In this episode of IADS Retail Park 🎙️, hosts Maya and Christine unpack the game-changing shift in department store strategy as major players like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Magasin du Nord embrace small-format stores. 🏬✨

Discover how these retailers are redefining retail space—moving beyond “bigger is better” to focus on curated selections, seamless omnichannel integration, and hyper-localised experiences that truly resonate with today’s consumers. 📦📱

We break down the successes, challenges, and future outlook of this transformative trend that’s reshaping the retail landscape. 💡

🚀 Don’t miss out! Read our latest exclusive on small-format stores [here]—packed with insider insights and must-see photos!

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!🌐

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park, Maya and Christine Montard—Director of Markets and Events at IADS—explore Brazil’s Cidade Matarazzo, a city-within-a-city designed to blend luxury retail, hospitality, art, sustainability, and social purpose. What can department stores and retail leaders learn from their approach to connecting community, commerce, and culture? Join us for a close-up on the new urban retail frontier.

👉Click here to read the full exclusive.

For more insights, visit our Substack, explore our website, and learn more on Wikipedia.

In this episode, Maya and Dr. Christopher Knee unpack the world of digital payments—from tap-and-go solutions to the magic behind unified commerce. Hear real stories, big opportunities, and honest challenges as department stores move beyond cash to build a seamless, data-powered, and customer-first experience. Ready for the future of payments? Tune in!

For further insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park, Maya and Christine dive into exclusive, late-2021 insights from Pando Fashion, the consultancy pioneering practical sustainability in retail. Discover actionable advice on supply chain transparency, authentic CSR communication, staff engagement, and real-world KPIs. With global brands as case studies and a focus on customer autonomy, this episode illuminates what’s next for responsible retail.

👉Click here to read the full exclusive.

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Selvanne take you inside Green Pea—the world’s first department store built 100% around sustainability. Discover how Green Pea’s bold “greenprint” impacts architecture, assortment, education, and every aspect of retail strategy. Is it a scalable business model or a bold laboratory for the future? Get actionable insights and real-world takeaways for the next era of department store innovation. For more insights, visit our Substack, explore our website, and learn more on Wikipedia.For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park, Maya and Christine unpack the evolving role of private labels in department stores. Drawing on exclusive IADS research, they discuss why own brands are both a challenge and an opportunity, spanning value, innovation, loyalty, data, CSR, and profit. Discover how retailers are reinventing their private label strategies for a more competitive—and more conscious—marketplace.

For more insights, visit our Substack, explore our website, and learn more on Wikipedia. For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, visit our website at www.iads.org for additional resources, and learn more here!

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🏢, Maya sits down with Dr. Christopher Knee, author of the IADS exclusive, to unravel the complex world of department store organisation charts. Together, they dive into how leading retailers strategically re-engineer their internal frameworks—balancing legacy layers with digital transformation 💻, the rise of specialised functions, and the unique challenges of managing flagships, outlets, and food divisions. Discover how the C-suite is evolving beyond tradition, why Digital and IT now command board-level influence, and how the ongoing tension between centralised control and agile innovation is shaping tomorrow's department store. From lessons rooted in retail’s long history 📜 to the cutting-edge demands of modern business, this episode delivers must-have insights for executives and retail strategists ready to master complexity and lead change.

[Read more about the anatomy of a department store on IADS Exclusive Insights!]

🔗 For more insights, follow the International Association of Department Stores on LinkedIn, subscribe to our Substack and visit www.iads.org for the latest research and exclusive resources.

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park🎙️, Maya and Anchita explore the dramatic ways department stores have accelerated their sustainability efforts in the wake of the global pandemic. Drawing on exclusive IADS research, they reveal how environmental and CSR initiatives have shifted from “nice to have” to absolutely essential.

Discover new organisational structures, transparent communication strategies, and the measurable impact of recent initiatives from global leaders like Breuninger, Sogo, El Corte Inglés, Galeries Lafayette, and more. Whether you’re an executive, a retail strategist, or a visual merchandising professional, you’ll find actionable takeaways to keep your sustainability strategy on the leading edge.

🔗 For more insights, follow the International Association of Department Stores on LinkedIn, subscribe to our Substack and visit www.iads.org for the latest research and exclusive resources.

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Anchita explore the resurgence of RFID technology in retail. From its bumpy beginnings to new use cases with leading brands like Prada, Levi’s, Mango, and Ralph Lauren, discover how RFID is reshaping everything from inventory accuracy to customer experience. They discuss why RFID is gaining a second look after the pandemic, the hurdles that remain, and how next-generation technologies like computer vision and blockchain could shape the future of retail operations and transparency.

For more retail tech updates and industry insights, follow us on LinkedIn, check out our Substack, and find resources and case studies at www.iads.org.

In this episode of The IADS Retail Park 🎙️, Maya and Christine go behind the scenes at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann to uncover how the legendary Parisian department store is reinventing itself for a new era. From innovative women’s shoes and fashion floors to circular economy concepts like (Re)store, Galeries Lafayette is blending heritage with bold, future-focused moves, all while navigating the pressures of competition, digital acceleration, and changing customer expectations. Discover why the store’s “Le Grand Magasin de Tous” mission and the transformation under “Programme Lumière” are drawing Millennials, Gen Z, locals, and tourists alike. Christine shares exclusive insights from inside the flagship, including new brand launches, sustainability initiatives, omnichannel campaigns, and what it takes to be a retail leader in a city where tradition and reinvention collide.

👉 Click here to read the full exclusive.

For more insights and updates, follow us on LinkedIn at International Association of Department Stores - IADS, check out our Substack, and visit www.iads.org for additional resources

[📸source: Galeries Lafayette]