omnichannel excellence drives superior performance, assuming stores are not neglected.

Department stores revealed compelling evidence of omnichannel strategies' impact on business performance. Boyner noticed that their omnichannel customers demonstrate higher purchase frequency and generate higher revenue than single-channel shoppers. To support the omnichannel experience, the company has introduced innovative in-store digital solutions, including "Find in Store" features and mobile checkout. Their "Boyner Now" 90-minute delivery service complement the omnichannel customer experience. El Palacio de Hierro's data showed comparable channel dynamics: while their digital-only customers primarily represent an acquisition funnel, their omnichannel customers achieve significantly higher purchase frequency. Also, the company's brick-and-mortar customer base maintains strong engagement, showing the importance of physical retail in the omnichannel mix.

Bloomingdale's strategy also shows the importance of stores by allocating resources to make them the best brand expression, providing an inspiring environment where it's easy for customers to discover and engage with products. In addition, and moving beyond traditional metrics, the company has implemented a sophisticated tracking framework to understand cross-channel purchasing behaviour, including several new tracking groups to provide a comprehensive view of customer behaviour and opportunities

The ongoing evolution of customer engagement strategies, supported by advanced analytics and digital transformation, underscores the critical importance of personalisation and data-driven decision-making. As these initiatives continue to evolve, retailers must remain agile and innovative in their approach to customer engagement, ensuring they stay ahead in a competitive market by continually enhancing the online and in-store customer experience.

Read the full press release below:

IADS press release - Beyond CRM: when department stores turn into data powerhouses to reinvent their customer engagement strategies.

Read the full press release, in French, below:

IADS - Communiqué de presse - Au-delà du CRM : quand les grands magasins se transforment en puissances technologiques pour réinventer leurs stratégies d'engagement client.

Inside Retail published an article on Saks Fifth Avenue's partnership with Reliance Retail, exploring India's growing luxury retail market. The piece quoted IADS' managing director Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, who highlighted the untapped potential of the department store model as global luxury brands expand into India's affluent, sophisticated market.

Inside Retail features IADS on India's luxury retail potential

Fashion Network has published an in-depth analysis of IADS' latest white paper titled Middle managers: remanants of the past or unicorns of tomorrow? The comprehensive coverage highlights IADS' expertise in retail transformation and organisational strategy, featuring extensive quotes from IADS research on the evolving role of middle management in department stores.

Read the article below:

Fashion Network Article (in french)

In the era of AI and all things digital, middle managers will remain pivotal to department store performance and innovation.

Often seen as mere cogs in the machine, middle managers have historically been central to fostering operational efficiency and maintaining organisational cohesion in department stores, notorious for their longstanding complexity and sophistication. Now that department stores are evolving, are middle managers destined to become remnants of the past? The annual IADS White Paper explores the complex relationship between middle managers and retail companies. It highlights their pivotal role in maintaining operational efficiency, driving innovation and spearheading organisational transformation in a challenged retail landscape. Good middle managers might be very well tomorrow's unicorns in retail!

Since its inception in 1928, IADS' purpose has been to coordinate information between department stores worldwide and research their activities to address their many challenges. The IADS produces a White Paper on a specific topic relevant to the industry every year, and always from the department stores' point of view. The 2021 edition reviewed how department stores managed the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, digital transformation and how it impacts organisations was tackled. In 2023 the focus was centered around CSR and ESG, and the 2024 edition was dedicated to retail media.

The IADS 2025 White Paper investigates middle management's critical—and often underestimated—role in driving department stores' evolution and performance. Rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations raise questions about the need for middle management now that traditional retail models are heavily challenged. Middle managers are essential leaders, connecting top management's vision with frontline operations. The IADS research analyses their roles, challenges, and how they can continue to create value for department stores.

Middle managers and department stores: a love and hate story

From the first mail ordering attempts in 1845 to implementing AI-driven solutions, department stores have had to adapt to new contexts continuously. However, one reality remains constant: retail is a people business. This is why department stores have always relied on their often-unsung heroes, middle managers, who have always bridged the gap between strategic vision and day-to-day operations, ensuring that the innovative strategies devised by senior leadership were effectively executed on the ground.

Department store productivity grew significantly from 1900 to 1980, as did the overall share of middle managers. However, in the 1990s and 2000s, the love story faded due to the technology boom, and middle managers were increasingly considered an unnecessary bureaucratic layer. Then, with the financial crisis of 2008 and the pandemic of 2020, middle managers' roles needed to be reimagined, but, instead, many of them were eliminated to optimise costs.

