Ultra-Nature Reverence

Several brands, from outdoor sports to fine jewellery, have launched spaces designed to develop a deeper reverence for (and dialogue with) nature: visually extraordinary concepts in which visitors are submerged in the natural world, or environments paying homage to it. Sustainable design treatments underscore some of them to emphasise the eco-messaging.

Sporting Bonds: New Community Concepts

While the community aspect of sports retail isn’t new (see Leaning into Local and Retail’s Spirit of Adventure) smart brands are getting closer to fans, and helping fans get close to each other, via stores that go beyond drop-in sessions to deepen belonging – particularly in urban epicentres where loneliness is rife. See Cue the Club Crew in Cohesive Communities: Consumers Combat Loneliness for more.

Uplifting the Fitting Room

Including spaces big enough to accommodate group try-ons, those accompanied by personal styling services, influencer-primed features (lighting and music) and “vanity rooms”, astute retailers across the fashion, sneakers and lingerie sectors are reimagining the fitting room as the deal-clinching heart of the shopping experience.

Glocalism Evolved: Dialogues with the City

Store openings from retailers including Spanish footwear label Camper and Australian beauty brand Aesop are reinterpreting localised design. Drawing creative inspiration from their cities’ culture and history as well as architectural cues, they blend regional context with globally recognisable signature brand aesthetics.

Parental Guidance

Building on ideas in Engaging (& Reassuring) New Parents in Transforming the Department Store, from a breastfeeding lounge to an onsite stroller track, several store concepts this quarter were conceived to support the needs of parents, both expectant and new.

Sense-ational Stagecraft

Cult beauty businesses Glossier (US) and Dr Barbara Sturm (Germany) have launched temporary concepts this quarter, centred on eliciting emotions via highly sensorial experiences. Low-level immersive theatrics, mixed reality technologies and even the use of sensation-tingling ASMR allowed guests to embark on more-individualised-than-usual journeys of product (and self-) discovery.

Real Retail Therapy: The Rise of the Spa Store

Evolving wellness retail formats explored in Wellness-Centred Retail, stores coupling retail with spa-style treatments are on the rise. These spaces for elevated self-care are conceived to offer valuable moments of respite from the hustle and bustle of urban living, aided by innovative products and cutting-edge wellness technologies.

Recommerce (Keeps On) Reinventing

Understanding the desire for second-hand items – but also the problematic disconnect between young people’s sustainability aspirations and their actual shopping behaviours – forward-thinking brands are social-proofing sustainable concepts by creating youth-primed pop-ups that make resales, authentication and shopping for pre-loved goods feel distinctly cool.

For more, see Circular Economy Concept Stores and Restyling Youth Culture: Decoupling Newness from Identity in Eco Comms: Autumn/Winter 2023.

Wonder Stores: Spaces to Spark Joy

Ultra-tactile and/or colourful store interiors centred on joy and playfulness are also on the rise this quarter as a route to providing small moments of optimism and a sense of micro-indulgence as a salve for tough times. It’s a trend that connects to Feelgood Flagships: Sensorial Enclaves in Brand Spaces 23/24 and A/W 23/24 C&M Direction Joy.