Place des Tendances seeks fresh impetus with new MD

French fashion e-tailer Place des Tendances was set up in 2008 to sell a wide range of brands in the mid-market and premium segments. In H1, aiming to achieve a new milestone, the site bought by the Printemps group in 2013 appointed a new managing director, Guillaume Grimbert. Grimbert had worked at Place de Tendances, alongside founders Christine Feuchot and Bertrand Rochebillard, when the site was created 18 years ago.

It means a return to his roots for Grimbert, who has been working in the French e-commerce sector for 20 years. He was head of e-tail at Place des Tendances from 2008 to 2013, when he joined jewellery retailer Cleor as head of digital, e-tail and omnichannel operations. Grimbert worked for three years at Cleor, then was with the Nexity group between 2016 and 2023, notably as head of digital transformation at Habiteo, before joining the Atlas for Men site as head of e-commerce and digital.

Back at Place des Tendances, Grimbert is keen to “make the site the benchmark community for directional fashion and beauty brands, putting the customer experience at the heart of each decision.” He is aiming to make menswear and beauty “the new key sectors” for the site, while “consolidating the assortment of womenswear and accessories.”

Place des Tendance doesn’t disclose its revenue results, and sells products by 400 brands. Grimbert intends to strengthen the relationship with the site’s long-established commercial partners (for example via exclusive collections), and to add new labels, notably from outside France. There will be a special focus on “the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian brands, and the bold colourful one of brands from Spain,” according to the site.

For its autumn campaign, Place des Tendances has tapped French TV presenter and actress Marine Vignes, described by the site as “a fashion icon for people in their 50s.” Vignes will feature in a fashion campaign called “the a.m.-p.m. wardrobe,” featuring 10 looks for women on the go from the morning until the evening.