Good Stores Guide - 2016

2016
Good Stores Guide
Global retail best practice explored
Inside:
12 Months,
15 Cities, 24 Stores.
1 Essential Guide
www.visualthinking.co.uk

Visual Thinking is dedicated to
inspiring retail performance. It
was an early pioneer of brand
delivery and has spent more
than 20 years defining and
transforming retailers’ most
important and enduring assets—
their instore experiences, and the
retail teams who deliver them.
Cover Design:
Tom Doores, DSGNLAB, GB

2016
Good Stores Guide
Visual Thinking
#goodstoresguide
Credits
Design
Dom Rugman
Paul Harris
Illustration
Tom Doores
Editorial
Adam Womersley
Marc Baker
Contributors
Karl McKeever
Louise McJannet
Suzanne Tanner
Raw Materials, Amsterdam
Grupo Trinitate, Mexico
Designed by
DSGNLAB
9 Davy Court
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV23 0UZ
www.dsgnlab.com
Be inspired, respect copyrights!
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopy or any storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from Visual Thinking.
www.visualthinking.co.uk
Made in the UK
Published by Visual Thinking
© Visual Thinking 2016

Contents
Intro 05
Featured Stores of 2016 06
Amsterdam
Raw Materials 06
Chicago
Restoration Hardware 09
Dubai
GO Sport 12
Hong Kong
Facesss 14
Leeds
John Lewis 16
Mexico City
Trinitate 19
New York City
Barney’s 21
New York City
L’Occitane 24
4
Reykjavik
Geysir 26
Stockholm
Daniel Wellington 29
Tokyo
Hunter 31
Washington D.C
The Frye Company 33
Other Top Shops 35
Amsterdam, Denham 35
Chicago, Eataly 35
Cologne, Funktion Schnitt 35
Hong Kong, City Super 35
London, Dyson 35
Mexico City, Soriana 35
New York City, Room & Board 36
Paris, Herschel 36
Reykjavik, 66° North 36
San Francisco, Heath Ceramics 36
Stockholm, Bookbinders Design 36
Washington D.C, Shinola 36

Intro
Why do we love inspiring stores? Perhaps it’s that
incomparable new concept, or a store team’s irrepressible
passion for the brand and the products they sell. Or the fact
that discovering a new store or reacquainting yourself with a
forgotten ‘friend’ will often challenge you to re-evaluate your
thinking, even amongst those who believe they’ve seen it all.
Inside our 2016 Good Stores Guide, we
offer you a “local” experience, profiling
retailers and stores that our global
network of retail experts have been lucky
enough to see as they dart from city to
city, transforming instore performance.
In many ways they are a disparate
collection of stores, unified not by
geography or sector, but by their
determination to deliver eye-catching
retail design, attentive customer
service, and outstanding VM.
5
Choosing a mere 12 of our favourites
in 2016 proved just too difficult, so
for our 2016 Good Stores Guide we
have also included a directory of other
notable top shops that are worth
taking a few minutes to check out.
Amsterdam to Reykjavik, San Francisco
to Tokyo, Washington to Mexico City,
you’ll find some fascinating retail locations
and stores. From local brands in lesserexplored
neighbourhoods, to truly
global retailers who are transcending
geographic and cultural boundaries.
As it should be, it is simply our latest
instalment, in what will always be a
continuous pursuit of retail performance
improvement. Let’s explore

6
Amsterdam
Raw Materials
Exposed brick, unfinished woods and faded paint
sounds more warehouse dereliction than homestore
charm, yet Amsterdam’s Raw Materials manages to
make such a setting collectively comfortable, relaxing
and a truly beautiful retail experience.
Origin:
Netherlands
Founded:
2008
Stores:
1
Sector:
Home
Find it
Raw Materials
Rozengracht 229-233
1016 NA Amsterdam
rawmaterials.nl
Latitude: 52.372240
Longitiude: 4.876765

