The department store format was born out of the industrial revolution, the invention of steel-framed architecture and the rise of the middle class who could afford to shop in them.   Fast-forward 150 years, the birth of shopping centres and it’s not surprising their relevance is now being questioned.  However, experienced department store specialists consider this star could be rising again.

Speaking at a panel session on department stores at the ICSC Conference, John Scott, Head of International Business Development for Debenhams, the second largest department store company in the UK and with 67 stores across Europe and the Middle East, wants to double the number of stores outside the UK in the next five years, but says the format must change to meet changing consumer demands.

“The future is likely to be smaller, more flexible, convenient and embrace technology,” he said.

For Lauri Veijalainen, Development Director for Finland’s Stockmann, which has stores across Finland, the Baltics and Russia and turned over 2 billion Euros last year, downtown stand-alone stores work best.  “Convenient parking is a must,” he said, citing Russia’s chaotic traffic systems.

A relative newcomer to the department store industry is Turkey-based TKM.  Just 60 years’ old, TKM has 65 department stores.   Nusim Oral, director of TKM, said: “Department stores can no longer offer everything under one roof.   Our slogan was ‘Everything to everyone’.  Now it’s ‘Choose yourself’.  But it was the growing shopping centre industry in Turkey that gave impetus to the Turkish department store.

She said: “People want to mix and match brands to reflect their personalities. A department store fashion customer can understand a whole season’s fashion in one visit.”

Department stores are failing to reinvent themselves because of cost, says Debenham’s Scott. “We have spent most of our money in the UK in the last few years on renovation, and it’s paying off.”

Some say department stores must shake off their ‘middle aged’ image. Scott disputes this view.   “Our average customer is women aged 25-45 with children.   We are a mid market department store and she is the biggest spending customer out there.”

50% of Turkey’s population is under 25, and TKM is working on the 25-35 age range as they will be starting families and will be customers for longer – though Oral points out that the younger customers have more disposable income.

The unique selling point for department stores will always be exceptional customer service, according to Veijalainen – a concept which is talked about a lot, but which is more difficult for shopping centres to deliver with continuity.