As the shopping experience changes, so must retail reinvent itself to stay relevant. On a recent visit to Paris I decided to pay a visit to the new Galeries Lafayette on Champs Elysee. The great boulevard’s stores have changed. In the 90’s this former Virgin Records Super Store offered every genre of music. I discovered Senegalese Jazz there. I remember popping listening to the new release wall.
In 2019, what is a record store? A question we will ask about department stores. As taste and consumer needs move forward, retailers need to respond. Galeries Lafayette’s new store borrows from the concept store in a bigger setting. The 3 floor layout features new brands as well as established labels. Concessions and inshore interior changes regularly while avoiding the shelf clutter of traditional stores. The obvious focus is to keep the buyer curious with a “What’s New” strategy.
Only in Paris!
Two Cafes and restaurants situated on the first floor and in the basement are designed for being seen as well as attracting the shared space working clientele. I bought a cafe and pastry then took a seat to check my schedule on my tablet.
As I have stayed a few times. Department stores continue to feel like a place where our Grandparents went to buy stocking after World War 2. Galeries Lafayette gets a good mark for bringing mass retail into the 21stcentury.
Galleries Lafayette is located at 60 Avenue des Champs Elysees, Paris