Amsterdam
Raw Materials

All the items we sell have
their own story, and we love
to tell them.
— Erik and Niels Beemsterboer
Owners, Raw Materials
View Image Gallery
8
It’s important to note that Raw Materials
is not another yellow and blue, flatpack
copy cat. In actual fact, it couldn’t
be further from it. Each and every
product is unique, designed and crafted
from old desks, chairs, doors and
a range of other materials gathered
from around the world. Here, the
story is one of rebirth and passionate
craftsmanship, and it shows.
Raw Materials uses one-of-a-kind
pieces taken from abandoned factories
and old marooned ships, restores
them, redesigns them – giving them
a renewed sense of purpose. There’s
a charm to the process that it is
almost impossible not to admire.
The store itself embodies its unique
offering through natural, rough cut
materials as fixtures and displays.
Old factory lighting and bare brick
walls help tell the product story -
and that’s the rub. Each and every
product is more than a source of
revenue but also a once fine piece of
craftsmanship that has been reborn.
Product presentation instore is
suggestive, but it doesn’t give too much
away, instead choosing to inspire every
shopper’s own creativity. Each area
of the store is presented in attractive,
curated zones with fur rugs and warmer
lighting to accompany the wooden,
hand crafted products suitable for
the comfortable lounge, and brighter
white lights beside bare brick walls
to create an environment suitable for
worn metal chairs and furniture.
Raw Materials is the pinnacle of
product and environment, working
together to tell a story and create an
instore experience that, much like the
products themselves, is one of a kind
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.

Chicago
Restoration Hardware
A change of scenery is sometimes needed
to rediscover just how much we love home. For US
retailer Restoration Hardware, its stunning new store
has not only reinvigorated the building it calls home,
but is also redefining how we interact with physical
retail spaces.
Origin:
California
Founded:
1979
Stores:
28
Sector:
Home
Find it
Restoration Hardware
1300 N Dearborn Pkwy,
Chicago, IL 60610, USA
restorationhardware.com
Latitude: 41.905996
Longitiude: 87.630058
9

Chicago
Restoration Hardware

Located in the historic and now
beautifully restored Three Arts Club,
Restoration Hardware’s Chicago store
does not anchor a mall, but an entire
neighbourhood. Originally developed
as a place for young women to study
the performing and visual arts, it lay
derelict for over 20 years. The stated
aim of RH is to blur the lines between
retail, hospitality and home. The
result of this particular restoration
goes one step further, creating a
truly captivating crossover store.
You can describe RH Chicago, but really
have to see it. In almost every respect,
it is not a retail space: this is not about
the product. Instead, it’s about a social
and sensory experience. Everything you
can see, you can buy. Everywhere you
can sit, you can eat. The result genuinely
makes you pause – to imagine new
things, to think about the way you want
to live, the way you eat, as well as to
consider the way you want to interact
– socially, and with a retail space.
Make no mistake: you will not stumble
upon this place while out shopping.
There is no passing footfall. This is
true destination retail – delivered in
the finest, and most intriguing way
possible. Its success is proof, if needed,
that shoppers will travel for a great
experience. Above all, RH Chicago
demonstrates that to succeed in modern
retail, sometimes you have to be brave
Our Rating:
Service
Design
Experience
Innovation
Category
C
H
I
Read our Explorer: series here.
11
View Image Gallery

12
Dubai
GO Sport
This isn’t just a store for casual browsers
looking for sportswear; it’s a true retail experience for
the enthusiast, the fanatic and the professional.
Origin:
France
Founded:
1979
Stores:
181
Sector:
Sport
Find it
GO Sport
Level 2, Fashion Catwalk Atrium,
The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai
go-sport.com
Latitude: 25.204849
Longitiude: 55.270783

Without a doubt Dubai’s GO Sport
store is the pinnacle of the brand.
The store is huge – a warehouse of
sporting treats. Vibrant, innovative
and packed full of energy, it embodies
casual and extreme sports alike with
an immersive instore atmosphere that
makes shoppers both comfortable and
engaged, with wide selections of product,
interactive experiences and a wealth of
knowledge from store professionals.
From the cycling enthusiast to the runner,
climber, hiker or footballer, product range
is impossible to fault. But it’s not just its
range that makes this store so valuable;
it’s the execution of store display that
helps everything work together effectively.
The store is organised into wellexecuted
zones for various products
where shoppers can choose to ‘Go
Casual’ or ‘Go Run’. Throughout, neon
lights line strong angular displays that
simulate a high energy that is reinforced
by the dark colours and mannequins
fixed into kinetic ‘action shot’ poses.
By far the most impressive areas are
where innovative features have been
integrated seamlessly into the store
experience. An indoor climbing wall
and digital touchscreen displays bring
the action packed sport store to life.
Dubai’s GO Sport offers the very best
of this sportswear brand. Product
is dense with plenty of choice, but
not cluttered. The atmosphere is
powerful, energetic and active, but
not unapproachable. It all makes for a
beautifully executed instore space and
an exciting retail brand experience
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.
13
View Image Gallery

