Inside Retail quotes IADS on how many brands joining Saks' Amazon storefront are doing so out of necessity, and that Saks is likely using its influence to bring more on board. IADS also highlights the ongoing challenges for luxury brands and department stores expanding online.

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Inside Retail spotlights IADS on the Saks–Amazon luxury partnership

As the Women's Fashion business stabilises in revenue share but diversifies in expression, department stores navigate a delicate balance between innovation and brand loyalty. Going beyond rethinking brand adjacencies to curating assortments that speak across generations, they now use data to unlock new cross-selling potential.

Women's Fashion remains a cornerstone of the department store business, maintaining a stable share of total sales in 2024. Casual Wear continues to dominate, although its share gradually declines from pandemic-era highs. In terms of price segmentation, year-on-year comparisons show a rise in both the Luxury and Affordable Luxury/Designer segments. Women's Fashion continues to evolve at the intersection of innovation, loyalty, and customer experience. Department stores across the IADS network respond by blending novelty with heritage, rethinking strategies to appeal to younger generations. Success now hinges on having the right brands or space and the intelligence behind every choice. Data has become the backbone of retail agility, guiding department stores in building relevance and performance.

Brands: freshness sells, with trusted names securing conversion

IADS members unanimously report a growing customer appetite for novelty, anchored in brand familiarity. In a post-pandemic landscape where fashion serves as self-expression and emotional reassurance, department stores adjust their assortments to deliver newness without disorienting customers. At Bloomingdale's, success hinges on curating pieces that spark curiosity (such as those from Farm Rio and Alémais brands), while grounding the offer in recognisable names like Polo Ralph Lauren. For example, the store's private label Aqua saw notable results from a recent collaboration with The White Lotus series. Interestingly, the creative twist, more than the brand association, resonated with consumers, underscoring the value of fresh storytelling.

TSUM Kyiv shares a similar dynamic. Their bold launch of Guest in Residence, a cashmere-based brand with a playful aesthetic, paid off thanks to its standout visuals and Spring timing, an unconventional choice that drew strong engagement. Simultaneously, their continued emphasis on well-known luxury names ensures high traffic. TSUM Kyiv also reinforces its novelty appeal with a dedicated floor for Ukrainian designers, proving that local innovation can capture both attention and loyalty.

In contrast, Magasin du Nord reported that while emerging brands may deliver on quality and pricing, they struggle without prior awareness. Customers remain hesitant to explore unknown labels unless trust has been established. Newness must be introduced with precision. Whether by highlighting new collections from iconic houses or incorporating lesser-known names into curated spaces, retailers succeed when innovation is framed within a trusted retail context.

IADS partner NellyRodi identified significant trends shaping Women's Fashion brand aesthetics. Seriousness establishes fashion as a space for cultural authority. Besides precise silhouettes, this trend is exemplified by initiatives such as the Chanel and Miu Miu book clubs. As seen in Paloma Wool campaigns, the elevated cocoon trend blends softness with structure. The excess trend celebrates ornament and storytelling, as in Schiaparelli and Valentino collections. Body exploration becomes a canvas for free experimentation, as in the latest Duran Lantik runway show. Finally, the origin trend honours imperfection and nature, as shown in Dilara Findikoglyu's Fall-Winter 25 collection.

How to address all generations while rejuvenating the clientele?

Reaching younger customers remains a strategic focus, but approaches vary significantly among department stores. Some retailers adopt a targeted, generation-specific strategy, while others shift towards a transgenerational model, favouring fashion relevance over age segmentation. The success of cross-generational labels like SKIMS at Galeries Lafayette exemplifies this. The store strategy aims to increase purchase frequency and basket size rather than chase volume through entry-level items. Meanwhile, TSUM Kyiv observes that even younger consumers unable to purchase luxury goods still engage with them socially, turning the store into a visual destination and aspirational space.

El Palacio de Hierro embraces a more targeted approach. Their success with Spanish fast-fashion brand Brownie shows the strength of youth-specific labels when properly curated. However, the approach is measured: the store integrates these brands within a larger framework, including denim staples and their private label Catamaran. Moreover, they observe that younger customers are increasingly interested in more premium brands such as Maje, Zadig & Voltaire, and Ganni, reflecting a desire for quality and aspiration beyond price.

Bloomingdale's adopts a hybrid model. While some fast fashion brands like Edikted are only available online, the store also introduced multi-brand concepts such as Sunset and Spring, designed to attract a younger, style-conscious audience with a curated "best-of" brand experience. This space includes mainstream names like Levi's and Steve Madden, but the strength lies in the cohesion of the edit.

