Frequently Asked Questions

There are several department store associations. The International Association of Department Stores (IADS) is the only expert body in the world that specializes in the department store retail format.

IADS stands for International Association of Department Stores.

The International Association of Department Stores is an expert body with an international network of leading department stores that connects decision-makers of member organisations, offers relevant and tangible value through actionable insights backed by research, and addresses our member’s needs on a one-to-one basis.

In a retail world saturated with information, where the industry players are facing many challenges in their individual markets: digital competition, social changes, sustainability concerns and deep changes in consumption patterns, it is crucial to facilitate the communication and the exchanges between department stores of the world. The Association provides its members with a number of activities allowing them to share retail management experience and best practices.

The Association, both through its activities and own expertise, is a valuable resource for its members. Activities range from research to addressing pressing topics in retail. The three objectives of IADS are:

• To create an international network between members.
• To provide actionable insights.
• To address member’s questions and concerns on a one-to-one basis.

To achieve those objectives, the IADS acts at different levels and aims to be operational through:

• Transformative meetings with members.
• Focused market knowledge.
• The promotion of exchange and future orientation.

IADS is a credible department store body operating as a think-tank that has a deep understanding of what industry players are facing today due to its close working relationships to its members and its wide and diverse retail network.