RETAIL JOURNAL

A Splash of Danish Design. 💋 The fast growing Danish brand Ganni A/S opened its 5th store in NYC. This particular one is located in the iconic Flatiron district on Madison Avenue. Famous for its integration of design in all aspects of life since the 1960s, Denmark has spawned SO many incredible designers over the last decades. It's no different here with Ganni, a B Corp certified fashion brand, led by husband-and-wife team Nicolaj Reffstrup and Ditte Reffstrup. Since the year 2000, the brand has grown to be present today in more than 600 of the world's top tier retailers are well as over 35 GANNI retail locations. They are on a mission to make the fashion world a more sustainable place... through its "Scandi 2.0 sense of style full of personality and contrast (...) and a gameplan including 44 tangibles goals to be reached by 2023 across four main pillars: People, Planet, Product and Prosperity." One can only admire their ambition. We need more brands with such quality goals. I also want to extend my congratulations to Karolin Stjerna, COO of GANNI, and team for the 5th opening in NYC. I'm sure many players were involved in this project. 👉 Here's what I like most about GANNI's retail design: 👢 The very obvious scandi design. Clean lines, minimalistic merchandising, quality designer furniture, ideal lighting, etc. 👢 Regardless of the minimalistic design, I love the addition of colors. And yep, that's what my favorite aspect of GANNI's retail design. It's scandi, but it's not blend whatsover. It's joyful, colorful, fun. 👢 I love the clean and wide windows. It allows natural light to fill in the space, which is essential to hygge... if you know you know. 👢 Rare are the brands that put a vertical / horizontal signage. It's bold and it caught my attention right away. ❓ What do you like most about GANNI's retail design? #retail #ganni #luxury #danish #designer #design #nyc #retailjournal

Doorway to heaven. 💫 Menacing clouds, an artsy-looking arch, vantage furniture, minimalistic merchandising... Yep, you've landed in Fear of God's latest store in Seoul. The LA-based brand is unlike any other. And it shows in their retail design. The brand loves playing at the intersection of American street culture and luxury. In their words, "Fear of God is an independent American luxury fashion label (...) crafting timeless, wearable garments, the brand's distinct interpretation of the American expression has become an emblem of contemporary culture." 👉 Here's what I like most about this retail design: ⚫ The retail design is bold - and that's necessary for a luxury brand to gain attraction in a country like South Korea... where customers are used to high retail standards. ⚫ The store is made from quality materials - and it shows. The organic lines, the lighting system, the wood tables, etc. You can tell they spent considerable resources to build this unique space. ⚫ The store is provocative. The organic archway, the clouds, the vantage 'park' bench... it almost feels like the intertwinement of an art gallery and a fashion store. ⚫ The simplistic merchandising is exquisite. Products are visible, beautifully presented... the space is not overcrowded. It feels exclusive and luxurious. One can buy a piece of American culture right there in Seoul. ❓ What do you like most about the design? #retail #fearofgod #luxury #design #architecture #store #retailjournal

Shine bright like a diamond. 🎶 I know what you're thinking.... what a FACADE. Tiffany & Co.'s new flagship store in Toronto is nothing short of spectacular. The store is located in Yorkdale Shopping Centre, the most prolific mall in sales/sqf in the country. 👉 What makes this store an outstanding flagship? 💎 The monumental facade, shining bright like a diamond. Needless to say, it's right on brand. 💎 The beautiful window displays. Simple, symmetrical, showcasing key products. 💎 My favorite part: the diamond-like chandelier in the middle. WOW. 💎 The lighting inside is reminiscent of a diamond. It's bright, it's shiny, it's luxury. Yorkdale Shopping Centre is a property of Oxford Properties Group and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). ❓ What do you think of Tiffany's new flagship? Well done LVMH. #retail #tiffany #jewelry #luxury #flagship #yorkdale #retailjournal

