Paris Fashion Week Recap: What Can Retailers Take Away From a Busy Retail Season?

It is officially autumn. The pumpkin spice lattes are out and Paris Fashion Week has been and gone again! This season was one of the busiest yet, as the annual week celebrated 50 years of fashion. Between September 23 and October 1, attendees were treated to over 70 shows and 38 presentations across the French capital. The runway also saw iconic brands such as Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Loewe, Hermès, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton take centre stage.

As detailed in Vogue, this season was one to remember. Brands produced some truly spectacular moments from the outré sunglasses at Prada to the return of Alessandro Michele at Valentino. An array of celebrities were also on the scene with appearances from global stars such as Elton John, Harry Styles and Andrew Garfield.

With Paris already feeling the buzz left over from the Olympics and the aftermath of Paris Fashion Week, tourism levels are expected to continue to rise as we head towards the end of the retail year. So what are some of the key takeaways retailers can learn from such a jam-packed retail season?

International Impact

Paris and fashion go hand in hand. Fashion is a crucial part of the French economy and its cultural landscape. Paris Fashion Week had a 30% growth in media impact in 2023, and the expectation for this year is that the number has only increased.

The surge in tourists travelling to the fashion capital of the world also created a perfect moment for retailers to optimise sales opportunities. Ensuring customers enjoyed a positive experience will have been essential in building rapport with potential shoppers and enhancing brand reputation.

With visitors from all over the world having set their sights on the French capital, it is a vital time for retailers to brush up on their customer service skills to finish the retail year on a high. The Olympics welcomed over 1.7 million international visitors to the city. With tourism already on the rise, retailers have the opportunity to promote their brands to a global audience.

Savouring Experiences

On the runway this season, the top 2025 spring trends were revealed. Designers such as Dior featured a sport-inspired display, including well-check-adorned moto jackets. Lacoste showcased a preppy fashion comeback with variations of polo shirts and the Freedom Collection by Chloe’ was a ruffled chiffon parade of flowing dresses and boohoo-inspired looks.

During such a busy time in the French capital, retailers have had their hands full with shoppers wanting to get the latest fashion trends straight from the runway. Paris is home to some of the best luxury flagships such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and it has been vital for retailers to seize sale opportunities. During these busy periods, ensuring stores are stocked with products for eager customers should be a high priority. Teamwork Commerce’s RFID Powered Stock Counter App allows retailers to quickly scan all products at any stage of the supply chain, and create complete visibility of stock.

If shop floor products are running low, retailers will receive an alert and can act to restock areas of the store that need it. Additionally, RFID appliances help retailers manage inventory accuracy, allowing in-store associates to focus more on customer needs and less on having to navigate stock levels.

Shop Till You Drop!

According to Statista, inbound tourist spending is forecast to rise by 24 percent in France and by 13 percent in the French capital. Especially after Paris Fashion Week, customers will be seeking the latest fashion items, and retailers need to ensure they are putting their best foot forward in providing a seamless shopping experience.

Brands should prepare for an increase in footfall within brick-and-mortar stores. With seasonal events such as Black Friday and Christmas on the horizon, stores are expected to only get busier. To combat the influx of customers and avoid long wait times, Teamwork Commerce’s RFID-Powered Self-checkout technology allows retailers to facilitate transactions in 30 seconds or less.

When customers place their baskets in a designated area, RFID readers automatically scan all items accurately. This enables shoppers to complete the checkout process quickly and effectively, and retailers can focus on optimising sales opportunities. 

Keeping up with Fashion and Retail trends

Home to some of the most historic shopping districts such as the Haussmann-Opéra-Saint-Lazare quarter, retail has always been at the heart of Paris. After the hype of Paris Fashion Week, brands will be expected to have the latest fashions available at the drop of a hat.

To avoid any disappointed shoppers this season. Teamwork’s advanced Omnichannel Order Management System (OMS), online orders and in-store transactions are streamlined Offering features such as Buy Online, Pickup In-Store (BOPIS), Buy Online, Ship From Store (BOSFS) and Buy Online, Return In-Store (BORIS) fulfilment options. This allows retailers to create timely ways for customers to process returns and exchanges with minimal effort in-store or online.

With visitors heading to stores after an eventful fashion week, customers can shop in ways that suit them. Similarly, Mobile POS can help streamline the checkout process, allowing transactions to be completed anywhere on the shop floor. Instore associates can act quickly to limit queue times and effectively process payments while prioritizing customer service.

What’s Next?

The retail scene in Paris has been a busy one, from the Olympics to Fashion Week the city has been one of the tourist hot spots of the year. To finish 2024 on a high, brands need to ensure they keep up with retail technology trends by utilising RFID and omnichannel services. Entering the last few months of the year, busy shopping periods will continue. To ensure retailers are prepared to excel, it will be vital to provide key customer experiences, develop brand reputation and drive sales opportunities wherever possible.

Want to know more about how your brand can streamline sales this season? Get in touch here.