‘A Warning Sign’: Why Henri Bendel Lost Its Way In The Changing Retail World

At the beginning of the 20th century, Henri Bendel was one of the most forward-thinking luxury retailers in the world. How times have changed. A changing customer mindset, internal stagnancy and a lack of differentiation led this week to the iconic New York department store to be shut down completely. Luxury retailer Henri Bendel broke new ground throughout the early decades of its life, being the first retailer to host in-store makeovers and the first to stage its own in-store fashion show. Over the first few decades of its 120 or so years in operation, Henri Bendel set the standards for what a luxury retailer should be. Its iconic packaging, focus on customer service and willingness to hire exciting young talent (including a young Andy Warhol) all contributed to the retailer’s early success. Read more at Digiday.