Galeries Lafayette Berlin counts on Concardis

• Optimisation of payment processes thanks to innovative payment link
• No further handling of credit card data by staff
• Establishment of online sales with Paylink planned

With the help of full-service payment provider Concardis, Galeries Lafayette Berlin is simplifying its payment processes: for orders placed either by telephone or in writing, customers now receive an email with an integrated payment link so that they can settle their invoices. The link leads to a payment form, as is familiar from online shopping. Customers simply enter their payment information there and confirm the purchase. After the successful transaction, both the merchant and the customer automatically receive payment confirmation. By using Paylink, the customer’s credit card data no longer has to be collected and processed by the staff of the historic department store – which simplifies processes and increases security.

‘We at Galeries Lafayette rely very heavily on personal consultation, so many of our customers choose to call us to place their order. Thanks to Paylink, we can now offer them convenient online payment, which means that our staff no longer come into direct contact with card details – an important aspect with regard to security. In addition, the processing time of telephone and written orders has decreased significantly due to Paylink, and there are fewer erroneous transactions. A real added value – for both ends of the transaction,’ says Louisa Baron, head of marketing and communication at Galeries Lafayette Berlin.

‘Galeries Lafayette has special requirements with regard to payments: the department store has its own website, but it does not operate an online shop in the classic sense. In order to offer online payments, however, and therefore optimise the customer journey, Paylink is the perfect tool. Additionally, it can be used as a sleek web shop, the so-called One Page Shop. This function is ideal for online campaigns and marketing promotions,’ says Christoph Jung, Vice President Innovation and eCommerce at Concardis.

The French fashion house plans to use the Paylink shop function to drive online sales in future: depending on the target group and promotion, products and vouchers are quickly and simply integrated into the One Page Shop, and the corresponding link is shared via email, on social media and in messenger apps. The customers can then access the offer in only a few clicks and can pay directly, thereby increasing reach and customer retention in a targeted manner.

Entering the world of online sales is worth it, both for small businesses and established department stores like Galeries Lafayette Berlin: in 2017 alone, some 49 billion euros were spent in German e-commerce according to Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE), and in 2018, sales increased to 53.4 billion euros.

About Galeries Lafayette Berlin

Vive la Mode! Since 1996, the heart of Berlin has been home to a special piece of France. Right on Friedrichstrasse, at the intersection with Französische Strasse, the famous Galeries Lafayette from Paris opened their first and only German branch, centrally located between Gendarmenmarkt and the Brandenburg Gate. With five storeys and 10,000 square metres of sales floor, Galeries Lafayette presents the latest trends in fashion and accessories, premium beauty products and French delicacies. In addition to many French labels, the fashion house also features international and exclusive brands as well as selected designers from Berlin.

The light and modern architecture of the extraordinary glass facade and the glass cones in the interior of the building, which was designed by French star architect Jean Nouvel, give the Galeries Lafayette an ambience befitting its stature and has long been an attraction for tourists from around the world.

Photo: © Galeries Lafayette Berlin