Today, the role of middle managers extends beyond operational oversight. They are crucial in navigating the complexities of technological advancements, driving innovation and addressing the need for a more agile and resilient organisational structure. Their ability to act as navigators, connectors, and coaches is fundamental to successfully implementing transformative initiatives.

A new perspective on middle management: their impact on transformation and innovation

With the growing complexities in retail, it is time to reevaluate the role of middle managers. Sometimes seen as the "unloved children" of retail and often criticised for slowing down decision-making, middle managers are more than ever indispensable connectors between strategy and execution. Their proximity to the frontline and senior leadership allows them to implement innovative strategies while ensuring teams remain agile and responsive to consumer demands.

The IADS White Paper highlights how middle managers are key to fostering innovation within department stores. They often pilot transformation projects, so their balanced perspective allows them to advocate for changes aligning with executive goals and practical day-to-day realities. It demonstrates how they can initiate and sustain organisational changes by leveraging their knowledge of operations and strategic objectives, as Carrefour's customer-centric revolution exemplifies. In particular, the White Paper underscores their central role in navigating AI adoption, balancing technological efficiency with human oversight. Indeed, as stated by Gartner during their 2024 IT Symposium, AI will contribute to flattening organisations even more, leaving some middle managers jobless. However, the IADS strongly believes that AI will allow them to focus on more strategic activities, increasing the value they bring to their companies.

The head-scratching has just started

The path to excellence and the ability to become a change agent is a shared responsibility

Both middle managers and companies are responsible for making the most of these key executives. Companies can help middle managers develop transverse skills that are increasingly important in differentiating high-performing middle managers from their peers:

• Emotional intelligence (as exemplified by US grocery company Wegmans),
• Resilience and ability to embrace change (The John Lewis Partnership has developed some groundbreaking initiatives in this field),
• Strategic thinking (outside of the retail world, US studio Pixar provides an interesting example of how to foster such a capability),
• Transversal collaboration and ability to leverage informal networks to enhance collaboration, better handle challenges, and support innovation. While the Harvard Business Review states that middle managers are bound to become "people leaders", the IADS believes they are also becoming "internal influencers", building a culture of resilience and collaboration, as it happened at the Australian telecommunications company Telstra when it reinvented its middle managers' roles.

Instead of seeing them as a potential source of savings through their elimination, companies should reduce unnecessary pressure on middle managers, foster flexibility as Marks & Spencer's arrangements suggest, and grow development programmes and mentorship, an often-untapped opportunity in retail companies.

Finally, by leveraging technologies like AI, middle managers and companies can re-bundle their roles so that they can spend more time on leadership and innovation. This way, companies can maximise middle managers' efficiency to create value continuously.

Valuable insights and actionable recommendations

The IADS 2025 White Paper analyses the current state of middle management and offers actionable insights on how department stores can empower these leaders for the future. It provides recommendations on attracting, retaining, and developing middle managers who can navigate the challenges of a modern retail environment. Flexibility, autonomy, continuous learning opportunities, and alumni groups, as exemplified by the Chalhoub Group, are key factors in securing top middle managers. The IADS white paper, "Middle managers: remnants of the past or tomorrow's unicorns?" serves as a call to action for retail executives to invest in and empower their middle management teams by creating a supportive environment where they are trusted to take on greater strategic responsibilities and lead transformative initiatives.

Read the full press release below:

White Paper: Middle Management- IADS Press Release (English)

livre blanc: Middle management - IADS Communiqué de Presse (Français)

Access the White Paper below:

Click here to view the table of contents

IADS White Paper- Middle managers: remnants from the past or tomorrow's unicorns?

Le Point discussed the enduring relevance of department stores as defined by IADS and their ability to adapt to changing consumer needs. IADS' GM, Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, was quoted on how department stores have shifted from selling "everything to everyone" to curating specialised experiences in response to competition from online platforms like Amazon. The article emphasised examples of resilience and innovation within IADS members, including Galeries Lafayette's creative initiatives and Tsum's operations in Ukraine amidst challenging circumstances.

Le Point explores the global relevance of department stores with IADS insights

Modaes' has written an article that highlights IADS' contribution to the curation, including exclusive archival materials and private documents that enrich the narrative. Running until April 2025, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine exhibition examines how department stores pioneered concepts like ready-to-wear and brand identity while adapting to modern challenges.

