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
Temporary Luxury Brand Installations
Burberry's Landscape Series Produces Site-Specific Art
Idyllic Pet Pop-Ups
Uber Eats and PetSmart Created "The Best Pet House Ever"
Doll-Themed Fashion Collections
Bloomingdale’s Celebrates the Barbie Movie with New Capsule
Branded Interactive Parks
Birkenstock's Birkenfields Invited New Yorkers to Slow Down
Next-Gen Sneaker Stores
Foot Locker's Store of the Future Concept is Bolder and Easier to Shop
Water-Scarce Product Concepts
The Drop Store Envisions Products from a World with Less Water
Grocery Store Runway Shows
Lidl Created a Runway Show Inspired by London Fashion Week
Interactive Arcade Storefronts
JD & Snap London Created an AR Storefront for Christmas
Beautifying Beach Club Pop-Ups
NYX Professional Makeup's Covent Garden Pop-Up is Barbie Pink
Multi-Sensory Footwear Pop-Ups
The UGG Feel House is a Comfort-Focused Community Space
Contemporary Engaging Stores
New Balance Opens Unique Retail Concept Store on in Boston
Maternity Clothing Pop-Ups
Bumpsuit Created a Pop-Up Pod for Its First Physical Retail Presence
Retail Exhibition Experiences
TAG Heuer Unveils a Set of Exhibition Windows and Pop-Up at Harrods
Poolside-Inspired Swimwear Pop-Ups
Willo Perron Creates the SKIMS Pop-Up Space in London
Community-Driven Retail Stores
Stone Island's Munich Store Emphasizes the Importance of Community
Virtual Beauty Storefronts
The Clinique Lab is a Next-Gen Digital Retail Concept
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Personalized Embroidery Pop-Ups
Battersea Power Station's Botanical Atelier Enhances Spring Style
AI-Powered Shopping Apps
Shoptrue Curates Personalized Fashion Picks with Artificial Intelligence
In-Store Beauty Sampling Kiosks
Ulta Beauty and SOS are Partnering to Promote Product Discovery
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Online Merchandise Storefronts
The Panera Shop Gives Access to Bread-themed Apparel & Carb-Couture
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Consumption-Inspired Fashion Capsules
LOUTRE snd Dover Street Market Work on a New Capsule
Immersive Banking Experiences
The CIBC Experience Centre Helps You Visualize Your Financial Future
Multi-Brand Virtual Malls
Bloomingdale’s Virtual Experience Spotlights Beloved Brands
In-Store Perfume Refill Stations
The Perfume Shop and L’Oréal Debuted a Multi-Brand Refill Setup
Premium Athleticwear Pop-Ups
Reigning Champ Announces Pop-Up in Toronto’s Yorkdale Centre
In-Airport Toy Retailers
Toys R Us is Expanding its Retail Presence with Up to 24 Airport Stores
Circular Shopping Experiences
The Stock Market by Selfridges is a Sustainable Shopping Experience
Experiential Mental Well-Being Events
Batiste's Refresh & Reflect Events Connect & Uplift Students
AR Retailer Haircare Experiences
Walmart Beauty Virtual Try-On Now Includes Hair Color Products
GenAI Virtual Shoppers
Cindy by Imaginuity Boots Online and In-Store Foot Traffic
AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts
This Checkout Solution Helps Prevent Theft and Scanning Errors
Content-Inspired Physical Retail Experience
Netflix House Creates a Space for Fans to Buy Merch
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Small-Format Department Stores
Macy’s Unveils Plan to Open Up to 30 Small-format Stores
Playful Retail Pop-Up Installations
Selfridges Unveils the Joke Shop with a Slapstick Generator
Augmented Reality Stores
Zero10 is Debuting Its AR Store Prototype at Viva Technology in Paris
Luxury Department Store Takeovers
Burberry and Harrods Offer an Immersive Shopping Experience
Sustainable Fashion Stores
Cos Unveils Two Stores in Stockholm and Mexico City
E-Commerce Beauty Packaging
Aptar Beauty + Home's Redesigned Packaging is "E-Commerce Capable"
Inspiring Multi-Shop Pop-Ups
Pinterest's Possibility Place Immerses Guests in Inspiration
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Age-Friendly Retail Initiatives
Lowe's Introduces a Baby Boomer-Focused 'Livable Home' Initiative
Flagship Store Window Designs
6a Architects Highlights Sex Shop Windows in New Storefront Design
Iconic Toy Retailer Expansions
Toys"R"Us Canada Amplifies Retail Presence Ahead of Holiday Season