Hong Kong
Facesss
Part market, part shop and part spa, Facesss
differs from the conventional approach to stores in
this sector, opting for a fast paced, energetic retail
experience that works, beautifully.
Origin:
China
Founded:
2003
Stores:
2
Sector:
Beauty
Find it
Latitude: 22.297083
Longitiude: 114.167384
Facesss
Shop 202, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
labconcepthk.com/en/brand/623/FACESSS
14

15
View Image Gallery
To call Facesss a store is somewhat
misleading. It is in fact an innovative
beauty marketplace featuring an
impressive collection of brands that
operate as micro retail spaces. In
some respects, Facesss feels like a
duty-free store with a mass of brand
choice, but the buzz and excitement
makes for an atmosphere more
reminiscent of a fresh food market.
The store is a single floor space
arranged in a series of grid like islands
and counters, enabling shoppers to
discover the very best in skin, body, hair
and fragrance. Brands are organised
together in positive relationships from
a complimentary perspective. Though
the space is compact, condensed and,
in many respects, highly pressurised,
it is not done in a way that feels off
putting. The sense of frenzy adds to
the experience and creates an exciting,
electric ambience – all rather fitting
for the populous city of Hong Kong.
Despite the welcome chaos, each and
every brand ‘stall’ is merchandised and
maintained to an exceptionally high
standard. This is a retail experience
that truly offers the best of the best.
By cross-fertilising the concept with
inspiration that has been taken from other
retail sectors such as supermarkets,
fresh markets, and spas, Facesss
has created its own distinctive and
highly differentiated concept that
is perfectly suited to the needs of
shoppers in the city. It’s a ‘store’ that
sees thousands of locals and tourists
visit each day, satisfying their desire for
western brands. It’s a place of choice,
freedom, playful chaos and a large
helping of admirable innovation
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.

16
Leeds
John Lewis
Its choice as the anchor store for Leeds’
new £165m shopping development was perhaps
unsurprising, but the delights instore ensure it has
made a grand entrance.
Origin:
England
Founded:
1864
Stores:
48
Sector:
Department
Find it
Latitude: 53.798366
Longitiude: -1.538290
John Lewis
Victoria Leeds, Victoria Gate,
Harewood St, Leeds LS2 7AR
johnlewis.com

Leeds
John Lewis

View Image Gallery
18
Head of Creative for John Lewis,
Stephen Dempsey was recently
recognised at the 2016 VM & Display
Awards as the most creative person in
retail and the latest John Lewis store in
Victoria Gate has been his playground
to truly exercise his creativity.
The new Victoria Gate retail
development is a feast for lovers of
bold architecture – breaking the mould
of plain minimalistic design, with a
space that is rich in architectural detail.
Having already played a major role
in refining the traditional department
store in recent years, here John Lewis
has capitalised on Victoria Gate’s
overarching design ethos, with creative
details that make a lasting impression.
Though it remains a traditional John
Lewis store that we all know and love,
it manages to be truly inspiring across
its five floors. Bold knights in ‘carpet
armour’ guard the entrance to the
flooring department and hundreds of
wooden kitchen utensils hang from the
ceiling to act as unique and imaginative
departmental signposting. Creative twists
occupy every corner and new elegant
additions add a real zest to the store,
making it nothing less than moreish.
The famous British retailer has always
been a pioneer within retail and
this store is the perfect example of
how the forward-looking brand is
looking to develop the experience
and engagement in stores. Without
a doubt this is John Lewis. But it is
a step beyond – a wonderful display
of art and creativity that makes for
a truly inspirational experience
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.