Modaes highlights IADS' role in Paris exhibition on department store history

WWD has written an article discussing the recent exhibition at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine exhibition displaying drawings, plans, photographs, works of art and period objects throughout department store history. The article mentions IADS' participation in the curation of the event.

WWD discusses the IADS' participation in Cité de l'Architecture et du patrimoine

Luxury Tribune has written an article detailing how luxury department stores have had to reinvent themselves amidst digitalization, shifting consumer expectations, and economic upheaval in order to compete. The article quoted the IADS' GM, Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, who shared his thoughts on this need to shift.

Luxury Tribune quoted IADS on department store luxury market changes

Fashion Network has published an article discussing the recent exhibition at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine exhibition displaying drawings, plans, photographs, works of art and period objects throughout department store history. The article mentions IADS' participation in the event by opening our archives and connecting the museum with El Palacio de hierro, The Mall Group, and Selfridges.

Fashion Network mentioned IADS' participation in La Saga des grands magasins exhibition in Paris

The International Association of Department Stores (IADS) collaborates with Paris' Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine for a landmark 6-month-long exhibition on department stores' global evolution.

The International Association of Department Stores (IADS) joins forces with Paris's prestigious Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine to present a groundbreaking exhibition chronicling the global evolution of department stores. From November 6, 2024, to April 6, 2025, 'La Saga des Grands Magasins, de 1850 à nos jours' offers an immersive journey through the world of department stores. This landmark exhibition traces their transformation from nineteenth-century retail pioneers to today's reinvented cultural destinations.

Featuring over 500 carefully curated pieces, the exhibition showcases never-before-seen architectural drawings, vintage photographs, design objects, artworks, and rare artefacts from renowned department stores worldwide. This IADS's unprecedented collaboration has unlocked access to exclusive international archives, bringing together treasures from iconic institutions, including Bangkok's The Mall Group, Beijing's SKP, Berlin's KaDeWe, Copenhagen's Magasin du Nord, Hong Kong's SOGO, London's Harrods and Selfridges, Mexico's El Palacio de Hierro, and Turin's Green Pea.

A Global Journey Through Department Store History

The exhibition unfolds in three sections, offering a rich narrative of the department store's evolution over the past 150 years. Visitors embark on a journey illustrating how department stores have been at the forefront of architectural innovation, urban development, and cultural transformation.

• ▪ The Golden Age (1850-1930): This section delves into the origins of department stores in the world's capital cities. In Paris, they emerged under Napoleon III, a period marked by rapid urbanization, industrialization, and technological advances. Consumption was reinvented through the mix of spectacular buildings combined with revolutionary sales techniques such as fixed prices and large-scale window displays, and the notion of shopping was born. These architectural marvels were not just places to shop but symbols of modernity and progress, introducing a new way of life to an eager middle class. This part of the exhibition also highlights the global spread of the department store model and how it innovated in organising labour in a new way
• The department store, an unstoppable machine (1930-1980): The interwar period marked the zenith of department stores as centres of luxury, fashion, and social life. This section showcases how these stores became integral to major cities' cultural fabric, offering goods and a social experience. However, they had to reinvent themselves after WWII, as new competitive formats appeared: supermarkets (1957), followed by hypermarkets (1963), which contributed to redirecting the traffic to the peripheries of the cities. The exhibition tracks the architectural and operational changes that department stores underwent in response, focusing on transforming retail spaces into more efficient "selling machines" driven by the burgeoning field of consumer psychology and marketing. They also diversified into lifestyle by contributing to developing ready-to-wear and design.
• The reinvention in the Digital Age (1980 to the Present): As the exhibition moves into the modern era, it examines how department stores, once considered the pinnacle of retail innovation, have confronted the challenges of globalization, economic crises, and the digital revolution. The exhibition highlights how they have redefined themselves in the 21st century by embracing technology, integrating e-commerce, and focusing on customer experience rather than just product sales. Online shopping has fundamentally altered consumer behaviour, and department stores have responded by becoming cultural hubs, hosting pop-up events, art installations, and exclusive brand collaborations. The exhibition also looks to the future, considering how department stores position themselves to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.

IADS's role in bringing a global perspective to the exhibition

The IADS has been instrumental in expanding the exhibition's international dimension. Through its archives and contacts, the Association has provided the museum with rare archival materials and valuable connections to international stores that have redefined retail history, offering visitors a global view of how these retail spaces have evolved.

