The ‘shoppy shop’ trend shows no sign of abating. For those not in the know, the term – popularised by New York Magazine’s Grub Street – indicates those small-to-medium businesses selling upmarket ‘provisions’ (charcuterie, legumes, sauces, tinned goods) with a veneer of heritage, authenticity, and (seemingly) innovative ingredients, as if they were the modern ‘general stores’ of olden days. On...
There’s always something intriguing about niche, singular companies, stores and brands. When I was growing up, I distinctly remember a shop that sold only various things made out of wicker, for instance. It both intrigued and baffled me then, before I understood the concept of a ‘front’, a la (or so rumour has it) the numerous shops that once lined...
Barnardo’s is the UK’s largest children’s charity, and it undoubtedly does much good in the world. However, its history up to this point is also littered with uncomfortable controversies. Certainly, the most outlandish transgressions are concentrated in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Founder Thomas John Barnardo was taken to court 88 times for kidnapping children (or ‘philanthropic abductions’, as old...
The once laudable claim to have started a thriving business with ‘a small loan’ from a doting family member may have been muddied beyond recognition by the truth-stretching of serial tax-offender and part-time Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Despite this, turning ‘one thousand pounds from nan’ into a luxury watch and diamond dealership with a sparkling flagship store in Mayfair remains...
The Hyundai is one of the three major department stores in South Korea, with its 15 branches across the regions of Seoul, Yeongnam and Hoseo accruing more than $6 billion in annual sales. Petit Planet is the Hyundai’s new specialised children’s division, presenting premium brands in an environment designed to stimulate young imaginations. This post includes Extended Insights for BP&O...
Åhléns began in 1899 as a small mail-order business. Aside from it being one of the oldest it has also grown to become one of the largest retail chains in Sweden. By carefully collating a variety of items across brands and price categories, the retailer maintains its relevance today, understanding and responding to the many ways in which its customers...
Osofor will be a digital-first and lab-grown diamond jewellery business able to create stones of any shape and cut. It will offer a modern and sustainable luxury brand to those who desire the material qualities of diamonds without the environmental and sociological impact. Osofor intends to distinguish itself further by fusing enduring aesthetic desirability and artisanal practice with experimental materials, unexpected production processes,...
Maison De Greef 1848 is a high-end luxury jewellery brand, expert watchmaker and retailer that opened its first shop in 1848 at 24 Rue au Beurr, Brussels. Shortly after De Greef became the official clockmaker for the Belgian National Railway Company and then the supplier of pocket watches for the Belgian Navy. The brand has built an enduring legacy and weathered many...
Doméstico Shop is online retailer of designer homeware which has grown to become the leader in the Spanish market. It stocks an array of items, from furniture and kitchenwear to textiles and lighting. To coincide with the launch of Doméstico’s concept store Doméstico Market, and the opening of a new flagship store in Barcelona, the retailer worked with Mucho to...
14 Islands is a Swedish digital development studio that focuses on the design and build of distinctive and creative user experiences for companies such as Google, Adidas and Plume. Although its products are diverse, and include websites, apps and web-based games, these are linked by the studio’s commitment to balancing good design principles and technical performance with natural and playful...
Maisonette is an American online retailer of luxury children’s brands, founded by former Vogue co-workers Sylvana Durrett and Luisana Mendoza Roccia. The retailer carries a carefully selected yet extensive catalogue of clothing, homeware, gifts and accessories that mixes local up-and-coming brands with those that are well-established and international. Maisonette’s visual identity, designed by New York based Lotta Nieminen Studio, intends to balance and juxtapose a...
Summerhill Market is a family-run business, managed by the third generation, with premises on Toronto’s Summerhill Avenue and a smaller location—a floral boutique—on Mt. Pleasant Rd. The store has 200 employees, a butchers, bakery and deli, a BBQ in the summer and offers a variety of catering services. Summerhill Market is admired for its high quality products, and its ability—since 1954—to consistently redefine what...