Heirs to the merceries, échoppes, novelty stores and large bazaars of France, department stores, which appeared in Europe and the United States in the mid-19th century, embody the Christmas season and warm us up in the rainy depths of winter with their illuminations and decorations in a not-to-be-missed Art Nouveau architecture.
Initially aimed at a bourgeois clientele, which was growing rapidly at the time and described by Emile Zola in his novel Au Bonheur des Dames, department stores gave rise to a new sales system with fixed prices, putting an end to haggling and "price by the reel" or "at the customer's head". Larger sales volumes made possible by the industrial revolution and mass production gave the "cathedrals of commerce" the opportunity to charge lower prices and offer a wider range of products. It wasn't quite what we know today, but we did witness the birth of sales and advertising, as well as the development of home delivery and mail order #tremble #jeffbezos
Aristide Boucicaut's Bon Marché, built under the direction of Gustave Eiffel, Printemps Haussmann, Galeries Lafayette, La Samaritaine and its almost-neighboring Bazarde l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV) are all legacies of this era that have successfully reinvented themselves to stand the test of time and meet today's consumer expectations. You'll find absolutely everything here. From watches to clothing, perfumes, cooking, tableware, furnishings and decor, you'll always end up with a few compulsive purchases...
Our teams will be delighted to welcome you to Hôtel Palais de Chaillot and Hôtel Longchamp Elysées over the Christmas period. We can answer all your questions by phone and e-mail 24/7 throughout the year.
