Luxury retail departments are evolving into wellbeing destinations

Retail and beauty aisles are getting an upgrade as consumers are thinking less about “normal beauty” offerings and more about how store experiences and services make them feel.
Galeries Lafayette opened a 32,290 square foot wellness department in July, complete with aligned wellness products, a restaurant and even a gym. Located at its Boulevard Haussman flagship, La Wellness Galerie includes a sport and relaxation subsection, a skin care and treatment section, and a broader wellbeing section. General manager Alexandre Liot told WWD that Galerie’s goal was to “offer services that are for the body, mind and well-being,” and explained that “the idea was also to democratize wellness today.”