Take a look inside French luxury retailer Printemps’ first US store

A Piece of Paris Lands in New York City

French luxury retailer Printemps officially opened its first U.S. store in the city’s Financial District this week, coinciding with the start of spring, its namesake. The 55,000-square-foot store spans two floors and carries a wide range of merchandise, including clothing, shoes, handbags, makeup, and more.

About 25% of the brands available at Printemps are either not available or rare in the U.S., such as the French luxury name Joseph Duclos, which made a handbag sported by Taylor Swift, according to Printemps CEO Jean-Marc Bellaiche. The retailer aims to stand out from other luxury players with its unique mix of popular luxury brands and hard-to-find French brands, as well as programming and services, including beauty and spa treatments, and clothing and accessory repairs.

The U.S. location has a more experiential bent compared to Printemps’ French stores, with rotating displays of merchandise resembling pop-up shops and food concepts, including a restaurant and a café with French pastries. The store’s playful design is inspired by a Parisian apartment and is located at One Wall Street, a historic Art Deco skyscraper.

One of the highlights of the Printemps store is the Red Room, an Art Deco-style room decorated floor to ceiling with red and gold mosaics by master muralist Hildreth Meière and completed in 1931. The room was previously a reception room and banking hall for the Irving Trust and Bank Company, and was designated an interior landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Printemps restored the room and turned it into a "shoe forest" where shoppers can browse for footwear or order a glass of wine at a nearby bar.

The store also will include Maison Passerelle, a fine dining restaurant steered by Gregory Gourdet, a two-time Top Chef finalist and three-time James Beard award winner. The restaurant is set to open in April.

Despite global luxury spending slowing across the globe, Printemps is opening its U.S. store, which is seen as an attractive market for luxury brands. According to a report by consulting firm Kearney, sales in the global luxury industry are projected to grow 1% to 3% annually through 2027.

Brian Ehrig, one of the report’s authors and a partner in Kearney’s consumer practice, said that the U.S. remains an attractive market for luxury brands due to consumers’ resilience. "On a relative basis, we have the healthiest economy, if you look at the major economies," he said. "And then the other thing is, Americans love to shop."

Ehrig added that other high-end retailers have doubled down on investments in large and eye-catching physical stores, such as LVMH-owned Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton opening new stores in New York City. He said that the in-person experience is more critical in a sector where items come with such high price tags and expectations for personal service.

A Look Inside the Store

Conclusion
Printemps’ U.S. store offers a unique blend of luxury and experience, with a focus on providing exceptional service and unparalleled shopping experience. With its mix of popular and hard-to-find French brands, the store is poised to attract a range of customers, from tourists to local shoppers.

FAQs

Q: Why is Printemps opening a store in the U.S.?
A: Printemps is opening a store in the U.S. due to the growing interest in luxury goods and the resilience of American consumers.

Q: What makes Printemps’ U.S. store unique?
A: The store’s unique mix of popular and hard-to-find French brands, as well as its programming and services, including beauty and spa treatments, and clothing and accessory repairs, set it apart from other luxury retailers.

Q: What is the Red Room in Printemps’ store?
A: The Red Room is an Art Deco-style room decorated floor to ceiling with red and gold mosaics by master muralist Hildreth Meière and completed in 1931. It was previously a reception room and banking hall for the Irving Trust and Bank Company, and was designated an interior landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.