While there are some shoppers who prefer to get in and out of a store as quickly as possible, many of the top August 2015 retail ideas are designed to appeal to consumers who long to linger and be immersed in an experience.
Experiential retail is being favored in permanent and pop-up shops around the world, including Adidas' RunBase, Nespresso's flagship store in Milan and the CALMA bedding store in South Korea. Some of the most unique experiences include cosmetic brand Benefit's 50s-style beauty salon, the interactive Dandy Lab for men and the newest Ted Baker store in Shoreditch, which is complete with a barber and virtual reality technology.
Temporary retail is still proving to be an extremely effective way for brands to reach new audiences, aided by stations that support a particular product or activity with washrooms, vodka bars, hair salons and skate parks.
Top 50 Retail Ideas in August
50
Race-Ready Runners Pop-Ups
The Nike Womens London Pop-Up is Revealed Ahead of the 10-KM Race
49
Interactive Menswear Stores
The 'Dandy Lab' Creates a Hybrid Shopping Experience for Men
48
Minimalist Eyewear Boutiques
Ace & Tate is an E-tailer with a New Physical Outpost in Amsterdam
47
Experiential Coffee Boutiques
Nespresso's Flagship Coffee Store Encourages Tasting and Discovery
46
Market-Style Food Stores
The Home Park High Quality Food Store Designs are Separated by Function
45
Futuristic Pharmacy Interiors
The Lydaki Nitsa Pharmacy Design is Situated in a Modern Loft
44
Theatrical Skincare Boutiques
The New Aesop Berlin Boutique Was Designed by Snohetta
43
Glamorous Beauty Pop-Ups
Benefit Recently Held a 1950s-Inspired Pop-Up Beauty and Cocktail Bar
42
Plant-Based Retail Concepts
Green Common Concept Store is Uniquely 100% Plant-Based
41
Heroic Clothing Displays
Eight Inc Presents Its Products as Essentials of a 'Superhero Closet'
40
Vibrant Pop-Up Vodka Bars
The Ciroc 'London Riviera' Pop-Up Will Be Open for Five Months
39
Running Experience Retail Concepts
The adidas RunBase Store in Milan is an Immersive Concept
38
Ball Park-Inspired Retail
STANDIN Baseball Store with Stadium-Inspired Decor in Fukuoka, Japan
37
Beauty Brand Lifestyle Pop-Ups
The Cabin West Pop-Up Includes a Hair Salon and Curated Bookshop
36
Interactive Electronics Stores
This New Target Store Will Focus Excessively on Smart Devices
35
Beacon-Powered Pop-Ups
Hudson's Bay Company's LXR & Co. Pop-Up Boasts Beacon Shopping Capabilities
34
Celebrity Designer Pop-Up Retail
The House of Harlow 1960 Pop-Up Shop is a First for the Brand
33
Aussie E-Tailer Pop-Up Shops
Online Retailer BNKR Has Opened a Pop-Up in Downtown LA
32
Comfortable Auto Shops
Sonic Automotive Shows Off All Its Used Cars with Immersive Technology
31
Cubical Stationery Shops
Kyvos Plays Up Its Cube-Inspired Branding with Interior Design
30
Pegboard Jewelry Displays
Amber Dream's Jewelry Store Displays Include Wall Pegs and Mock Trees
29
Grocery Marketing Screens
These Digital Retail Screens Improve Sales and Security at IGA Stores
28
Open-Concept Jewelry Shops
Pandora's New Jewelry Store Design Increases Interaction
27
Skyline-Inspired Jewelry Displays
This Geometric Merchandising Display is Elegant and Modern
26
Shark-Infested Storefront Windows
This Aquarium Window in Budapest Was Designed by KISSMIKLOS
25
Selfie-Taking Mannequins
Mondo's Newest Mannequin Display Poses with a Phone in Hand
24
Virtual Kimono Fittings
The Matsuya Department Store Now Offers a Virtual Fitting Service
23
Open Source Beacons
Google's Eddystone is an Open BLE Beacon Format That Can Communicate Privately
22
Workshop-Inspired Boutiques
Vase De Delft’s Jewelry Shop Channels an Antique Dealer's Workroom
21
Experiential Electronic Stores
The Source's New Toronto Location Provides Many Hands-On Stations
20
Dry Shampoo Pop-Up Salons
The Batiste Stylist Pop-Up Offered Free Hairstyling at a London Mall
19
VR-Powered Hybrid Retail
The Ted Baker Shoreditch Store Has a Barbershop and VR Technology
18
Organic Community Stores
Dubai's Biorganic Health Food Shop Doubles as a Social Hub
17
Branded Pop-Up Skate Parks
Streetwear Brand Surf Liquor is Behind This Pop-Up Shop and Skate Park
16
Soothing Bedding Stores
CALMA Showcases Specialized Sleep Products with a Dimly Lit Store
15
Distillery-Inspired Skincare Shops
The Aesop Nottingham Shop Was Designed by Paris Studio Ciguë
