Retail trade After protests: Shein postpones store openings in France
Following a scandal involving pedopornographic sex dolls from Shein, the opening of further stores in France has been postponed indefinitely. There had previously been protests.
14.11.2025, 13:28
SDA
"We have to adapt the range and pricing policy, so we will postpone the openings for a few days or weeks," said Frédéric Merlin, managing director of the BHV department store chain, on Friday.
Last week, the first permanent Shein store in the world opened in the BHV department store in Paris amid protests from critics. Further Shein stores were due to open in BHV department stores in Dijon, Reims and Grenoble, among others, by the end of the year.
The online retailer, which was founded in China and is based in Singapore, is currently under close scrutiny by the authorities in France. The French government initiated proceedings against Shein after sex dolls with childish facial features were discovered on its internet platform.
Machetes and brass knuckles were also on offer. Last Friday, it was announced that Shein had removed all illegal products from its online offering.
The opening of the approximately 1000 square meter Shein store on the sixth floor of the traditional Parisian department store BHV on 5 November was accompanied by numerous protests. These were directed against the company's disastrous environmental and social record as well as the scandal surrounding the sex dolls.
