Galeries Lafayette has signed a lease for a third store in the country, due to open in 2022, in the Nanming neighbourhood of the inland city of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province. While Galeries Lafayette embarked on a strategy of international expansion several years ago, the coronavirus crisis has added urgency to its quest to bulk up sales outside of its home market. Consumption continues to suffer in Europe amid coronavirus restrictions, but Chinese shoppers are springing back into action, prompting a rush of apparel brands across the spectrum to serve them domestically. The new store will be located in the D. Place shopping mall, which is owned by HLC Commercial Real Estates Group. The French department store has locations in Beijing and Shanghai.