14
Naturalized Cosmetics Outposts
The Aesop Frankfurt Boutique Was Designed by Philipp Mainzer
13
Backstage Loyalty Programs
Air Miles' Stage Pass Entices Millennials with Concerts, Events & Perks
12
Bathroom Retailer Pop-Ups
QLoo Launched a Clever Activation at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships
11
Shopping Assistant Apps
IKEA's Mobile App Now Doubles as a Helpful In-Store Assistant
10
Faceted Seafood Stores
The Nemeau Seafood Shop Mimics the Experience of Being Undersea
9
Focused Culinary Showrooms
This Cooking Oils Shop in Berlin Kreuzberg Emphasizes Quality
8
Lifestyle Accessory Stores
The Galleria of Jewelry Opens a Specialty Le Vian by Jared Shop
7
Expansive Jewelry Shops
Online Retailer BaubleBar's First Physical Location Will Be in New York
6
Cavernous Accessory Outlets
China's Gemania Incites Visitors to Explore to Uncover Hidden Gems
5
Shoplifter-Shaming Videos
Harvey Nichols Turns Clips of People Stealing from a Store into an Ad
4
Indie Shopping Plugins
Bookindy Helps Independent Bookstores Steal Business From Corporations
3
Circular Jewelry Departments
Le Bon Marche's Bridal Jewelry Section Adopts a Shop-in-Shop Format
2
Dealership Messaging Services
Go Auto Uses Text Messaging to Make Interactions Stress-Free
1
Web Retailer Murals
Amazon Asked Artists to Interpret What 'Prime Living' Means in a Mural
Related Ideas
Luxury Holiday-Themed Pop-Ups
Loro Piana Unveils its Holiday 2025 Pop-Up Store at Yorkdale
Museum-Inspired High-Fashion Stores
Erdem Opens Its Second Retail Location in London
Immersive Multi-Brand Beauty Pop-Ups
Sephora Partners with Amorepacific for 'Seoul in the City'
Personal Shopping Apps
Aritzia's New App Delivers Boutique Shopping to Your Smartphone
Automated Retail Concepts
VenHub Smart Stores Use Ai & Robotics to Redefine a Shopping Experience
Experiential Multisensory Pop-Ups
Pleasing's Immersive PleasingLand Includes a “Scent Arcade”
Seasonal Shopping Occasions
Sephora Canada Spotlights Must-Haves for the Sephora Savings Event
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
Creative Retail Competitions
Bricks & Minifigs Launches LEGO Clock Design Contest
Bakery-Themed Beauty Pop-Ups
Clarins' Sweet Spot Activation Celebrates a Decade of Lip Comfort Oil
Experiential IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Launches its First International MINISO LAND Store in Bangkok
Summer Fragrance-Inspired Pop-Ups
Maison Margiela Launched a Pop-Up Café in Amsterdam
Sensory Supermarket Pop-Ups
ALDI will Host a 'A Very ALDI Holiday' Pop-Up in NYC
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Immersive Luxury Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Louis Vuitton Spotlights La Beauté Louis Vuitton
Nutrition-Forward Treat Shop Pop-Ups
Bloom Nutrition Hosted the Very Successful Treat Shoppe
Curated Store Concepts
A New Target Soho Store Opens in New York with Design-First Looks
House Party Pop-Ups
The Boots Beauty House Party Takes Guests Through a Beauty Routine
AI-Driven Shoppable Catwalks
Topshop and THG Studios are Hosting a Next-Gen Fashion Experience
Luxury Eyewear Pop-Ups
Prada Opens an Immersive Eyewear Boutique at The Grove
Dynamic Running-Focused Retail Concepts
Nordstrom Debuts Nike Running @ the Corner
Vintage Streetwear Pop-ups
Kronenbourg 1664 Launched a Three-Day Immersive Fashion Experience
Community-Driven Shopping Experiences
A TikTok Shop Pop-Up is Coming to Westfield Stratford
Design-Forward Concept Stores
Target SoHo is Immersive, Experiential and Shoppable
Experiential fragrance
CPL Aromas Creates Interactive Scent Worlds for Emotional Engagement
Digitally Enhanced Shopping Experiences
The Ray-Ban Boutique Opened at Royalmount Shopping Complex
Immersive Soccer Hubs
adidas Unveiled its Toronto Brand Hub for the FIFA World Cup
Gamified Shade-Matching Activations
Rare Beauty and Sephora Launched the True to Myself Match Up
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Faux Food Pop-Ups
MoMA Design Store Unveils an Immersive 'MoMA Mart' Pop-Up for NYC
Immersive IP-Themed Stores
MINISO Opens Canada’s Biggest Store at West Edmonton Mall
Experiential Beauty Campaigns
Heathrow Airport Launched Immersive Beauty Experiences
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Wintry Retail Activations
ASOS will Host a Winter Wonderland Pop-Up in SoHo