Mexico City
Trinitate
A staple brand for independent retailers comes
in the form of an unassuming handmade pottery
shop nestled within the side streets of Mexico City.
Origin:
Mexico
Founded:
1992
Stores:
8
Sector:
Home
Find it
Trinitate
General Lazcano 89 esq. Altavista,
Col. San Angel Inn. México, D.F.
trinitateleon.com
Latitude: 19.427912
Longitiude: -99.195379
19

There is a lot to be learnt from
independent retailer Trinitate. Where
many retailers focus on the largescale
mass produced product, here,
it is all about the craft. The store
itself sits within a residential area. But
instead of feeling disconnected and
abandoned from dedicated shopping
areas in the city, this little store
welcomes locals and tourists alike into
a warm and homely environment.
A haven of all things ceramic, it is the
place to find beautifully crafted pots, tiles
and ceramics for the home, handmade
by Mexican artisans. But it’s not just the
product that makes Trinitate sparkle.
Product presentation, design and visual
merchandising are second to none.
Clearly, there is a genuine understanding
of how to present goods with real
authority and create strong product
statements. It is a hub of detailed VM
principles – all done in a small scale,
but with an extremely high impact.
It is little wonder that this family-run
business is growing across the nation.
It now has eight stores and if they
all manage to maintain this level of
exceptional instore display consistently, it
is a business projected for further growth.
This store has the confidence of a big
national chain that arguably, already does
it all better. What Trinitate teaches us is
that the big blockbuster businesses and
corporations are not always the ones to
watch. In truth, many independent stores
present something much more valuable
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.
20
Impeccable service, expert knowledge
of our custom products – detail is
important to us.
— Alejandra Becerra
Trinitate
View Image Gallery

21
New York City
Barney’s
Confident and bold, the retailer’s new store
is a purist statement of style, designed to appeal to
a whole new generation of exclusive, ultra wealthy
shoppers.
Origin:
USA
Founded:
1923
Stores:
27
Sector:
Department
Find it
Barney’s
101 7th Avenue
New York, NY
barneys.com
Latitude: 40.739949
Longitiude: -73.998283

New York City
Barney’s

Barney’s incredible new store opened in
the spring, taking a space adjacent to its
former location in Chelsea, Manhattan.
This is a store where architecture and
interior design are indisputably highconcept,
verging on art. Designed
entirely in ‘invisible colours and finishes’
comprised of stark white, polished steel,
chrome mirrors, pure LED lighting and
lightly veined Carrara marble, nothing
shouts quality, premium retailing louder.
Here though, Barney’s shoppers are the
stars of the show and its stunning spiral
staircase is the store’s red carpet. It is
the place where the Hollywood ‘A-listers’
will want to be seen. Running through the
centre of the building, it is a distinctive
focal feature that has premium poise,
elegance and grace. This is not just a
staircase: this is a Barney’s staircase.
Clearly, this Barney’s store is all about
design, presentation and beauty, and
a place where premium products are
placed firmly into the spotlight as the
hero. Clean and unfussy, there is an air
of exclusivity and a high quality that,
in many ways, marks a ‘turning point’,
or rather a departure in look and feel
for the brand. It is an evolution of the
brands recently refurbished beauty
hall, but takes it to a whole new, higher
level – the brand visibly choosing to turn
its back on its previously ‘decorative’
interior design and VM past, with a
new brand signature that is overtly
minimalistic, purist, chic and expensive
Our Rating:
Service
Design
Experience
Innovation
Category
Read our Explorer: series here.
23
View Image Gallery

New York City
L’Occitane
A conscious understanding of relaxation,
pleasure and customer participation in all things
cosmetic, L’Occitane cultivates a sense of natural
beauty within an original retail concept.
Origin:
USA
Founded:
1967
Stores:
753
Sector:
Beauty
Find it
L’Occitane
170 5th Ave, New York,
NY 10011, USA
usa.loccitane.com
Latitude: 40.740950
Longitiude: -73.990549
24

25
View Image Gallery
L’Occitane marked its 40th birthday
earlier this year. So it seems fitting for the
brand to celebrate the end of 2016 with
the opening of a newly developed retail
concept on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
The front of the store utilises a creative
design that is purposefully reminiscent
of a Provence Market. It’s enticing and,
if temptation gets the better of you,
equally rewarding once instore too.
Inside, the retail environment feels
soft, informally unstructured but not
unorganised or cluttered. The store
tells a story, one that describes the
natural beauty of the outdoors within
a calm and tranquil retail space
– no mean feat in Manhattan.
Deeper instore the ambience transitions
into an area that is notably more elegant
and boutique. LED lighting directs
attention to various store features and
stunning imagery portrays a ‘narrative’
for selected product ranges.
The highlight for visiting shoppers
is its beauty lounge, situated at the
back of the store. It’s a key feature,
pulling shoppers through the store
for a casual consultation from beauty
professionals. It’s a place for consultants
and shoppers to test various products
whilst being seated in conversation.
The space is fully prepared with
towels, tissues, eye buds and a large
central washing station, all maintained
to an extremely high standard.
Without questions, this store’s success
is down to its ability to blend the
concept of beauty store and spa into
a space that feels safe, relaxing and
trustworthy, providing L’Occitane’s
latest store concept with a truly
defining USP and brand experience
Our Rating:
Service
Design
Experience
Innovation
Category
Read our Explorer: series here.

