In this post I've recently returned from a trip to New York City and I'll be discussing my thoughts on the Soho flagship stores and how these differ from the rest of the world in their own unique way.
Glossier :
In my opinion one of the most unique flagships globally, Glossier takes the shopping experience and transforms it into not only a gallery type space, but provides an individual buying transaction for every customer. Visually stunning Glossier is definitely the kind of place you go for 'the gram' and end up purchasing with.
Gucci :
Having had high expectation before visiting Gucci, it's fair to say the shop itself didn't disappoint. With every angle thought about right down to the changes of carpets dividing up the space; in my opinion Gucci have absolutely nailed it. Something that really struck me when in the Gucci store was the attitude the 'connectors' have towards you as a customer, visitor or tourist. Unlike most stores with what could be seen as their judgmental staff only interested in sales, Gucci Connectors are there to enhance your experience and simply get to know you and inform you about the brand.
Dolce and Gabbana:
The Soho store for Dolce and Gabbana really surprised me, as the second you step foot in the store you are plunged into a space visually packed with playful bright signs, street art style walls, extravagant furniture and mirrors meaning the store looks almost endless with their products being bounced from wall to wall.
Prada :
Wow, Prada really was something else. Probably one of the most interesting physical spaces in Soho, it felt like there was always something else tucked somewhere in this enormous flagship. What I particularly liked was how they decorated the individual spaces to compliment the products being displayed in them. For example the busier more detailed products were placed in the part of the store with more simplistic interiors, where as the more bold, recognisable Prada items were arranged in an extremely full on environment as displayed below.
Off White :
Off White was a store I wasn't expecting to be so fascinating. In a single narrow room the space was amplified by their use of mirrors as well as clever curtains, together suggesting a sense of open space rather than the reality. This almost futuristic design compliments the products perfectly, setting off the wacky materials and urban aesthetics.
Lanvin :
Lanvin was a store that took almost an opposite approach to many of the extremely full on stores, using simple clean cut furniture to offset their products. What I particularly liked in this store was how they used the influence for their products to flow into their decor, with the Roman almost gladiator illustrations that create a really individual and modern take on historical decor.
Kith :
Kith, I felt was a perfect example of the common theme of decor in Soho's commercial spaces. Using monochrome templates of products, neon lights, clean cut furniture and arranging their collections in a way that's practical rather than aesthetic.
Overall I was really impressed with how brands in Soho make their stores more about the experience rather than the actual products, which naturally makes consumers more attracted to what's being displayed as well as more interested in the brand as a whole.
St.
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