La Mania’s Post

My last retail update was the lead up to peak, this time lets take a look into some of the fabulous stores set to open in the first half of 2025: 💄Charlotte Tilbury Beauty are opening their biggest and most glamorous flagship yet on January 9th 2025 in Covent Garden. Described as an immersive wonderland of beauty, with interactive fragrance zones and a face spa… 🍑 Juicy Couture opened it’s first full price store in the UK since 2017 in Westfield Stratford last week with the windows showcasing their newest "Once Upon a Time" collection. 👔 Thomas Pink, now under new ownership will be “expanding its UK presence” in 2025. In addition to their existing Flagship on Jermyn Street they will also expand their product offering to include eyewear and fragrance. 🍫 Lindt Home of Chocolate, are creating a HUGE 6000sqft chocolate heaven megastore, set to open in the West End in Spring 2025. ⌚ ROLEX are opening a stunning flagship store with 6000sqft space spanning across 3 floors with one dedicated entirely to pre-owned watches, in March 2025. 🧑🍳 👩🍳 The Jamie Oliver Cookery School Flagship @ John Lewis is opening from Spring 2025, inviting you to unleash your inner chef… 🪑 IKEA are opening their long awaited store in Spring 2025, situated across 3 floors and 82,000sqft. IKEA recently launched their luxury pop up ‘Hus of FRAKTA’ which is open until March 2025, next door to their upcoming megastore. I couldn’t not mention M&S who have now been given the greenlight to demolish and rebuild their store in Marble Arch and not forgetting the redevelopment of the old Fenwick Store at New Bond Street by Lazari Investments, although, those won’t be completing any time soon... If I have missed anything, feel free to comment below 👇 #RetailNews #RetailInnovation #StoreOpenings #RetailTrends #LuxuryRetail #RetailIndustry #FlagshipStore #RetailExpansion #ShoppingDestinations #UKRetail #RetailDesign #BrandExperience #CustomerExperience #Retail2025 #RetailUpdates

 Just a few thoughts to add to the discussion below: In 2016, Corso Como opened a NYC store at the Seaport. The location was difficult, however, the area was in development and I guess the company was focusing on the future. The space included the store and the gallery wing, designed to host events and exhibitions. The assortment of the store itself read "designers". To me, it was the best-curated buy I have seen. Whoever bought it - had great taste and understanding of the urban client. The idea was simple and modern: to create an environment/place that caters to the test of the fashion community - a place to hang out and shop (this is the ongoing dream of every luxury CEO). It didn't work out. The store was closed after a few years. Remember SAKS+Barney's project? Similar. To make these types of initiatives successful you need serious planning, the right people, consistency, financing, and a few other things:)) However, the concept is growing in popularity and we do see a trend: Marsèll, a Made in Italy, high-quality Italian footwear and accessory brand, has just opened its first flagship store in Milan, at Via della Spiga 42, in the city’s "Quadrilatero della Moda" fashion district. The store is the result of eight months of close collaboration between Marsell and the Berlin-based Lotto Studio. Together, they have designed a space where the whole of Marsèll’s offer and identity can express themselves at their best within an open, modern, comfortable, and somehow “solemn” space. The project’s brief had the aim of creating a unique space where the modular environments seen in the rigorous architecture of Marcel Breuer, a major exponent of the Bauhaus design movement, could blend with the meditative atmospheres of Carlo Scarpa, one of the most important 20th-century designers and architects. This space hosts long terraces that delimit a central area, imagined as an exhibition space. It is accessed via a large staircase characterized by a walnut bookcase conceived as a permanent work of art, which extends to the full height of the space and forms a connecting element between the floors. The idea - shopping, visiting the "art" and creating the community. This is the future of retail. The future can be bright for those who can do it right. #retail# #fashion #wwd #bof

Exciting changes are coming to Toronto's Eaton Centre! After the closure of Nordstrom earlier this year, the iconic mall is welcoming three major brands: La Maison Simons , Eataly, and Nike. The Quebec-based fashion retailer Simons will make its Eaton Centre debut, marking a significant expansion into Toronto. Meanwhile, the popular Italian marketplace Eataly—already a favourite in Yorkville—will bring its signature blend of restaurants, cafés, and grocery offerings to a prime location downtown. Nike, one of the world’s biggest sports brands, will further elevate the shopping experience with a flagship store. These new additions are set to fill the 220,000 square feet of space left behind by Nordstrom, breathing new life into one of Toronto’s busiest shopping destinations. With a focus on luxury retail, fine dining, and unique experiences, the Eaton Centre is positioning itself to be a go-to hub for Torontonians and visitors alike.

Reimagining retail: with clever reimagining, reinvention and retrofitting of spaces, new life is being breathed into old stores, James Ainsworth, Partner at Workman LLP, writes in Completely Retail. Although reverberations of high-profile collapses are still being felt — from Debenhams and House of Fraser to Beales and Fenwick’s sale of its store on London’s New Bond Street, retail is not dead – it is embracing change. There is light at the end of the aisle – with retailers and leisure operators such as Zara, All Saints, Rituals, and King Pins expanding their presence across the nation. ZARA SA will be moving into the former Debenhams unit at Silverburn, Glasgow’s flagship retail and leisure destination, as reported by Completely Retail, with repurposing works project managed by our #BuildingConsultancy team. Spanning 47,000 sq. ft over two floors, the new store – which has been taken on a 15-year lease – will be one of Zara’s largest in Scotland, and twice the size of the brand’s existing unit at Eurofund Group's Silverburn. Works are already well underway, project managed by our #BuildingConsultancy team, in preparation for Zara to begin their own works later this year to create their new store. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3XhAzy4 #projectmanagement #retailandleisure 

