A big MERCI to Sunday More for their interview with our founder Ariane Zagury and feature-
"The Paris Businesswoman Who Turned Cold Transactions into Warm Experiences - Ariane, the Founder of Rue Madame"
Warm experiences are at the heart of what we do and are the driving force of our brand, and truly something we believe, that sets us apart in the market.
For anyone curious to read more, we have translate the article in English below-
Every person's childhood is filled with precious memories that influence the life path they choose. For Ariane, her childhood was spent in her father's textile shop "Rodin" on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. There, she was surrounded by vibrant brocades and silks, and her childhood experiences had a profound impact on her brand planning, serving as the inspiration for founding Rue Madame! Ariane's unwavering spirit and innovative mindset paved the way for Rue Madame's success and imbued the brand with a unique charm, allowing it to stand out in the highly competitive market.
Ariane Reignited Her "Childhood Fashion Dream" After Arriving in Hong KongAriane's story began in her childhood Paris, a city filled with romance and fashion. Perhaps from the moment she was born, her love for fashion was ingrained in her DNA, and she learned the art of weaving in her father's shop. "I spent my childhood days in my father's textile shop 'Rodin', where I learned the importance of quality. This experience gave me a deep respect for craftsmanship and cultivated my eye for timeless style. It made me understand the importance of understanding customers, and I have maintained a boundless curiosity for the fashion world. At Rue Madame, I apply these principles to carefully select brands that not only reflect current trends, but can also withstand the test of time in terms of style and quality."
She further explained: "The inspiration for Rue Madame comes from my personal journey, as well as a notable gap in Hong Kong's fashion scene. After moving to Hong Kong and working in the finance industry, I immediately fell in love with the city and its unique energy. However, I soon realized that the options for high-quality fashion for women were extremely limited. There was fast fashion, but I couldn't relate to it; there were luxury brands, but they weren't suitable for everyday wear. So where could fashionable and independent women find a place to shop?"
It was this need that inspired Ariane to found Rue Madame in 2010. She could not bear the fact that a vibrant and culturally diverse metropolis like Hong Kong lacked fashion choices suitable for independent women, so she decided to create a unique concept store that would be a true haven for women seeking style and sophistication. Ariane's dream has been realized in Rue Madame, where she has crafted a warm and welcoming space, infusing every detail with her passion for fashion and respect for women, allowing every woman who steps into the store to find her own style and story.
Overcoming Various Challenges Over the Past 14 Years - From Talent to Artificial Intelligence "As an entrepreneur, I am well aware that the path to success is filled with challenges. Over the past 14 years, we have faced various difficulties, but these challenges have only made me more determined to move forward."
In this ever-changing fashion world, keeping up with the times is a must. "Listening to the voices of customers, changes in market trends, and our own intuition are the keys to building a successful brand." The success of Rue Madame is inseparable from two core values: an unwavering focus on customers and an insatiable curiosity. Ariane says they engage in daily dialogues with customers, listening closely to their voices, and let these conversations guide the selection of products and brands, carefully curating the perfect offerings from hundreds of brands. Sometimes, "the voice of the customer" serves as a compass leading the brand to success.
"Creativity and business acumen are like two sides of a coin." Creativity is not just about imaginative ideas; it needs to be transformed into commercial value, and the two must be combined to present the product in the best possible way on the fashion stage. To achieve this balance, Ariane also needs to deeply understand customer needs and market trends, so the "customer-first" principle is always at the core.
Rue Madame Boldly Expands to Guangzhou, Opening Its First Mainland China Store
Unnoticed, Rue Madame has been in operation for more than a decade, and its scale has gradually expanded. In addition to the online store, there are 2 stores in Singapore and 4 in Hong Kong. This year, the brand opened its first Rue Madame concept store in Guangzhou's Taikoo Hui, successfully entering the mainland China market after Hong Kong and Singapore.
"Guangzhou is a city filled with wisdom and aesthetics, and its people are eager for more genuine fashion experiences, which Rue Madame is perfectly positioned to provide," Ariane felt the immense potential of Guangzhou and chose it as the first stop in the mainland market. The store carefully selected more than 80 high-quality niche fashion brands from Paris and around the world, many of which are making their first foray into the mainland market, including The Jacksons, a handwoven bag brand that Rue Madame exclusively represents in China, Rouje, a brand founded by a popular Parisian fashion blogger, and the Italian shoe brand Taji.
Transforming Cold Transactions into Warm Experiences
Rue Madame has brought many unique elements to Guangzhou's fashion scene, not only in its products, but also in its warm retail philosophy. "Our goal is to become a safe haven for modern women, where every customer can feel warmth and care, just like coming home. To achieve this, my team and I constantly strive to cultivate personalized and trustworthy relationships, fostering connections with our customers." Rue Madame understands the needs of each customer and treats every interaction as a valuable opportunity to understand their individual styles and preferences, helping them find the most suitable fashion.
"The happiness of our customers is the most important thing. We want them to leave our store with a smile, whether they made a purchase or simply immersed themselves in the joy of fashion. We are not just pursuing transactions, but elevating shopping into an experience."
Exploring More Possibilities for Future Collaboration.