AI-Powered Retail Tools
Walmart is Introducing a New Series of AI Tools for Customer Experience
E-retailer Fashion Pop-ups
The SHEIN Pop-up Shop Experience Opens March 23 at the Eaton Centre
Y2K Shopping Pop-Ups
Klarna's House of Y2K Explores the Evolution of Shopping Since the 2000s
Attention-Grabbing Retail Displays
Auo's Smart Shelf Displays Enhance the Customer Experience
Renovated Accessories Flagship Stores
The Boyy Flagship Store Gets Another Refurbishment
Virtual Body Care Stores
Tatcha Debuted a Virtual Store Powered by Emperia
Advanced Adaptive Retail Experiences
Walmart Unveiled New Retail Technologies at CES 2024
Mixed-Reality Shopping Apps
StockX Launched an Immersive Way to Shop with the Apple Vision Pro
Lunar Boutique Pop-Ups
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Bayview Village's Lunar Luxe Boutique Pop-Up
Beauty School Pop-Ups
Pinterest is Launching an In-Person Beauty School in London
Riviera-Inspired Retail Experiences
Balmain Beach Club Brings France to Neiman Marcus Customers
Autumn eCommerce Fashion Pop-Ups
This SHEIN Pop-Up Will Celebrate the Arrival of Fall Fashions
Immersive Flagship Tech Stores
Bang & Olufsen Inaugurates Its Flagship Store on New Bond Street
Luxury Airport Retail Expansions
Schiphol Airport's Lounge 2 Will Feature More Luxury Brands
Tech-Driven In-Store Events
Dyson Launches an Interactive Event at Harrods Department Store
UK Summer-Ready Sporty Fashion
Unknown London Launches a New Capsule Designed for Summer
Beauty Brand Accelerator Programs
Walmart Start™ Returns to Discover Next Gen Beauty Brands
Community Commerce Pop-Ups
TikTok Shop UK Opened a Pop-Up on London's Oxford Street
Metaverse Shopping Malls
Avatly Offers a New Hybrid Shopping Experience for Avatars
Automated Retail Stores
Muffato Launches Brazil’s First Automated Store Without Physical Checkouts
Retailer-Backed Beauty Categories
Moda Operandi Launches a Curated Beauty Category
Leisure Activity Grocery Stores
The FreshTake Concept Grocery Store Blends Experiences
French Modernism Luxe Retailers
The New Celine Store is Located on Paris' Rue Saint-Honoré
Phygital Fashion Retail Experiences
Macy's mstylelab Digital Shopping Platform is Immersive
AR Fragrance Campaigns
Lacoste's Two-Day Experiential Pop-Up Targets Gen Z Shoppers
Japan-Expansive Physical Fashion Stores
Studio Nicholson Gets a New Store in Tokyo
Live Commerce Holiday Windows
TalkShopLive's WindowShopping Merges Physical & Digital Experiences
Physical Luxe Perfumerie Pop-Ups
CELINE Opens a New Haute Parfumerie Pop-Up in London's Harrods
Housewares Retailer Design Apps
The Wayfair Decorify App Digitally Transforms Spaces for Shopping
Custom Men's Footwear Services
Robert August Fuses 21st Century Technology with Craftsmanship
Shoppable Virtual Beach Houses
The J.Crew Virtual Beach House Shares Interactive Content & Games
Experiential Shopping Platforms
sune Shares a Fun and Engaging Way for Gen Z to Shop
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Wellness-Focused Retailer Ranges
Target is Welcoming More Than 1,000 Wellness Products
Italy-Inspired Luxe Fashion Stores
The Latest Bottega Veneta Store Opens on Sloane Street
Loneliness-Combatting Grocery Shopping Experiences
Oma's Soep Debuted a Shopping Basket Initiative
Self-Care Barber Pop-Ups
Glenmorangie's Barber Shop Pop-Up Supports Self-Care Experiences
Immersive Mint Pop-Ups
The Tic Tac Experience Shares a New Strawberry & Cream Flavor
Elderly Customer-Reserved Retail Zones
JD Announced Exclusive Service Zones for Elderly Customers
Adventure Travel Pop-Up Stores
Craghoppers Has Unveiled a Boutique Store in Kildare Village
Premium Fabric Fall Streetwear
Garbstore Presents its Latest Collection for the FW22 Season
Refreshing Festival Activations
The Mitchum Fresh Factory Shares Experiential Sampling
Digital Delivery Service Storefronts
Instacart Storefront Lets Retailers Customize the Interface
AI-Generated Shopping Campaigns
Sandton City's Latest Campaign Integrates Smart Technology
AR Secondhand Shops
American Eagle Outfitters' RE/AE Shop Spotlights Sustainable Goods
Immersive Furniture Company Exhibitions
IKEA Unveils the Future Together Exhibition at MDW
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
