The award for the department store of the year was officially presented last Thursday, on the opening night of the Global Department Store Summit. Selfridges was in the limelight at the event organized by IGDS (Intercontinental Group of Department Stores).

Anne Pitcher, Managing Director of Selfridges, at the presentation of the Department Store of the Year award / Photo: DR

It’s the second time that the British store has won in just three years. This year it beat finalists Macy’s (USA) and Woolworths (South Africa). Anne Pitcher, Managing Director of Selfridges, summed up the job of a department store: to be a “great” shopping destination. She also mentioned certain strategic aspects such as the pop-up store concept, footwear sections, and the sale of daily foodstuffs such as milk. The award was sponsored by Aldar Properties, property developer and investor from Abu Dhabi. The summit brought together around 380 actors in the market (department stores, suppliers and journalists) to review the situation for department stores and potential strategies for the coming decade.