PARIS — Tough occasions can function a unifying pressure, as symbolized by Galeries Lafayette’s kick-off occasion for the “Paris Mon Amour” marketing campaign. It introduced collectively politicians, vacationer board authorities, vogue trade figures, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a troupe of dancers from the Moulin Rouge.
The crowd met on the Boulevard Haussmann in entrance of the flagship to pose in entrance of the shop home windows earlier than going to the rooftop terrace for speeches and Champagne.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo with Philippe Houzé and Alexandre Mattiussi.
Courtesy of Galeries Lafayette
Outside, the home windows of the well-known Paris division retailer characteristic photos by Thibaut Grevet of locations just like the Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, and the Canal Saint Martin, whereas inside, an enormous coronary heart, the image of vogue label Ami, hangs underneath the cupola. The model is a associate for the marketing campaign, which runs by Aug. 31, with an emphasis on native merchandise and locations, with occasions deliberate all through the interval.
“I love Paris, we love Paris, and that is why we will always make sure it continues to shine well beyond our frontiers,” mentioned Hidalgo, lauding the initiative.
“We’re feeling some enthusiasm from local clients and we’re doing everything we can to draw them in,” mentioned Galeries Lafayette chief govt officer Nicolas Houzé. He mentioned the division retailer is projecting the return of vacationers in 2022.
Paris vacationer workplace head Corinne Melegaux mentioned there was a slight return of vacationers from Europe, principally from neighboring nations like Switzerland and Belgium, and officers are hoping for extra guests this summer season than final.
“We’re counting a lot on the back to school period,” she mentioned, noting that’s when enterprise tourism may resume.
“Even if people are eager to travel, the conditions aren’t optimal for traveling,” mentioned Melegaux.
Department shops in Paris have suffered a string of difficulties lately, with enterprise interrupted by strikes and protests earlier than the pandemic hit, depriving them of deep-pocketed guests from Asia, which had grow to be an vital shopper base.
Fashion trade figures available for the kick off occasion included Kering chief sustainability officer Marie-Claire Daveu, Philippe Houzé and Guillaume Houzé of Galeries Lafayette, Ami CEO Nicolas Santi-Weil, Ami inventive director Alexandre Mattiussi, SMCP CEO Daniel Lalonde and Zadig & Voltaire CEO Rémy Baume.