Prestige Beauty Storefronts
Ulta Unveiled Its Times Square Experiential Store
Dynamic Scent-Inspired Fashion Presentations
Startup Fashion Week 2026 Concluded Its Program
Multisensory Gourmand Pop-Ups
Lush's Café Gourmand Pop-Up Immerses Visitors in Cozy Scents
Experiential K-Beauty Retail
Yepoda Opens an Immersive Flagship Store in Seoul
Romantic Retailer Basket Campaigns
The Asda Red Baskets are Arriving for Valentine's Day
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
Tea Experience Bars
HeyTea's Teabar Expands Tea into Desserts, Tastings, and Social Experiences
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Amorepacific and Sephora's Multi-Brand Launches in New York
Colorful European Retail Experiences
Marimekko Opens Its New Location in Paris
70s-Style Concept Stores
Anya Hindmarch x Boots Looks Like an Apothecary with a Playful Twist
Summer-Ready Fashion Pop-Ups
SHEIN is Hosting a Four-Day Toronto Summer Trends Pop-Up
Flagship Value Fashion
Primark expands affordable fashion with a major Manhattan flagship store
Gen Z Concept Stores
UO Insiders Insights Informed the UO x Glendale Store Experience
Sensorial Fragrance Retailer Experiences
The Perfume Shop Scent Sanctuary Leads 30-Minute Sessions
Pop-Up Beauty Cafés
The Fenty Beauty Café Offers Free Drinks and Product Discovery
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Sensory Retail Experiences
Claire’s Launches ASMR-Inspired Stores for Gen Alpha Shoppers
Clinical K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Rejuran Debuts Science-Led Skincare Through a Sephora LA Activation
Contemporary Experiential Retail Establishments
La Maison Générale is Beyond a Conventional Store
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Industrial-Inspired Brand Events
Reitmans Reimagined its Distribution Centre for a Curated Event
Tennis-Inspired Summer Pop-Up Stores
Lacoste Launches a Summer Pop-Up Store in Ibiza
Elegantly Subdued Retail Settings
Ann Demeulemeester Opened a New Boutique in Milan
High-End Pharmacy Fragrance Boutiques
Boots Fragrance Offers Over 400 Options
AI-Driven Fragrance Concept Stores
My Scent Edit Offers Digital Consultations & an AI Photo Booth
Luxury Festive Campaigns
Bloomingdale’s Unveils Its 2025 Holiday Campaign
Grocery-Inspired SPF Pop-Ups
Beauty of Joseon's Morning Moisturizer SPF Grocery is Experiential
Sci-Fi Series Shopping Experiences
Stranger Things 5 at Target Invites Fans into Hawkins
Enhanced Office Retail Experiences
Staples Canada Opens a New Retail Location in Burlington
Shoppable AR Villages
The Snapchat Winter Village Has Three Immersive Luxury Brand Boutiques
Resort-Themed Retail Pop-Ups
FLANNELS The House of Summer Experience is Arriving in London
Beauty Retail Delivery Partnerships
Ulta Beauty Has Added 1500 Stores to the Uber Eats Marketplace
Curated Newspaper Storefronts
Shreeji Unveiled 'The Village News' as an Offline Summer Ritual
Grocer-Inspired Installations
FREITAG Launches Mini Market Pop-Up at Dover Street Market Ginza
DTC Physical Retail Expansions
Povison Opens Its First Permanent Store in Los Angeles
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Luxury Design-Led Retail
ALAÏA Opens a Bangkok Boutique Featuring Collectible Design Pieces
Accessible Beauty Consultations
Walmart’s Beauty Experts Offer Personalized In-Store Guidance
Compact IKEA Retail Spaces
IKEA Launches Smaller Stores Focused on Quick Visits and Essentials
Slick Monochromatic Retail Boutiques
The Tom Ford Boutique at Yorkdale Shopping Center is Chic
Consumer-Driven Grocery Stores
The Waitrose Home of Food Lovers Concept Store is in Newbury
Month-Long Luxury Jewellery Pop-Ups
Anne Sportun Fine Jewellery Opens a Month-Long Pop-Up in June
Residential-Inspired Beauty Stores
The Tom Ford Beauty Brand Opens in the SoHo District
Hypermarket Sleepover Experiences
Carrefour's CarreNight Invites Customers to Stay the Night
Branded Retail Installations
Urban Outfitters Recently Spotlighted UGG in Its 'On Rotation' Series
Pop-Up Sports Hospitality
Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival Turns Urban Spaces into Immersive Fan Hubs
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
Throwback Grocery Campaigns
Economic Nostalgia Inspired Instacart's Summer Like It’s ‘99
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
Experiential Running Shoe Shops
