SHANGHAI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The newest flagship store of French-based high-end department store guru Galeries Lafayette announced its soft opening in Shanghai Saturday, the second one in China after its first store in Beijing since 2013.
The company plans to open around 10 stores by 2025 in the Chinese market and will introduce its WeChat mini program in the second quarter of this year.
Covering 25,000 sqm across five floors, the store is designed to be a fashion destination, showcasing fashion pieces from around the world including domestic designer brands.
"Galeries Lafayette is expanding its footprint globally and China is a key market for future expansion and growth," Galeries Lafayette and BHV Marais CEO Nicolas Houzé said, adding the Chinese market is expected to be the second biggest market after France.
Nicolas Houzé said to Xinhua that the company benefits from the great relationship between the two countries, and Chinese tourists account for about 20 percent of sales in Galeries Lafayette stores in France.
The company also plans to debut its WeChat mini program in the second quarter this year, to deepen its relationship with Chinese customers, according to Philippe Pedone, international vice president of Galeries Lafayette and BHV Marais.
The new store is located in Shanghai's Lujiazui Area in Pudong, the city's financial center transforming into a fashion hotspot.
The Shanghai flagship store is developed by Galeries Lafayette with I.T Limited through a 50:50 joint venture partnership and is expected to open in October this year.
Shanghai is reinventing itself into a world-class fashion hotspot. Statistics show more than 300 first-time-in-China stores opened in the city in 2018, with more than 3,000 brands debuting their latest products.
