It’s almost confirmed: BazarChic, the online private sales site purchased by Galeries Lafayette in 2016, is gearing up to shut down. The company, known for its event-driven sales of high-end products, has failed to keep up with the rapid changes in the market. According to information verified by BazarChic, a “business cessation plan” is underway. Unless there is a last-minute acquisition, the closure will take effect in early 2025, leaving nearly a hundred employees jobless.
An Exhausted E-commerce Player
Launched in 2006, the platform quickly became a trailblazer in private sales in France. At its peak, it boasted two million active members and was ranked among the industry leaders. However, competing with giants like Veepee proved challenging without significant investments in logistics and customer experience.
Acquired to bolster Galeries Lafayette’s digital wing, BazarChic never fully integrated into a consistent strategic vision. Employee accounts suggest that the site mainly served to offload unsold inventory from the group’s stores, without attempting to diversify its catalog or attract new customer demographics. Consequently, it gradually lost ground to more innovative competitors and the rise of second-hand platforms, which have become staples in shopping habits.
Internally, the economic situation had already led to austerity measures in 2024, such as cutting temporary workers and logistic costs. These adjustments were insufficient to stop the decline of a company that still posted a revenue of 80 million euros in 2019, but failed to sustain that momentum.
A Symbol of Galeries Lafayette’s Troubles
The impending closure of BazarChic is not an isolated incident for Galeries Lafayette, but rather indicative of the structural challenges facing the group. Following the sale of BHV Marais in 2023 and the divestment of Eataly at the end of 2024, the family-owned empire is shedding its least profitable assets in an effort to recover. The flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann remains a cornerstone, yet it too struggles to return to its pre-pandemic performance.
An Inevitable Conclusion?
At this point, the likelihood of finding a buyer seems extremely low. The market is saturated, and few players would be willing to invest in a company that is both unprofitable and non-competitive. For the employees, the closure is a severe blow, especially since it could lead to economic layoffs as early as March 2025.