House of SportsShoes Merges Digital Presence & Physical Experience
Collab Retail Formats
Bed Bath & Beyond And The Container Store Open Its First Co-Branded Location
Seoul-Specific Personalized Retail Experiences
Monclos Unveiled a Brand Experience Space in Seoul
Substantial Beauty Retailer Expansions
Ulta Beauty is Opening New Stores in Mexico with Axo's Help
Subway Station Fashion Takeovers
Reitmans Hosts its Spring 2026 Lower Bay Station Preview
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
back-to-school retail campaigns
Target rolls out its back-to-school & back-to-college campaigns
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Playful Tokyo Pop-Ups
Duomart Introduces a Themed Convenience Experience in Tokyo
Experience-Enabled Franchises
Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. Uses Square to Scale Retail Experiences
Furniture Retailer Pop-Up Shops
This IKEA Pop-Up Store Will Be at The Boulevard in Banbridge
Flagship Retail Spaces
Marc-Antoine Barrois Opens Its SoHo Flagship Store
Heritage-Inspired Home Retail Stores
The Laura Ashley Brand Opens a Flagship Outlet in the UK
Elemental Retail Spaces
Goldwin Creates a Multi-Sensory Retail Environment in New York City
Supermarket Temporary Tattoos
Aldi's Specialbuy Temporary Tattoos Take After Favorite Items
Wellness Shop-in-Shops
Wellness by Ulta Beauty Shares Immersive, Informative Experiences
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Awareness-Raising Shoe Store Concepts
Soles4Souls Canada Highlights What's Important This Season
Immersive Tech Retail Experiences
The Latest Xiaomi Store in London Showcases Tech and Lifestyle
Compact In-Retail Designs
IKEA Shop-In-Shop Adds Home Planning with Tech in a Compact Space
Experiential Baby Gear Showrooms
Babylist is Opening Another Experiential Showroom in NYC
Luxury Retail Ecosystems
Exemplar Luxury Group Unites Three Luxury Retail Banners
Sustainable Retail Interiors
Sheep Inc London Store Uses Sculptural Displays & Graphic Art
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Boutique Grocery Designs
The Meadow Lane Store Introduces a Refined Retail Concept in Tribeca
Expanded Wellness Retail Assortments
Target Added 30% More Wellness Products to Its Shelves
Retail Design Landmarks
D14.2 Concept Store in Oslo Rethinks the Shopping Experience
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Experiential Sock Pop-Ups
O2's Not a Sock Shop Shared Designs Reflecting Priority Experiences
Measured Retail Expansions
Vessi Launches its Bellevue Store and In-Store Splash Experience
Spatial Commerce Platforms
Curie Shop Brings Interactive Product Exploration To Sneaker Shopping
South Korean Monotone Shop-In-Shops
juun.j Debuted a Shop-In-Shop at The Hyundai Seoul
Women-Focused Curated Pop-Up Experiences
tm:rw Introduces the Bloom Pop-Up Concept Until April 15
Gallery-Like Retail Floors
Tutto Bene Redesigns Globus Basel Fashion and Private Shopping Floors
Executive Innovation Insight Services
Retail Innovation Council And dunnhumby Launch 'RIX'
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Nostalgia-Powered Retail
Zellers Revives a Canadian Favorite With New Ontario Stores
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Hybrid Beauty Discovery
Ulta Beauty Finds Gen Alpha Blends AI Tools with In-Store Shopping
Luxury Linens Retails Flagships
Frette Opens Its First North American Flagship in Toronto
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Festival-Inspired Resale Marketplaces
The Reloved Market Pop-Up Shares In-Demand Seasonal Styles
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Elevated Casual Fashion
RetailMeNot Spotlights Capri Pants as a Versatile Summer Staple
Digital-First Furniture Stores
Article Debuted Its Direct-To-Consumer Furniture Stores in the U.S.
Experience-Focused Retail Carts
Target Redesigned Shopping Carts for Comfort and Convenience
Dedicated Outlet Shopping Initiatives
Simon Premium Outlets is Hosting a Four-Day Shopping Event
Boutique Grocery Makeovers
This Women’s Clothing Boutique is Charming and Thoughtful Design
Island Concept Pop-Ups
The 10am Apotheke Pop-Up Reimagines Island Retail and Hospitality
Australian Designer Pop-Ups
WeWearAustralian Opens its WeWearAustralian Soho Store
Store-In-Store Fandom Retail
DICK'S and Lids Create Dedicated Fan Destinations Across U.S. Stores