New ranking reveals the best department stores in the world

Think back to your best department store shopping experience – what made it so memorable? Was it the location of the department store, its design, the variety of brands or the customer service? Whatever the reason, department stores have always been at the heart of the shopping world, doubling as landmarks and important destinations for a day on the town.

While the global shift to online shopping (alongside the Covid-19 outbreak) forced many department stores to close, a few continue to thrive as iconic centers for fashion and culture. To ensure that these retail locations can compete with the ease and accessibility of online shopping, many department stores offer more than just a selection of brands and products – these retail icons create immersive, luxurious experiences that attract customers.

But which department store can claim to truly stand out from the rest? To answer this question, voucher code specialist CouponPi analyzed over 46,000 reviews from 50 of the world’s best-known department stores. We present the results below and highlight the factors that differentiate the best department stores from the others.

The best department store in the world: Fortnum & Mason

Taking into account two main factors, the average rating of department stores’ online reviews and the percentage of all reviews with positive sentiment, one department store rose to the top of the ranking and secured the number one spot: Fortnum & Mason in London, UK.

Originally founded as a grocery store, Fortnum & Mason was founded by one of Queen Anne’s former lackeys, William Fortnum and Hugh Mason, who ran a small shop at St. James Market. Over the years, the store has evolved into an upscale department store known as a purveyor of fine foods and luxury items such as gifts, cosmetics and accessories.

Today, Fortnum & Mason is famous for its distinctive teal color and high-quality grocery baskets and is credited with creating the world’s first Scotch Egg in 1738. With an overall score of 10 out of 10, the department store has an average rating of 4.6 and a positive sentiment rating of 62.1 percent. Reviewers describe a visit to the department store as a “culinary adventure,” “the most beautiful store I have ever been to in London,” and a “tea drinker’s paradise.”

London is home to some of the best department stores in the world

The city of London performed exceptionally well in the study, with three of the top five department stores in the world located here. This is no surprise as American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge, founder of Selfridges, revolutionized the department store shopping experience by introducing open aisles and captivating visual displays, transforming retail into a multi-sensory experience.

The voucher code specialist lists El Palacio de Hierro (“The Iron Palace”), a Mexican department store chain, in second place. El Palacio de Hierro was founded in Mexico City in 1891 by two Frenchmen who were inspired by Le Bon Marché in Paris. This was the first department store to open in the country. Renovated in 2016, the five-story flagship store in Polanco, which operates a total of 16 department stores nationwide, scored 9.6 out of 10, with an average rating of 4.6 and a positive sentiment rating of 57.4 percent. Reviewers loved the department store’s cleanliness, spaciousness and selection of brands, and praised the large selection of food and the champagne bar on the ground floor.

In third place is the iconic Liberty London, a world-famous building known for its black and white Tudor facade built from the wood of two battleships. Founded in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, who wanted to create a “London emporium full of luxury goods and fabrics from distant lands,” the department store is known for its iconic haberdashery department with beautifully patterned textiles, avant-garde fashion and accessories. With a score of 9 out of 10, an average rating of 4.5 and a positivity score of 55.3 percent, Liberty London is as legendary today as it was in the 19th century.

In fourth place is Arnotts in Dublin, the oldest and largest department store in Ireland. Founded in 1843 by Sir John Arnott, the department store has weathered changes in the retail landscape. After experiencing financial difficulties over the past decade, Arnotts was acquired by Selfridges in 2015. With 8.9 out of 10 points and an average rating of 4.4 as well as a positive sentiment score of 60.9 percent, many reviewers praised the department store’s helpful staff.

Fifth place went to another London icon, Selfridges. The department store is the second largest retail location in the UK after Harrods with an area of ​​50,000 square meters and was founded in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge. He was initially disappointed by the limited shopping options in Britain. Selfridges introduced its view of shopping as a form of “pleasure”, similar to sightseeing, and attracted a growing number of independent women who sought a shopping experience focused on enjoyment, not just necessity. With a score of 8.8 out of 10 and an average rating of 4.5, as well as a positive sentiment score of 52.5 percent, it’s clear that Selfridges still has its charm. Many reviewers mention the department store’s world-famous windows and exclusive products.

Other leading department stores rounding out the top ten list include Printemps in Paris at number six, Takashimaya in Singapore at number seven, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City at number eight and number nine respectively, and Le Bon Marché in Paris at number seven ten.

The study also ranks the world’s top department stores during the holiday season based on the same criteria. Saks Fifth Avenue took first place here, followed by Le Bon Marché, Liberty, Macy’s State Street in Chicago, Selfridges in London, Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris and Harrods in London.