26
Reykjavik
Geysir
The pinnacle of quality lifestyle clothing,
accessories and footwear in the heart of Iceland,
Geysir reflects the mysticism of the country and its
landscape within an addictively experiential multibrand
space.
Origin:
Iceland
Founded:
2010
Stores:
3
Sector:
Fashion
Find it
Geysir
Skólavörðustígur 16,
101 Reykjavík, Iceland
geysir.com
Latitude: 64.144842
Longitiude: -21.931297

Reykjavik
Geysir

View Image Gallery
28
It is not easy to stand out from the crowd
in the fashion market, especially for a
relatively small brand nestled within
only a few locations in Iceland. Despite
this, Geysir makes a lasting impression,
selling own-brand apparel made from
fresh woven cloth and knitwear alongside
more reputable ‘quality’ brands such
as Levi’s, Ben Sherman and Hunter.
In this respect the store is similar to J
Crew, using other brands to ‘top up’
and give credibility to its own ranges.
But here, products are specially made
with wool from local Icelandic sheep
and it is this that takes it beyond a
brand with ‘uniqueness’ to one that is
also trustworthy, familiar and honest.
Instore design and presentation is
complimentary to the proposition.
Yes, it feels new and modern but it
simultaneously creates a space that
is somewhat cosy, folksy and warm.
Natural materials are a clear inspiration
for the brand and it adds a certain
rustic feel that is evident throughout
the store. Wooden floors, tapestry rugs
and intentionally mismatched furniture
all add for a realistic aged patina and
pre-loved, vintage charm. Even the
soft lighting is deep and moody.
This is a store that understands
what other brands often forget –
the importance of how you make
shoppers feel. Geysir balances product
with the store experience for a truly
inspirational store that throws you into
a curious, mysterious world steeped
in adventurous folklore charm
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.

Stockholm
Daniel Wellington
Sleek quality brand, inspirational origin story,
and a pop-up store to match. Daniel Wellington
began with the everyday before projecting into the
exceptional, providing Stockholm with an exciting and
‘timeless’ shopping experience.
Origin:
Sweden
Founded:
2011
Stores:
5
Sector:
Accessories
Find it
Latitude: 59.334666
Longitiude: 18.069386
Daniel Wellington
MOOD Stockholm, Regeringsgatan 48,
111 44 Stockholm, Sweden
danielwellington.com
29

Located in the infamous MOOD
Shopping Mall in Stockholm, this popup
watch shop first opened in July
2016 and will, sadly for local shoppers,
only stay open until early 2017. The
retail concept is a new venture for the
Daniel Wellington brand and although
the store sits alongside other likeminded
brands it retains some aspect
of individualism that allows for it to
expertly balance the line of exclusive
premium and everyday mainstream.
Bold and masculine, it flaunts a colour
palette of stone grey and deep blues.
Although it is a smart environment, it
still feels accessible – a cornerstone of
the brand’s proposition. Instore, product
is quality enough for gifting but not too
expensive for the casual shoppers to shy
away from a special personal purchase.
In truth, Daniel Wellington is sold on
somewhat of a lie, or higher expectation.
It’s a brand that has sparked from
almost nothing and whilst it purports
to a traditionalism and history, it is a
pastiche of the big historical watch
brands. But that is far from an insult to
the brand. In fact, it is an inspiration and
one that many brands young and old
should take note of. Daniel Wellington
treads a fine path, perhaps one that in
itself is unique, between the formally
clear barriers of luxury and mainstream.
It’s posh without being precious, formal
without being standoffish – a truly,
although temporary, inspirational store
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.
30
Posh without being precious –
a truly, although temporary,
inspirational store.
— Karl McKeever
Visual Thinking
View Image Gallery