Beauty-Focused Shopping Apps
The 'Trendio' Live Shopping App Offers Access to Beauty Content
Virtual Skincare Experiences
Skincare Brand Laniege Launches its First Virtual Store with Obsess
Shoppable Luxury Fashion Films
Louis Vuitton Delivers Resort 2024 with an Interactive Experience
Anniversary-Celebrating Pop-Up Stores
Random Studio Creates the Bodyscape Installation
Low-Waste Shopping Solutions
ASDA, Avery Berkel & Hanshow are Enhancing Sustainability in the UK
Purposeful Gifting Pop-Ups
The Body Shop's Advent of Change Pop-Up Shares Gifts That Give Back
Low-Noise Grocery Shopping Experiences
Aldi is Trialling Sensory-Friendly Shopping Hours in the UK
Spring-Ready Fashion Editorials
The Garbstore Presents its New Campaign for the SS23 Season
Bag-Inspired Large-Scale Installations
IKEA's Iconic FRAKTA Bag Takes the Spotlight in Chicago
Whimsical Virtual Beauty Shops
The Laneige Virtual World is an Experiential Beauty Shop
Unashamedly Romantic Pop-Ups
Laura Ashley's Workshops Use Deadstock Fabric to Create New Totes
Exclusive Pop-Up Events
Brunette the Label Partners with Holt Renfrew for Exclusive Pop-Up Event
Virtual Beauty-Focused Stores
Laura Mercier Debuts the Virtual ‘World of Beauty’ Store
Active Lifestyle Retailer Ranges
The Sports Edit on M&S Now Features Reebok and Puma
Fabric-Inspired Retail Spaces
Aruliden Designs a Store for Jonathan Simkhai in New York City
Apothecary-Style Supplement Stores
The New GNC Flagship Boasts a Warm, Open, Inviting Atmosphere
Newly Renovated Fashion Stores
NEIGHBORHOOD Recently Re-Opened Its Shibuya Flagship Store
Self-Guided Cannabis Retail Experiences
BLAZE ECOM Revolutionizes In-Store Cannabis Retail
Ecommerce Returns Programs
Loop Launches an App to Help Shopify Merchants Optimize Returns
London-Based Startup Retailers
The Nothing Store is Opening a Location in Soho, London
Updated Tech-Brand Store Locations
The New Apple Store is at Battersea Power Station
Digital Retailer Strategy Updates
This Walmart eCommerce Update Refreshes the Website and App
Gridded Immersive Retail Experiences
Studio Lotus Designs the New Ekaya Banaras Retail
Beach-Ready Opulent Pop-Ups
Harrods Opens a CELINE Plein Soleil Pop-Up Store in London
Modern Denim Pop-Up Shops
Urban Outfitters Launches a BDG Pop-Up with the Denim Swap Shop
Personalized Grocery Billboard Campaigns
Tesco Ireland Gets a New Live-Prompt Campaign
Automotive Parking Lot Pop-Ups
Mercedes-Benz Turned Parking Lot Spaces into a Mini Showroom
Deadstock Concept Stores
size? Launches its Debut Concept Store at Liverpool ONE Shopping Center
Luxurious Retail Boutiques
Salvatore Ferragamo Inaugurates Its Newly Redesigned Boutique
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
AI-Powered Search Features
Shop Premium Outlets Enhances its Online Shopping with AI-Powered Tools
Pastel Palette Retail Stores
Aro Archive Opens Up a New Store Location in Shoreditch
Chic Summer-Ready Apparel
Zalando Launches a New 40-Piece Capsule Collection with Paco Rabanne
Virtual Convenience Store Concepts
Aldi Launches a Virtual Convenience Store Called Aldi Express
AR-Powered Shopping Apps
Walmart Releases a New Augmented Reality Feature for its iOS Application
Home Decor Apps
Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen Launch Mobile Apps for E-Commerce Sales
Retailer-Backed Holiday Experiences
J. Crew Launches a New AI-Powered Holiday Experience
Minimally Designed Store Openings
London Opens its Door at the New Self-Portrait Store in Chelsea
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Summer-Ready Boutique Shops
Urban Outfitters Unveils a New Dress Boutique Pop Up Opening in April
Hotel-Led Vintage Markets
The MOB Hôtel Hosted a Vintage Market, an Eco Conference and Workshops
Inclusive Try-On Programs
Perfect Corp. Connects Beauty Brands with Digital Beauty Innovation
Festive Value-Minded Retail Campaigns
The Spar BIG Deal of Christmas Campaign Launches This Month
Enhanced Shopping Results
Google Updates its Search Engine to Better Aid Holiday Shopping
Locally Focused Footwear Stores
The Athlete's Foot Opened a Neighborhood Concept Store in Atlanta
Retailer-Rewarding Brand Promotions
This PepsiCo Retailer Competition is Running in the UK