Salomon in the fashion capital of Italy. ❄️ Yup, Milan is famous for its fashion culture all throughout the world. It is therefore no surprise to see Amer Sports, parent company of Salomon, go forward with a fashion-oriented, compact Salomon store on the prestigious Corso Garibaldi. It also marks the brand's first store opening in Milan. Congrats Scott Mellin and team. I've reviewed quite a few Salomon stores in the past, but this one is my new favorite. 👉 Here's why: 🗻 The facade is as clear as ice, pun intended. A great reminder of Salomon's core values and identity. It's also fitting due to the location of Milan not too far from a very major famous mountain range. 🗻 Speaking of said mountain range, my favorite design aspect of the store is the mountain outline on the back wall. WOW. Simply beautiful + visible from outside thanks to wide and clear windows. 🗻 I'm not usually the biggest 'white out' advocate when it comes to retail design but here, it makes sense with the brand & the purpose of the store. It is complemented with colorful, outdoor pictures and as a result, the space feels alive and sporty. If I had to summarize this store: A compact mountain refuge nestled in the capital of fashion where both outdoor and fashion enthusiasts can rejoice. Amer Sports is no stranger to elevating an outdoor brand and tackling the fashion industry. You just have to think of Arc'teryx Equipment and Peak Performance. Photo creds: Scott Mellin. #retail #salomon #sports #amersports #milan #fashion #retailjournal

There's some VC&A magic in the air. 💫 Van Cleef & Arpels recently opened a stunning new boutique in Amsterdam. The Parisian brand, owned by luxury conglomerate Richemont, is no stranger to exquisite retail design. In a city like Amsterdam, you have to bring your A-game to standout. Here, I say mission accomplished. 💯 Congrats to Stéphanie Rault, Olivier Ponsard, Nicolina Siouzou, Amandine Latour Héron, Laurène Kolisso, Pierre Raynal, and many others I'm sure. 👉 Here's what I like most about this retail store: 💎 The exterior facade is simple but elegant. The architecture of the building is enhanced by the beautiful double door, the symmetrical windows, and the simple window displays. 💎 The lighting work inside is SUPER accurate. Why? Notice how the ceiling lights are strategically position to illuminate key elements of the store design i.e. the center column with the two rest chairs... or the green table. 💎 The photographs / paintings on the wall add an artistic element to the store, which is perfectly aligned with the brand image and heritage. 💎 The flooring is sublime. It's always the first thing I notice in a VC&A store. Notice how they play with the flooring based on the ambiance they want to create. For example, as you step to the second floor, you are welcomed by an exquisite wood flooring (cerisier maybe?) that gives 'grand palace' vibe. ❓ Have you every visited a VC&A store? This one is on my bucket list. #retail #vancleef #vendome #luxury #jewelry #design #retailjournal

New Montblanc Store Alert 🚨 Montblanc opened a new flagship in Chengdu, China. Right away, you are left speechless by the architecture of the building. It's complex, it's unique... and more importantly, it looks like it was pulled straight out of the Alps in Eastern France. Well done Richemont. What do I like most about this space? Four (4) simple elements: 🗻 The quality of materials. The flooring, the ceiling, the walls... everything is top tier... and that's what Chinese customers expect from a luxury brand. 🗻 While Black & White is Montblanc's favorite color combo, they didn't hesitate to add a splash a color in the space. Paired with mannequins, it adds so much life and excitement to the space. 🗻 The mix of straight and organic lines is a great design choice. It helps with the division of Montblanc's many product categories... from watches to suitcases. 🗻 Love the nod to Montblanc's logo and name. You can find a colorful mountain painting + a complex snow peaked mountain chandelier light. ❓ At first glance, I would have guessed this store was located in the French alps. What about you? #retail #montblanc #luxury #china #design #architecture #retailjournal

Luxury in Mexico City. 🌵 Audemars Piguet opened a new store in Mexico City and my gosh, isn't it beautiful? Part of the holy trinity of watch brands, Audemars Piguet is the epitomy of luxury in the watch world. Selling just over 50,000 watches per year, the brand is very exclusive... and their stores are all about delivering the ultimate luxury experience. Proof? This store has / is: ⌚ A complete bar service ⌚ A relaxing lounge and dinner table to enjoy a special event or reservation ⌚ An outdoor patio ⌚ A beautifully curated salon area filled with decorations, books, and arts ⌚ Low key and exclusive. The only way you know this place is about watches (if you don't know the brand already) is through the image found in the window. Why? Because AP works on reservation. One can't simply walk into the boutique to buy a watch. They treat it as a privilege for customers to own an AP - hence they treat them like kings and queens when visiting the store. ❓ What do you like most about this AP store? #retail #watches #luxury #ap #design #experience #retailjournal #mexico

