New full-line store offers M&S's widest range of stylish fashions and exceptional quality food in Paris
Marks & Spencer (M&S) today opened its first new full-line Paris store at So Ouest in Levallois-Perret.
Trading over three floors, the new 6,900 square metre full-line store is part of M&S's ‘bricks & clicks' strategy for France across stores and e-commerce. Last autumn, M&S returned to France with its first international website, http://www.marksandspencer.fr/, and its flagship store located at 100 Avenue des Champs-élysées. M&S has also confirmed two further full-line Paris store locations at Beaugrenelle and Aeroville – due to open in spring 2013 and at the end of 2013 respectively.
Located in Paris' latest shopping destination, M&S So Ouest is one of the retailer's largest international stores and offers customers an extensive range of M&S's stylish fashions across womenswear, lingerie, menswear and kidswear, as well as a selection of home products. Over 10,000 clothing and home products are available to order in-store via an order and collect desk, as well as customer assistants equipped with iPads – giving shoppers easy access to the French website and free delivery when collecting orders in-store.
The store is home to M&S's first new Foodhall in Paris with over 2,500 of its popular quality food products as well as an in-store bakery, deli and M&S Café.
Speaking at the opening event, Jan Heere, M&S's Director of International, said: “We've had a fantastic response from our French customers since we returned with our local website and Champs-élysées store last autumn. We're really excited about growing our presence in Paris with our first full-line store at So Ouest. We know our wider range of M&S products is highly anticipated by our French customers, especially our food which is proving to be incredibly popular.”
Stylish fashions and homeware
The full-line store offers an extensive range of M&S's stylish Autumn/Winter collections across womenswear, lingerie, menswear and kidswear, as well as fashion accessories and footwear.
Each of M&S's popular clothing brands are clearly segmented at the store, with distinct identities that allow customers to see which brand best meets their personal style preferences, including:
- Autograph – Luxurious, chic and sophisticated, the range embodies understated, international style, as modelled by international supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds.
- Indigo Collection – Soft, pretty and co-ordinated casualwear, the collection is perfect for women who need easy style for a busy life.
- Limited Collection – Sexy, edgy and confident, Limited Collection knows how to turn heads.
- Collezione – M&S's menswear range as modelled by leading international supermodel David Gandy which expresses confidence and attention to detail in every suave, stylish piece.
- Savile Row Inspired – M&S's recent exclusive collaboration with leading tailor Richard James, modern classics celebrating the British heritage of cut, quality and detail.
The store also showcases a range of quality homeware products for the kitchen, bathroom, bedding, as well as decorative accessories. The home department also features M&S's exclusive collaboration with Britain's most influential homeware designer, Sir Terrance Conran.
Outstanding quality food
Located on the basement floor, the new Foodhall showcases the quality and freshness of M&S food, highlighting M&S's position as a speciality food retailer. Over 2,500 food products will be available including:
- A wide range of popular M&S chilled prepared meals inspired by world cuisines – such as Indian, Chinese, Thai, Spanish and Italian.
- British favourites such as Scottish smoked salmon and steak, Cheddar cheese, scones and crumpets.
- Fresh and prepared fruit and vegetables which are ready to eat or cook.
- A large selection of New World wines (including Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa) and spirits such as Scottish whiskeys and Sherries.
To celebrate the new food lines available at the store, M&S has created a series of original recipes using M&S products featuring popular French chef Benjamin Darnaud, candidate of the Top Chef TV competition and current head chef at Wanderlust restaurant in Paris. Customers can watch the videos on M&S's French Facebook site and French Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/MarksAndSpencerFR.
M&S's first in-store bakery, deli counter and M&S Café in Paris
For the first time in Paris, customers are also able to enjoy M&S's hospitality offer, including:
- In-store bakery: Providing freshly baked breads on-site everyday such as ciabatta, bagels and foccacia, as well as a choice of pastries, shortbreads, scones, pies and cookies.
- Deli Counter: Based on the American Delicatessen concept, the M&S Deli Counter has over 70 lines including fresh British specialities. The range includes traditional British savoury pastries, freshly made salads, cooked meats, cheeses, fresh pasta and sauces and plats du jour.
- M&S Café: Serving delicious, freshly-made dishes using the finest M&S ingredients, the 80 seater M&S Café is a destination for customers looking to have a break during their shop and enjoy hot snacks and traditional cream teas and English pastries. The Café will offer a wide range of Fairtrade teas and coffees served by specially trained baristas.
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About Marks & Spencer
- Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers. M&S sells high quality, great value clothing and home products as well as outstanding quality food. Around 20 million customers visit its stores each week and has 81,000 employees across the UK and 44 territories globally.
- Marks & Spencer was founded over 128 years ago and currently has over 730 UK stores and over 390 international stores across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
- For more information please visit http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/
About Marks & Spencer confirmed store opening timelines:
- Beaugrenelle – Located next to Paris' iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower, the new Beaugrenelle shopping mall will include a 4,500 square metre M&S store opening in 2013;
- Aeroville – M&S's 4,700 square metre store at the new Aeroville shopping mall in the North East of Paris is due to open at the end of 2013.