Manhattan’s SoHo has been identified as the most active prime urban retail corridor in North America, at a time when tourism throughout New York City has bounced back to almost match pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report... SoHo’s success in the retail market in 2024 was attributed to its “prime destination for diverse international apparel and accessories brands". Read more: https://lnkd.in/epRShZbF #CRE #CREreport #SoHo #NYC #retailmarket #marketreport

Embracing Change: Why Closing Stores Can Be a Good Thing   In the fast-paced world of retail, knowing when and what to close is just as crucial as opening new stores. At Rue Madame Fashion Group (RMFG), we believe that every store is a delicate alchemy—a balance of location, brand, mall, and clientele. This year, we are making strategic decisions to close 4 stores, but it's not a setback; it's an opportunity to refine and optimize our presence.   Often, leaders shy away from discussing store closures, viewing them solely as negative outcomes. However, at RMFG, we see them as a natural and positive part of our growth strategy. A well-timed store closure can enhance overall performance, streamline operations, and allow us to focus resources on more promising ventures.   This year is particularly dynamic for us: - **Opening 13 new stores**: Expanding our footprint and bringing our curated fashion closer to you. - **Refitting or moving 8 stores**: Enhancing your shopping experience with fresh, modern spaces. => **in total Managing 25 projects**: Including these openings, closures, and renovations, ensuring we stay agile and responsive to market demands.   We're committed to creating vibrant, welcoming spaces that resonate with our customers. Whether it’s a new store in an exciting location or a refitted store in a familiar one, each decision is made with our clients in mind, aiming to deliver the best shopping experience possible.   #RetailStrategy #BusinessGrowth #StoreDevelopment #RueMadame #Clémence #RetailInnovation #CustomerExperience   Alan Zagury Rue Madame Fashion Group

Very interesting... "The new Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up isn’t your typical pop-up. It’s more akin to a traveling mini-mall with a curated collection of luxury shops that spans 17,000 square feet. After its debut at North Hills in Raleigh last November, it opened March 8 for an eight-week run next to the The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota, Florida. The pop-up is home to 10 luxury boutique­ — including Tiffany & Co., Dolce & Gabbana, Christofle and Etro — as well as a 150-seat restaurant called The Whitman." ... "The idea behind the pop-up started with a question with which many shopping center owners have been wrestling, said Whitman Family Development chair Matthew Whitman Lazenby: “Was there a way to make balharbourshops.com a viable source for folks who wanted to buy luxury goods online?” Luxury retail brands have been developing their own online platforms, but what is missing is the ability to find that collection of luxury retailers online in one spot. “The name Bal Harbour had its own strength,” added Lazenby. “Was there a way that we could leverage that into a more direct-to-consumer model that would start to deliver the mission through e-commerce?”" https://bit.ly/49gC0iJ

An interesting article from Vogue Business looks at Hermès heading to the college town of Princeton. It will be the first luxury house to establish a physical footprint in the Ivy League town. As I commented in the article, part of this is about luxury moving to where their consumers are, and the truth is that more consumers are now in the suburbs thanks to shifts in working and living arrangements during the pandemic. However, the way the suburbs shop is also changing. It used to be the case that malls were the shopping destination of choice for the suburbs. But we are now seeing a lot of investment in open air centers and downtown areas. These newer retail spaces are often upscale and attract higher spending shoppers with a mix of brands and leisure and dining options. The spaces feel less sterile and more authentic than some traditional malls. Other retailers and brands are leaning into what Hermès calls a "beyond-metropolitan" strategy too. Link to article in the comments. #retail #retailnews #luxury #brands #shopping #malls

Are Flagship Stores Necessary for Retail Brands? The concept of flagship stores traces back to the late 19th century, epitomized by grandiose structures like New York’s Steinway Hall. Over time, flagship stores became synonymous with luxury, innovation, and brand identity. With their imposing size and strategic locations in prominent global cities, these establishments transcended mere retail outlets, evolving into cultural landmarks and tourist attractions. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eNT9QBic Neil Saunders "It very much depends what the purpose of a flagship is. If it’s for marketing and brand building purposes as well as generating sales, then there is a reason to having a flagship in a prime location. If it’s purely commercial then there are likely cheaper options and locations that will generate a better return." Georganne Bender "Flagships don’t always have to be huge, grand spaces, sometimes they are just the first store of many to be opened. And no, I don’t think every retailer needs an architectural masterpiece, but it’s nice when they do." Lucille DeHart "Metrics for flagships are challenging and will vary by location and business goal. Overall, however, a certain % of expenses do need to be distributed or written off as marketing to even the playing field. Some key measures of success should include: traffic count, acquistion/new to file, and editorial value."

What is the best way to stay on the pulse of the Home industry? I listen to the Business of Home podcast and rely on the weekly Thursday show to keep me up to date on how the market is, what’s going on in real estate, furnishing company earnings and so much more. They ALWAYS have great articles like this one written by Fred Nicolaus that keep us in the industry informed to always know what strategies to employ, especially in tricky markets. In conclusion he said, “In short: Big, genreless showrooms are hurting. Small, lean, design-oriented outposts are working.” And with less opportunities for clients to buy high end furnishings from stores this allows us as designers to offer even more value when we procure product for our clients. I see it as an upside for opportunity for the trade and the more unique stores out there. What are your thoughts on the article?