Lego Christmas Wonderland 🎅 For the holidays, say hello to the immersive Lego experience at their flagship store in London. Who doesn't love the LEGO Group right? Martin Urrutia, Global Head Retail Experience & Innovation at LEGO explains the concept best: "This holiday season, we’re bringing the magic of LEGO building to life by recreating the enchanting Santa's Post Office set #10339 inside our flagship store. Step into this festive wonderland and take a stunning holiday photo inside the cozy Post Office, completed with Santa’s sofa, a dazzling Christmas tree, and a breathtaking view of the LEGO Holiday Village through the window!" Experiential retail is key to brick-and-mortar success. Lego understands that and have always delivered unique experiences. Whether you're a Gen Z kid grew up on Fortnite... or a Millennial who grew up on Harry Potter, the store got you covered. It's all about emotions... even nostalgia when you step in. Well done LEGO. #retail #lego #experientialretail #design #flagship #retailjournal

No, you're not dreaming. It's H&M. 🔴 Yesterday, H&M revealed the reopening of one of their most ambitious rebuild in the UK, located at Westfield Stratford City. On first glance, you would never guess it's an H&M... but looks can be deceiving. 👀 In the words of Mark Chung, Construction Project Manager UK & IE for H&M, "This project isn’t just a rebuild—it’s a complete reimagination. Featuring a fresh concept design and cutting-edge technologies, this store is designed to enhance the experience for both our customers and team, keeping us ahead in the highly competitive fashion retail market." Now, this type of minimalistic, Scandinavian retail design is not unfamiliar to H&M. Through their brand COS, we've been able to witness their vision for a more premium retail experience. Here though, I love where H&M is headed with this new concept. 🌲 👉 Here's what I love most about this new H&M concept: 🚨 The 'raw' feel of the space thanks to the classic Scandinavian light wood, the 50 shades of white, and the ciment color used in certain areas of the store. 🚨 The simple but efficient signage in-store... they clearly learned from COS here. 🚨 The grand facade dominated by large windows. The store looks imposing, yet not overwhelming. The first visual is clean and inviting. 🚨 The cabins are a HUGE improvement. Cabins are often neglected in a retail design project... but in truth, they are massively important to the customer experience. Here, the cabins are clean and feel premium. 🚨 The self-service cashier area and the online pick-up are great technological additions to the store. I would dare say... essential in 2024 for a brand like H&M. 🚨The product categories are well divided and each section is designed accordingly. For example, the retail design of the home section feels cozy and festive... while the fashion feels more energetic and trendy. I could go on and on about why this store is a green flag when it comes to H&M's vision for retail design. I hope to see more projects like this one soon. Congrats to Mark, Jisoo Maeng, Mattias Yllén Johansson, Jack Cowling, Gemma Kirby, Mark Laserna, Rebecca Shirley, Lauren Connolly, Cain Bolton, Erin Kelly, Stefania Coronato, Lex Myronidis, Leah Quilligan, Anton Finnis, Johan Wigelius, Sara Carlsson, Boubacar Balde, Jess Hibbler, and many more. ⁉ At first glance, would you have guessed it was an H&M store? #retail #hm #fashion #design #architecture #merchandising #retailjournal

Un café s'il vous plaît? ☕ Kitsuné revealed their new café in Beijing, China. While the brand is deeply involved in fashion and music, their Café Kitsuné division has become increasingly popular over the years, generating loads of hype. I admire brands that go ALL IN on their identity. Kitsuné is all about 'Paris meet Tokyo', and that's what I like. The brand doesn't pretend to be anything else. 🗼 In their words, "We’re thrilled to bring back the Café Kitsuné experience to China, blending the art of Parisian living with contemporary Japanese-inspired design." Congrats Guillaume Gibergues for your work on this project. Photo creds are also yours. I also want to highlight a few design & architectural elements of this café: ⚫ The Japanese inspired minimalism of the building, and the natural colors used to blend with the park-ish environment. ⚫ The Parisian bistro chairs outside - because I mean, who doesn't love them? Oui, c'est très Parisien... and a nod to the brand's origins. ⚫ The flap windows to serve customers. Beautifully done... and also practical if it rains on 3 sides. Plus, it allows plenty of visibility into the café. ⚫ More importantly though, the many open windows allow the smell of coffee to flow around the park... attracting customers. Scent marketing is key for cafés. Maison Kitsuné China, wishing you much success. #retail #kitsuné #paris #tokyo #architecture #design #café #retailjournal