31
Tokyo
Hunter
A traditional British brand that today has
become a modern fashion essential, Hunter has
packed up its vibrant retail concept and headed
to Japan, bringing adventure and excitement from
London’s Regent Street to the heart of Tokyo.
Origin:
Scotland
Founded:
1856
Stores:
2
Sector:
Outdoor
Find it
Latitude: 35.692913
Longitiude: 139.709008
Hunter
Tokyu Plaza Ginza 5-2-1,
Ginza, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 104-0061
hunterboots.com/stockists/ginza-store

The latest retail offering from Hunter
in Tokyo’s Ginza District is the brand’s
second flagship store, but by no
means is it second best. Following the
brands established design aesthetic, it
successfully captures the essence of its
UK store on Regent Street. But here it
is encased in large glass windows that
invoke exploration from passers-by.
Instore there are no tills. Instead, store
associates are armed with iPads that are
used for product search, transactions
and online orders for home delivery. It is
another welcome example of dispensing
with the usually cluttered and ugly service
areas still found in so many other stores.
Bright fixtures, stools and benches make
a return, all working well with the lighter
white and grey tones. In addition, the
store presents products in detailed zoned
areas that demonstrate product usage.
Where fake grass sets the scene for the
summer boot, a large mountain wall mural
supports green fixtures and walking
boots on the opposite side of the store.
What makes Hunter’s Tokyo store stand
out is its ability to continue through with
the iconic Hunter Boots experience.
The store may be sleek and modern
but it represents the brand perfectly.
But where this store excels is in its
attention to detail of its customer
service. Store associates go above and
beyond the expected. Perhaps a cultural
requirement in Tokyo, but nonetheless it
makes for a fantastic instore experience –
polite, welcoming and respectful, that in
turn shines a light on the Hunter brand
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.
32
View Image Gallery

Washington D.C
The Frye Company
Care and pride goes a long way in assuring the
best quality and design for every product. A brand
of distinct American heritage, The Frye Company
promises that each and every stitch is sown with the
same love and passion as the next.
Origin:
USA
Founded:
1863
Stores:
11
Sector:
Footwear/
Accessories
Find it
The Frye Company
1066 Wisconsin Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20007, USA
thefryecompany.com
Latitude: 38.904556
Longitiude: -77.062937
33

34
View Image Gallery
A national chain that is proud of its
origins, The Frye Company is a footwear,
handbag and leather goods brand that
is enjoying strong growth. With a handful
of stores located in key cities across
the US, including New York, Dallas
and Boston, The Frye Company has a
distinctive mark and store experience
that is proving very popular among its
increasing flow of regular customers.
It is easy to understand why. Here
it is definitely dollars well spent.
The store offers a blend of mainstream
prices within an upscale retail experience.
The use of natural materials and higher
attention to detail finishing does not go
unnoticed, helping to add to a sense
of luxuriousness and product quality
to the experience. Selling activities
are distinctly low-key, price messages
are discreet, staff emphasise product
features and benefits and shoppers are
encouraged to feel comfortable in the
footwear. As a result, it stands alone
against the popular US DSW (Designer
Shoe Warehouse) that offers end of line
or in season shoes at discount prices.
Differentiating on style, quality and
service as part of a chain store operation,
it all adds up to clear evidence that
The Frye Company certainly intends to
break the mould in footwear retailing in
the USA, offering product on a fashion
store scale with boutique appeal
Our Rating:
Brand Experience
Instore Innovation
VM/Presentation
Customer Service
Retail Execution
Read our Explorer: series here.

