PARIS, June 16 - The Parisian department store BHV Marais will cease its partnership with Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein after its owner, the Societe des grands magasins, or SGM, said it is selling the store to the current management team, French media reported on Tuesday.
The change in ownership was described in French media accounts as including a decision by the purchasing management team to end the collaboration with Shein. The reports said SGM is carrying out a sale of BHV Marais to that internal management group.
SGM did not respond to a request for comment, and Shein was not immediately available to comment, according to the same reports.
Shein first established a physical presence inside BHV in November when it opened its initial shop within the department store. In February, the company said it planned to expand with physical shops in five other French cities.
The introduction of Shein’s physical outlet at BHV in November generated significant pushback. The launch prompted protests, led to brands withdrawing their products from the department store, and attracted a wave of criticism from French politicians and retailers, as reported.
On the day Shein’s BHV shop opened, the French government initiated an effort to shut down the Shein platform. That government action was subsequently overturned by a Paris court, the reports said.
Below is a concise timeline of events as reported:
- November - Shein opened its first physical shop inside BHV Marais.
- Same day in November - The French government launched an attempt to shut down the Shein platform; that move was later overturned by a Paris court.
- February - Shein announced plans to open physical shops in five other French cities.
- June 16 - French media report SGM is selling BHV Marais to its management team, which has ended the partnership with Shein.
The reporting presents the ownership transfer and the termination of the Shein partnership as connected developments, with the department store’s sale to its management cited as the condition under which the partnership will be discontinued. Requests for comment to SGM and Shein were not answered immediately, according to the reports.
Summary of reported facts: SGM is selling BHV Marais to the store’s current management team; that team has ended the partnership with Shein. Shein opened a shop at BHV in November, planned further French expansion in February, faced protests and withdrawals by brands, and saw a government attempt to close its platform overturned by a Paris court. SGM and Shein did not immediately respond to requests for comment.