Printemps Haussmann, iconic department store
Printemps Haussmann is a name synonymous with elegance and luxury. This renowned department store attracts millions of visitors every year!
Spread across three buildings connected by elegant glass and metal walkways, it offers an exceptional 43,500 square meters of retail space over 27 floors.
Le Printemps occupies seven floors, while Printemps de la Mode (Fashion) has nine, Printemps de la Beauté et de la Maison (Beauty and Home) has eleven, and Printemps du Luxe (Luxury) has an entire floor.
In 2003, the store inaugurated the world’s largest Espace Beauté (Beauty Department), followed in 2006 by a 3,000-square-meter women’s shoe department, and more recently, a gourmet food section.
The beginning of success
The beginnings of the department store’s success date back to 1865, when Jules Jaluzot and Jean-Alfred Duclos opened their first boutique in an elegant building on the corner of Rue du Havre and Boulevard Haussmann.
Located in the burgeoning Chaussée d’Antin district on the Rive Droite (Right Bank), the area was still developing, albeit somewhat out of the way.
Aware of the strategic advantages of their location, these astute entrepreneurs positioned their boutique to capture the flow of pedestrians coming from the nearby Saint-Lazare train station and the bustling covered shopping passages of the Grands Boulevards.
Their foresight proved invaluable, as Parisians were already flocking to major department stores such as Le Bon Marché, La Samaritaine and Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville in search of the latest fashion trends.
By naming their company “Le Printemps” (Spring), a symbol of renewal and innovation, Jaluzot and Duclos laid the foundations for a commercial institution that would constantly evolve and redefine itself over the years.
Le Printemps’ success story and Art Nouveau image
Printemps’ triumph was forged through its innovative sales strategies, which captivated consumers and set new standards in the retail sector.
By offering innovative concepts such as high-quality products at affordable prices and by launching seasonal sales, Printemps quickly won over shoppers.
To enhance the customer experience, the store symbolically celebrated each new season by offering a bouquet of violets to its patrons.
Faced with growing demand, the original premises proved insufficient, and the Printemps was expanded with the addition of two adjoining buildings on Rue de Provence in 1874. These structures were connected by elegant iron walkways.
Not content with simply expanding its floor space, Printemps also embraced technological innovation by becoming the first department store to install two elevators, thus simplifying access to its various floors. This avant-garde vision, presented at the 1867 Universal Exhibition, contributed to the store’s success.
The fire that ravaged its buildings in 1881 provided the opportunity to rebuild the department store in the elegant architectural style of the Belle Époque. Under the visionary leadership of Gustave Laguionie, Printemps underwent a profound transformation at the dawn of the 20th century.
Recognising the need for renewal, Laguionie entrusted the renovation of Printemps Haussmann to the architects René Binet and Paul Sédille, leading figures of the Art Nouveau.
In collaboration with the master glass-maker Brière, Binet designed a spectacular Art Nouveau dome that still crowns the central hall.
These spectacular buildings were inaugurated in 1910, marking the beginning of a new era for Printemps Haussmann. Capitalising on its widespread success, Printemps expanded its network with the opening of a second store in Deauville two years later.
Le Printemps Haussmann, a store in constant reinvention
Printemps was destroyed by another fire in 1921. The store was meticulously rebuilt under the direction of Georges Wybo. This also provided the opportunity to expand it to the Rue de Charras and introduce a new department, Brummell L’Homme Élégant, showcasing refined menswear.
True to its philosophy of constant innovation, Printemps Haussmann created temporary exhibitions, such as its famous Christmas decorations, which remain a staple of the holiday season. The opening of the Havre-Caumartin station on Metro Line 2 in 1923 contributed to the increase in customer traffic.
By 1930, Printemps Haussmann occupied three buildings, thus consolidating its position as a retail giant. In 1931, the store launched the concept of single-price sales and founded Prisunic, a pioneering supermarket chain.
The upheavals of World War II temporarily disrupted business, but in the 1950s, Printemps Haussmann undertook significant transformations to adapt to evolving consumer preferences. By the end of the 1960s, the store chain had 23 shops in France, 13 Prisunic outlets and numerous branches.
Faced with the economic difficulties of the 1970s, Printemps Haussmann diversified its offerings by adding new departments, such as food (Disco), clothing (Armand Thiery), and mail order (La Redoute). Expanding into the international market, it opened stores in several countries, including Japan, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, and Jeddah.
In 1991, Francois Pinault acquired Le Printemps, incorporating it into his group. In 2013, a Qatari investment fund bought the prestigious brand, marking the beginning of a new era.
Le Printemps Haussmann is a wonderful place to shop, on sunny and rainy days!
Directions: 9th district – 64 Boulevard Haussmann
Metro station: Havre-Caumartin on Lines 3 – 9
Coordinates: Lat 48.874194 – Long 2.328098