Other
Top
Shops
Here’s a directory of other
notable stores to have
caught our eye during our
2016 retail city travels.
Although they may not have
made our featured shortlist,
they are definitely worth a
visit—if you are ever in town.
Amsterdam
Denham
Founded in the Dutch capital,
Denham’s aim of creating a
timeless jeans brand has seen it
develop a growing collection of
boutique stores, each with their
own distinctive character and
personality. Whichever you visit,
these are not just stores, but
interconnected limbs that make
up the exceptional Denham brand.
Cologne
Funktion Schnitt
An interesting start-up t-shirt and
tops retailer that demonstrates a
highly competent instore execution.
All its products are made from
organic Sea Island cotton, Tencel,
Cool Wool and other natural
fibres. Simplistic and functional
its products may be, but instore
it creates a very credible story.
Chicago
Eataly
Hong Kong
City Super
Hobbemastraat 8, 1071 ZA
Amsterdam, Netherlands
denhamthejeanmaker.com
This truly is a benchmark store
for exceptional passive customer
service. Inside, everything from
the store associates to the
beautifully designed displays
and informative navigational POS
signage has the shopper in mind,
with a personality that’s perfectly
aligned to the brand essence.
Ehrenstraße 84, 50672 Köln,
Germany
funktionschnitt.de
One of Hong Kong’s most popular
fresh produce stores is actually
a host of specialist grocers that
offer ‘on the go’ product for
local residents, commuters and
tourists alike. The store’s ability
to offer ‘a sense of the familiar’
alongside a local and exciting thrill
is what sets City Super apart.
London
Dyson
The brand’s first store in the UK
is a high-end gallery of Dyson
products nestled on London’s
most esteemed shopping
street. Here, products are not
just items on sale, they are
exhibits available for shoppers
to test, learn and experience the
Dyson brand at its very best.
The Shops at North Bridge, 43 E Ohio
St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
eataly.com
Mexico City
Soriana
The latest Soriana supermarket in
Mexico City takes brand delivery
to a whole new level. Exceptional
display techniques, high standards
and innovative features set it
apart for the ‘everyday’. It’s a
world-class store, and one that
raises the bar far beyond Mexico,
across all of South America.
Times Square Hong Kong, 1 Matheson
St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
citysuper.com.hk
447 Oxford St, Mayfair, London
W1C 2PR, England
dyson.co.uk
Av. Eugenia 901, Benito Juárez,
Del Valle, 03100 Ciudad de México,
CDMX, Mexico
soriana.com

New York
Room & Board
Discover exquisite, premium
furniture within an environment
that feels calm and relaxed
yet simultaneously, creative.
The store’s retail experience
that falls into a sweet spot
between homewares retailer
and interior design inspiration
showroom. It’s not ‘everyday’.
It’s something more.
Paris
Herschel
Famous for its premium luggage,
travel bags and accessories,
the brand’s original store initially
appears somewhat simplistic
and functional in its execution.
However, high quality materials
and interesting detailing create
a store that is exceptionally
unified in both design and style.
Forum des Halles niveau -1, 106 Porte
Rambuteau, 75001 Paris, France
herschelsupply.com
Reykjavik
66° North
An Icelandic brand that takes
pride in its offer of locally
designed and produced products.
Though an independent brand,
66° North presents a store
that looks stylish and feels
technologically sharp. Everything
here is thoughtfully considered
for a store that is edgy, quality
and wonderfully well executed.
San Francisco
Heath Ceramics
Owned by a large US ceramic
tiles manufacturer, the store
delivers a traditionally inspired
craft environment fit for the 21st
century. Retail space is simple
but well managed, with high
standards and detailed displays
creating the appearance of an
unpretentious, but nonetheless
engaging, Artisan workshop.
2900 18th St, San Francisco, CA
94110, USA
heathceramics.com
103, Kringlan 8, 103 Reykjavík
Iceland
66north.com
236 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011,
USA
roomandboard.com
Stockholm
Bookbinders Design
A treat for those into all things
paper, Bookbinders Design is
stationery store that carries out
the traditional craft within an
environment that is anything
but. Vibrant, purist and minimal,
the store is a staple of both
Scandinavian design and modern,
high quality presentation.
Washington D.C
Shinola
Providing a welcome alternative
to the endless sea of accessories
that can so often bewilder in
other retailers, here product is
carefully selected, displays are
clean and organised, and focal
points are suitably minimalistic.
As an accessory retailer, it is
what it is. But what it is; is great.
Drottninggatan 82, 111 36 Stockholm,
Sweden
bookbindersdesign.com
1631 14th St NW, Washington, DC
20009, USA
shinola.com

Explorer:
Finding retail inspiration is easy with our Explorer:
series as your guide. From Barcelona to Chicago,
Reykjavik and San Francisco, in 2016 we’ve visited cities
around the world to review standout brand experiences in
all their enticing, energetic glory.
C
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to see every Explorer: of 2017. Let’s explore.
shoptactics

Good Stores Guide
The Visual Thinking Good Stores Guide presents an inspiring,
informative and tightly edited selection of star retail finds
from some of the world’s most fascinating cities. Compiled
by our team of experts during their global retail travels to
help leading retailers improve retail performance, here is an
insider’s checklist of must-see stores.
Our now annual Good Stores Guide acts as a passport to
international retail best practice with just a few clicks and
swipes. Enjoy!
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