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 players that have demonstrated innovation and outstanding performances in all retail aspects, to inpsire the entire industry with their unique ideas. This competition was open to department stores across the world, from small to large to premium or luxury. 

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 of Grandi Stazioni Retail, Italy
Philippe Schaus - former CEO of  Moet Hennessy, France 
Terry O'Connor - former CEO of Matahari, Singapore and Advisor of Bain & Co, 

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 employed by department stores or its concession brands. These 'Front Liners' serve as the ultimate ambassadors of the brand's DNA and culture.

Past winner: Ms Hayat Idrissi, Bloomingdale's / Al Tayer Insignia (2023), Promsaka Na Sakonnakhon, Siam Paragon, Thailand (2020); Zarah Naseem, Selfridges, UK (2019); Sergio Diaz, Al Tayer / Harvey Nichols, UAE (2017); Eva Bunzel, KaDeWe, Germany (2015)

 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 

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.