Hello!
Many months / years / another lifetime ago I wrote the ‘one-line description’ for Nation of Shopkeepers: “Retail: its future, present, and past.”
For this issue I’m going to use that format. Maybe it’ll work. Maybe not. Let me know your thoughts.
Adam
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Past*:
Clark’s Originals store in Street
Interesting to see Clark’s double-down on its Originals brand. Presumably they’re trying to emulate the success of Dr Martens last five years or so. I like the idea of the Clark’s Originals store having a presence in the hometown of Clark’s, though how the staff battling for basic workers’ rights feel about this timing… well, ahem.
The other Originals store is on Berwick Street in Soho btw. Worth a look - nice design from Stiff + Trevillion.
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*not really, but I think it works in this instance.
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Present:
Flexible, functional, smart looking space from Brinkworth at Zurich airport. I doubt I’ll be going that way any time soon, so if you do, let me know how it is!
I love that Frame’s pundits gave it 5/10. Feels a little unfair given the setting..? Most airport retail continues to be pretty underwhelming, but maybe things are changing…
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Ecomm needs real stores more than ever (WSJ)
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“Business is about taking risks”: Montreal success story Ssense gets the NYT treatment
Things that stood out: influence of those Nike Agassi shorts; bravery in ideas when starting out; experimentation and finding out how to do stuff. Also, the scale: 150 photo editors, 26 photo studios, serving up 3,000 - 4,000 items a week. Eeesh. Also - the importance of the SSense photography style. ““You can see an Ssense photo anywhere on the web, and you know it’s Ssense without having seen the logo.”
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Bookseller James Daunt on You and Yours - 22-11 - R4
What makes a great store? “Beauty, personality, autonomy.” Well said.
Listen at 23mins30
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Future:
Related to the ‘Ecomm needs real stores more than ever’ article above :
Gymshark to open on Regent St - at the old J. Crew store, as a keen-eyed viewer will notice (love that the vid shows it as is.) The film is worth a watch - it’s an incredible story of how brands can grow, and the openness of Ben Francis (the founder) is impressive, imo. Could he be the UK’s John Foley? I don’t see why not.
There was a great interview with Francis on Radio 4 Today the other morning. I thought he articulated the reasons for opening a physical store very well - essentially it’s about “community, immersion in the Gymshark brand” - (have tried to find the snippet via BBC Sounds but can’t locate it. Will do better next time!)
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Into this site from Arcteryx. They’re the latest clothing brand to offer repair. Only a good thing.
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Gen Z reignite QVC style shopping via TikTok. What goes around comes around, eh?
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Some readers may recall the Casa mags piece I referred to in the last issue. It inspired me to propose the same idea to my new local (to work) newsagent. He says he’s going to give it a go with some help from his sons. Keep you posted on that!
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Misc fun:
Part of me wishes for the death of brand collaboration. But then something like Porter x Studio Ghibli 'My Neighbour Totoro' crops up and all is well again (this via Joachim Baan’s excellent Togetherand Substack).
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Thanks for reading. Tell your pals if you like. Cheers x