What: Harold Israel is appointed Director of Specialised Activities at Galeries Lafayette Paris to accelerate strategic growth in private label, e-commerce, and jewelry.

Why it is important: This appointment reinforces Galeries Lafayette’s commitment to strategic transformation and aligns with recent investment and modernisation initiatives.

Galeries Lafayette Paris has appointed Harold Israel as Director of Specialised Activities, a newly created executive role reporting directly to CEO Arthur Lemoine and joining the executive committee. This strategic move is designed to accelerate the development of key business areas, including the Galeries Lafayette private label, the commercial activity of the galerieslafayette.com website, and the jewellery and watch category. With over thirty years of experience in luxury, fashion, and retail, Israel brings a global perspective and deep sector expertise, having held leadership roles at Cartier, A.P.C., Marc Jacobs, and Berluti. His appointment is part of a broader strategy to modernise the department store’s offer and strengthen its omnichannel approach, leveraging both heritage and innovation. The creation of this role and the integration of Israel into the leadership team reflect Galeries Lafayette’s ambition to drive growth, enrich the customer experience, and secure its position as a leader in the evolving retail landscape. 

IADS Notes: The appointment of Harold Israel as Director of Specialised Activities at Galeries Lafayette Paris marks a significant step in the retailer’s ongoing transformation, aligning with the company’s €400 million investment plan announced in November 2024 (Challenges) and detailed in February 2025 (Le Figaro). This strategic move is part of a broader effort to modernise the store network, enhance the omnichannel experience, and accelerate growth in key categories such as private label, e-commerce, and jewellery, as highlighted by the store’s double-digit growth and investment strategy in July 2025 (Fashion Network). The leadership renewal, including recent executive appointments and the strengthening of the management team in July and September 2025 (WWD), underscores Galeries Lafayette’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence. These organisational changes are designed to support the retailer’s ambition to remain at the forefront of global retail, blending tradition with forward-looking strategies and leveraging international expertise to drive both domestic and international expansion.

Galeries Lafayette appoints Harold Israel as Specialised Activities Director

Galeries Lafayette Names Harold Israel Director of Specialized Activities

What: Galeries Lafayette Nîmes has achieved an exceptional launch, attracting 200,000 visitors and €1 million in sales within its first month.

Why it is important: This performance demonstrates the continued relevance of department stores as commercial anchors and their ability to drive urban renewal in regional markets.

The opening of Galeries Lafayette in Nîmes has delivered remarkable results, with 200,000 visitors and €1 million in sales recorded in just one month. This strong debut positions the store as the fourth-best performer in the group nationally and has quickly established it as a key driver of commerce in the city center. The store’s curated mix of 150 brands and a premium assortment strategy have contributed to an average basket size of €85, notably higher than the national average. The success of Galeries Lafayette Nîmes has also generated a significant positive impact on the surrounding Coupole shopping center, boosting overall foot traffic by 45% and doubling visitor numbers for some neighboring boutiques. As the holiday season approaches, the store is set to build on this momentum with festive windows and special events, reinforcing its role as a commercial anchor and a catalyst for urban revitalization in the region.

IADS Notes: The exceptional launch of Galeries Lafayette Nîmes, with 200,000 visitors and €1 million in sales in its first month, exemplifies the enduring power of department stores to drive urban renewal and commercial vibrancy in regional cities (Vivre Nîmes, October 2025). This success is rooted in a carefully curated brand mix and premium positioning, echoing recent industry findings that highlight the importance of assortment strategy and the championing of both established and emerging brands to attract diverse customer segments and achieve higher average basket sizes (Monocle, May 2025). The store’s immediate impact as a commercial anchor has generated a “locomotive effect,” revitalizing the Coupole shopping center and reinforcing the role of department stores as catalysts for city center regeneration. This aligns with broader trends identified by BCG (April 2025), which underscore how department stores and mixed-use retail anchors are central to the revitalization of urban environments, supporting local economies and fostering sustainable, vibrant city centers.

Exceptional start for a new second-tier city Galeries Lafayette store 

What: John Lewis’s 2025 Christmas campaign uses emotional storytelling and exclusive merchandise to inspire thoughtful gifting and support charitable causes.

Why it is important: This campaign reflects a strategic blend of emotional engagement, exclusive product integration, and social responsibility, building on recent shifts in John Lewis’s holiday marketing.

John Lewis’s 2025 Christmas campaign, “Where Love Lives,” combines emotional storytelling with exclusive product offerings to deepen customer engagement during the holiday season. The advert, set to a reimagined version of Alison Limerick’s “Where Love Lives”, centres on a father and son whose relationship is rekindled through the thoughtful gift of a vinyl record. This narrative not only evokes nostalgia but also positions the exclusive vinyl—available in-store and online—as a meaningful centrepiece of the campaign. By making all profits from the vinyl support the Building Happier Futures programme, John Lewis reinforces its commitment to social responsibility. The campaign’s integration of music, memory, and gifting encourages customers to express unspoken emotions through carefully chosen presents. At the same time, the partnership with Rough Trade and the focus on exclusive merchandise reflect a broader trend toward experiential and purpose-driven retail. This approach underscores John Lewis’s ability to innovate within the competitive holiday market, blending tradition with contemporary relevance. 

IADS Notes:  John Lewis’s 2025 campaign builds on its November 2024 shift toward product-centric, emotionally resonant advertising (“John Lewis breaks tradition with product-centric, human-focused Christmas campaign,” Fashion Network), as well as its February 2025 partnership with Rough Trade for exclusive vinyl releases (“John Lewis teams up with Rough Trade for vinyl records launch,” Retail Week). The September 2025 launch of the nationwide Christmas shop and the centenary celebration of Never Knowingly Undersold (“John Lewis opens Christmas shop nationwide,” Drapers; “John Lewis celebrates 100 years of Never Knowingly Undersold,” Drapers) further highlight the retailer’s commitment to unique collaborations, experiential retail, and social responsibility.

The John Lewis Christmas ad is here