IADS - International Association of Dept Stores

The IADS is the most exclusive and oldest professional department store think tank in the world. Its uniqueness lies in the close relationship between its member CEOs and organisations, making it a very powerful asset for decision-making at the highest level.

Today, the Association gathers leading department stores across the world, all key players in their respective markets, and represents more than €26bn cumulated annual turnover, achieved through more than 360 stores with 190,000 associates in 19 countries.

Its permanent members include Centro Beco (Venezuela), Beijing Hualian Group (PRC), Breuninger (Germany), El Corte Inglés (Spain), El Palacio de Hierro (Mexico), Galeries Lafayette (France), Lifestyle International Holding (Hong Kong), Magasin du Nord (Denmark), Manor (Switzerland), SM (Philippines) and close ties are also knitted with other companies.

The wide variety of business models and cultures represented to provide the Association and its members with a richness in the exchange which is valuable for the solutions and thought-provoking debates that it generates. The Association is also very close to its members’ business questions and issues and actively contributes to the problem-solving processes, which makes it a truly unique format in the retail association world.