IGDS WDSS AWARDS 2025

The IGDS World Department Store Summit will host two awards this year to celebrate the best in-class in the industry. 

The Most Innovative Department Store in the World

This award recognises a truly exceptional world player that has demonstrated innovation and outstanding performances in all retail aspects, with the potential to inpsire the entire industry with their unique ideas. This competition is open to department stores across the world, from small to large to premium or luxury. Entry is free of charge. A maximum of one department store is elligble to participate per company. 

Past winners: KaDeWe Group (2023), Selfridges (2018, 2014, 2012, 2010), Rinascente (2016) and Bloomingdale's (2008).

Jury Chair
Yeonah Choi - Chief Marketing Officer North Asia of L’Oréal's Luxe Divison

Jury Members 
Hiroishi Onishi - Former CEO of Isetan Mitsukoshi, Japan
Paolo de Cesare - President Grandi Stazioni Retail, Italy
Philippe Schaus - Former CEO of  Moet Hennessy, France 
Terry O'Connor - Advisor of Bain & Co, Former CEO of Matahari, Singapore 

This award is sponsored by  

World's Best Sales Associate at a Department Store

Since 2015, this award honours the important contribution and performances of retail Sales Associates or 'Front Liners' employed by department stores or its concession brands, who serve as the ultimate ambassadors of the brand's DNA and culture. Entry into this competition is free of charge. A maximum of two employees may be nominated per department store company.  

Past winner: Ms Hayat Idrissi, Personal Shopper at Bloomingdale's, Al Tayer Insignia (2023)

Jury Chair 
Julius Carrell - Head of Global Sales & Marketing of Enactor, UK

Jury Members
Ameesha Prabhu - Co Founder and CEO of TRRAIN, India 
Dimas Gimeno - CEO of WOW Concepts & former CEO of El Corte Ingles 
Maria Stanford - People & Talent Director at WSH, UK
Sunny Setiawan - Director of Pancaran Pesona Nusantara & former COO of Matahari, Indonesia 

This award is sponsored by  

The winners will have the opportunity to present their success stories at the Official Dinner and Awards Ceremony on 11th June in Seoul, South Korea.

For any award related queries, please contact Ameya Sharma (ameya.sharma@igds.org).

Winners and finalists of the IGDS WDSS Awards 2024 in Berlin

From Left to Right
Lars Pedersen, Regional Director of Bestseller ; Adrien Seugé, CMO Omni-Channel of L'Oréal Luxe ; Raymond Cloosterman, Founder & CEO of Rituals ; André Maeder, IGDS President ; Unisha Singh, Head of Marketing, Special Ocassions & Africa of Woolworths ; Kevin Gerard Pender, General Manager of Galeries Lafayette, Doha ; Britta Ratas, Marketing Director of Kaubamaja ; Erkki Laugus, CEO of Kaubamaja ; Michael Ganci, SVP of NuORDER by lightspeed.