Isidore and his two brothers (Benjamin and Modeste) originated the idea of the chain department store when they formed "Maisons Dewachter" (Houses of Dewachter) in 1868, which they formally incorporated as the Belgian firm "Dewachter frères" (Dewachter Brothers) on 1 January 1875. For business purposes, they had decided not to use the capital "W" in the family name and because the chain became so famous, published references to the family would also be spelled "Dewachter". By the time of Dewis's death, the family had adopted the spelling "Dewachter" as well.