From adjacencies to advantage: turning floor planning into a cross-selling engine

Reorganising floors and leveraging cross-selling are key priorities for department stores. The Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Women's Fashion floors underwent a complete reorganisation, abandoning traditional age segmentation in favour of a more strategic, price-driven architecture. This realignment was powered by the analysis of cross-selling data, helping to prioritise business opportunities and customer experience over brand ego. The results are clear: increased dynamism, better customer flow, and more profitable adjacencies. Bloomingdale's echoed this data-first approach, highlighting the complexity of creating the right adjacencies. While some brands are sensitive about their placement, the final decision ultimately lies in balancing brand image with traffic patterns and productivity per square metre. The rise of e-commerce also plays a role. As online sales grow, the relative importance of physical adjacencies may decrease, allowing for more flexible store planning and hybrid retail models.

Magasin du Nord relies on its Goodie loyalty programme to refine in-store strategies as it provides exceptional visibility into customer behaviour and cross-category correlations. This allows them to curate adjacencies that generate high-impact cross-selling, such as combining Women's Fashion with beauty products near cash points. Creating "destination within destination" setups is another successful cross-selling strategy, as shown by Galeries Lafayette, offering high-end fragrances within the luxury floor, or Magasin du Nord's successful athleisure corner added to the Women's Fashion floor. With only one floor, Tryano creates themed spaces, such as 'mini-me' zones for matching adult and children's outfits or mood-based pop-ups that mix fashion, tech and lifestyle products. These configurations support cross-selling across categories, generations, and household members.

The Women's Fashion department is no longer managed as a static category but as a dynamic, customer-centric platform. Success today lies in delivering novelty without disorientation, building brand loyalty across generations, and designing environments that inspire discovery and drive relevance. Whether through curated brand mixes or flexible floor layouts, department stores are embracing a more integrated, agile and strategic approach to Women's Fashion. In doing so, they reaffirm their unique role and position in offering customers style, identity and experience.

Read the full press release below:

IADS Press Release: In the Women's Fashion category, department stores blend bold innovation with legacy labels, engaging younger audiences

Read the full press release, in French, below:

IADS Communiqué de presse: Dans la catégorie mode féminine, les grands magasins associent labels créatifs et marques'héritage' pour attirer efficacement des clients plus jeunes

NRF Europe's white paper quotes IADS Managing Director Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, who notes that while AI is essential for department stores, it's not enough-retailers must accelerate transformation despite uncertainty. He highlights the need for investment in digital infrastructure, talent, and sustainability, and points to AI's role in personalising experiences and improving efficiency as department stores adapt to new consumer habits and global competition.

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NRF Europe quotes IADS on leveraging AI and building retail resilience

World Retail Congress 2025 highlights IADS Managing Director Selvane Mohandas du Ménil's focus on perfecting store experience and e-commerce profitability as the foundation for sustainable growth. The article also features newly elected IADS President Kamshim Lau, who emphasises resilience, agility, and data-driven adaptation to navigate economic uncertainty and evolving consumer trends. Additionally, Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group, shares strategies for building an agile, omnichannel luxury retail ecosystem centered on authenticity and long-term brand value. Together, their perspectives reflect a balance of innovation and operational excellence as keys to unlocking growth in global retail.

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World Retail Congress features IADS on unlocking growth in global retail

L'Opinion discusses luxury retail trends, highlighting the strategic importance of locations like Champs-Élysées and Fifth Avenue. Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, managing director of IADS, notes that despite economic challenges, luxury brands invest heavily in these iconic locations to provide immersive experiences, emphasising the ongoing relevance of physical stores in the luxury sector.

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L'Opinion discusses luxury locations with IADS expertise

America-Retail uncovers IADS' Global Department Store Monitor insights, revealing a 1.6% decline in global department store sales, with strategic focuses on omnichannel transformation, sustainability, and growth in emerging markets like India and Vietnam.

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America Malls & Retail uncovers IADS insights on department store transformation and retail resilience

Grande Consumo sheds light on IADS' Global Department Store Monitor, highlighting a decline in global department store sales due to economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, yet showing resilience in Asian and Latin American markets.

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Grande Consumo sheds light on IADS' Global Department Store Monitor and retail sector dynamics

Pulzo examines IADS' analysis in the 2023/24 edition of the IADS Global Department Store Monitor, revealing post-pandemic stabilization, contrasting regional trends, and growth potential in emerging markets.

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Pulzo examines IADS' analysis data on worldwide department store slowdown

Paris Select reports on IADS data showing global sales decline, highlighting regional contrasts with growth in India and Vietnam, and cautious progress in Europe. It also echoes IADS' emphasis on the need for omnichannel strategies to boost future growth.

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Paris Select features data from the latest IADS Global Department Store Monitor

Fibre2Fashion covers IADS' insights on emerging markets, particularly highlighting Vietnam and India as key drivers for future retail growth. According to the IADS Global Department Store Monitor 2023-2024, these markets are poised to significantly impact the global retail landscape, with initiatives like Galeries Lafayette's entry into India exemplifying this trend.

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Fibre2Fashion Covers IADS' findings on emerging markets in retail

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)