What: Selfridges and new owners Central Group and Signa Holding, have plans to offer shoppers mood-boosting experiences and countless ways to tap into the circular economy.

Why it is important: Amid all the domestic turmoil, Selfridges is shifting up a gear, accelerating its green agenda and its commitment to experiential retail. It’s also promising a year of positive intentions, colour therapy and a call to action on the environmental front.

Selfridges’ new year is set to begin on Monday with the unveiling of windows in London, Manchester and Birmingham, England. They’ll be filled with a host of colourful, original illustrations around this year’s theme, Selfridges Celebrates.

The store asked illustrators to create pieces that will be displayed in the windows and across the stores throughout the year, they are to be a point of contrast in a world that celebrates the hyper-connected and the multisensory and be a celebration of form and color.

As reported last September, Selfridges accelerated its net-zero carbon-emissions goal, moving its deadline up to 2040 from 2050 as a promise to the Climate Pledge, a cross-sector group of companies committed to reaching net zero 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

As part of that commitment, the retailer also set a new target of ensuring that at least 45% of its transactions (excluding food, restaurants and homeware) come from recycled products or circular services such as resale, rental, refill or repair.

It has also established “Reselfridges,” a portfolio of circular initiatives it hopes will eventually become the backbone of the business.

As part of that commitment to the circular economy, the store plans to launch a bag subscription service this year and expand its existing rentals for childrenswear.

Selfridges is also taking on new labels that have embedded green values into their collections, such as urging customers to buy less and more responsibly.

Co-chairman of Selfridges Group and chairman of the executive board of Signa, said initial investments at Selfridges will focus initially on the food and beauty halls and the omnichannel offer.

The plan is to have a food market in addition to a series of restaurants.

The new owners are also planning to refurbish the Old Selfridges Hotel, next to the Oxford Street store in London. The space hasn’t functioned as a hotel for years, although it’s been used for fashion shows and other events.

The two partners said they want the new hotel space to enhance the surrounding neighborhood on Oxford Street and serve the community for the next 20 to 30 years.

Selfridges continues to raise the retail bar

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