Who needs 60,000 sq ft of shop floor any more?
It’s been a while. I’d apologise, but let’s face it, you’ve not noticed, and nor should you. So. Many. Emails.
Hopefully you’ll get something from this, and if you do, say hello. And if you don’t, please, do say hello all the same. It’s nice to hear from you.
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1/ Looking back to look forward - lessons from history
My favourite retail-related piece of late was this find from Chris Rogers, an architectural historian. Rogers looks at old buildings used by various companies, across a handful of topics: space; staff (guys, companies used to look after their workers!); supply; stock; support.
On ‘space’ Rogers talks about Kodak’s old European HQ / London flagship, near Covent Garden. He writes, “Inside… included open-plan office floorplates and a staff restaurant, complemented by semi-industrial spaces such as an ancillary laboratory, photographic, dark and printing rooms and a warehouse.” I guess it’s a pre-cursor to TikTok’s ‘For You’ pop-up in Westfield, sort of. What gilded times we live in.
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2/ Selfridges gaming department looks slick
This looks pretty impressive and does a good job of appealing to a wide audience via nostalgic and contemporary games. The company behind it, Smartech, has deals with many of the world’s leading department stores (KaDeWe, Hankyu, Printemps, La Rinascente etc.) Looks like it could be a more engaging / playful take on the b8ta concept.
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3/ REI makes me want to go outside
Love the level of detail that US athletic / sports / outdoor retailer REI goes to helping its customers make the most of the equipment they purchase. “REI dresses you for the outdoors, educates you about the outdoors and can even lead your trip into the outdoors. In short: REI wants to do everything for you except the activity itself.”
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4/ “I don’t think anybody needs 60,000 sq ft of shop floor any more.”
Artisans and craftspeople are moving into major high street sites with innovative small-scale outlets - see this Guardian piece on Bournemouth department store.
“Instead of fashion floors, there will be an ice-cream and coffee parlour, an art gallery and an old loading bay is to be turned into a microbrewery while a former lift will be transformed into a smokery. Alongside well-known brands in the beauty hall there are local organic skincare makers with artisan producers – from silversmiths to coffee roasters involved throughout the building.” Now we’re talking ;-)
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5/ Also of note: ‘Bloomies’ - Bloomingdales reimagined for smaller footprint, local stores.
And… one step beyond: Freestyle - Stitchfix’s ‘customised store for every shopper’.
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Pffft? Decent? Something you want to tell me? Go on.