'Department stores have been more than mere shopping destinations – they have been architects of urban landscapes, catalysts of consumer culture, and beacons of innovation across the globe,' says Ms. Kamshim Lau, IADS President and CEO of SOGO Hong Kong. 'This exhibition with the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine celebrates their enduring legacy and their continued relevance in shaping retail's future.' This global perspective is essential to understanding the full impact of department stores, as their influence extends far beyond Europe to cities across Asia and the Americas. It is also an opportunity for the IADS, a professional research organisation, to provide the general public with more information about the world of department stores, their dynamics, and their relevance in the 21st century in a context of scarce factual and scientific information about them.

A Unique Multidisciplinary Exhibition

The exhibition stands out for its rich, multifaceted narrative, weaving together architectural innovation, social progress, and cultural transformation. From their groundbreaking use of iron and glass in the 1800s to today's architectural masterpieces, department stores have consistently redefined the boundaries of design. Their carefully crafted interiors transformed shopping into a theatrical experience, where commerce meets spectacle. Visitors will also discover how these retail pioneers revolutionized not just commerce, but also workplace dynamics, particularly for women, who found unprecedented professional opportunities within their walls. The IADS's support of 'La Saga des Grands Magasins' reflects its commitment to showcasing the department store model's evolution and sharing its members' innovative spirit with a global audience.

About the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine

The Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, located in the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, is one of the world's largest centres for the dissemination of architectural knowledge. This institution is unique in its scale, combining multiple facilities under one roof: a museum (the Museum of French Monuments), a school (the École de Chaillot), a platform for architectural creation, a specialised library, and an archives centre. As a key player in disseminating architectural culture, its role extends beyond protecting and promoting France's unique architectural heritage to addressing challenges related to architecture, heritage preservation, and the city of tomorrow.

Press contact: caroline.loizel@citedelarchitecture.fr

About IADS

The International Association of Department Stores (IADS) is the only expert body specializing in the department store retail format in the world. Consisting of leading department store members located around the globe, the Association acts as an international network, facilitating exchange and communication between IADS members, and conducts research to address current challenges department stores are facing to provide actionable insights for its members. Today, IADS permanent members include Beijing Hualian Group (PRC), Bloomingdale's (USA), Boyner (Turkey), Breuninger (Germany), Chalhoub Group (UAE), Centro Beco (Venezuela), El Corte Inglés (Spain), El Palacio de Hierro (Mexico), Falabella (Chile, Colombia and Peru), Galeries Lafayette (France), Lifestyle International Holding (Hong Kong), Magasin du Nord (Denmark), Manor (Switzerland), The Mall Group (Thailand). These retail leaders are joined by a network of other department stores and retail companies as corresponding members. Together, the IADS members, all key players in their respective markets, create a landscape of various business models and cultures and represent more than €35bn cumulated annual turnover, achieved through more than 514 stores with 181,000 associates in 23 countries. Through its own activities and partnerships with NellyRodi, Retail Hub and RH-ISAC, the Association constantly stays up to date on its members' questions and challenges and generates solution-driven problem-solving processes for its members so that they are prepared to face the future of the retail industry.

Press Contact: IADS, press@iads.org

Read the full press release below:

IADS PRESS RELEASE: Cité de l'Architecture exhibition

IADS - Communiqué de presse - partenariat avec la Cité de l'Architecture

Crisalide Press published an article about Camera Buyer Italia's first international conference of the association, entitled " RE-RETAIL: technology, market and consumers in the world of fashion retail." They mentioned the participation of IADS' general manager Selvane Mohandas de Ménil.

Crisalide Press mentions IADS at the Re-Retail conference

Pambianco News has published an article discussing how multibrands are investing in the digital channel. The article explores omnichannel, innovative payment solutions, and the growth of multibrand techniques. IADS' general manager Selvane Mohandas de Ménil discussed the awareness of retailers that they want to give concreteness to their sales methods and strategies through these innovation strategies.

Pambianco News quoted IADS on multibrands in the digital channel

Fashion Network has published an article discussing consumer habits in the mens fashion sector using data from our IADS press release on the subject. The article explores the need for department stores to compete by incorproating new ideas and balancing well-known brands with new labels to attract and retain male customers.

Fashion Network quoted IADS on mens fashion consumer habits