What: The H&M group brand, Arket, has opened its first Paris flagship in the Marais district within a 400 square metre, two-story space overlooking a courtyard.

Why it is important: The smaller store format is a test for Arket which is expected to result in a greater rotation of products which are comprised of some third-party brands and Arket's owned products made from 90% more sustainable materials.

Arket is bringing more than fashion with care products, decorative items that could be found in a premium concept store, and a 'healthy' café with a menu designed by Nordic chef Martin Berg. Women's fashion is located on the ground floor while men's and children's products are located upstairs. The adjoining courtyard is where one can find the café decorated with lanterns.

The brand plans to continue expanding its retail footprint with three new stores to come in the next six months (Helsinki, Shanghai and Stockholm).

Arket opens Paris flagship

Arket opens Paris flagship ARTICLE

What: The French jeweler's Parisian flagship reopens after a two-year renovation that sees the addition of an interior courtyard and a private space modeled after a Parisian apartment.

Why is it important: The store has been entirely rethought, it is a global trip in time and space, respecting all periods of time without being anchored in any; furthering cementing the idea of layers rather than a single signature.

The building, totaling 32,300 square feet spread over six levels, includes 10 salons and myriad comfortable nooks and plush crannies for customers to discover the jeweler's offering more than the 15,000 square feet dedicated to retail.

The journey into the newly renovated store starts from the outside with a kiosk for initial orientation before visitors are handed over to a team of concierges that direct them across the ground floor, home to watches, leather goods and other accessories.

On a wood panel in one of the ground floor salons, the words of French artist and writer Jean Cocteau, describing the jeweler. Then in another it's the rare books and archives of Louis Cartier that nod to the man who built the house's reputed style.

The new main staircase leads to the first floor and the former office of Jeanne Toussaint, now turned into an eponymous salon overlooking the Rue de la Paix.

High jewelry takes pride of place on the second floor, with salons named and decorated according to influences underpinning the Cartier style, from India to flora.

The third and fourth floors and a segment of the fifth dedicated to the archives have been designed by Larène Barbier Tardrew and Romain Jourdan, of the Studioparisien agency. Customer service takes place on the third floor in a succession of small salons, while a customization bar offers options like engraving.

One floor higher are the high jewelry atelier and its 18 work benches, bathed in natural light both from the interior skylight and the street outside.

The building holds the house archives as well as the Residence, a private space imagined as Cartier's take on a Parisian apartment, complete with a dining room, large kitchen and winter garden.

Cartier reopens the historic Rue de la Paix Flagship

Cartier reopens the historic Rue de la Paix Flagship ARTICLE

What: Fendi is introducing a new store concept to the region through the reopening and expansion of its boutique in the Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue.

Why it is important: Fendi is introducing fine jewellery through an exclusive launch in its newly expanded Dubai flagship boutique.

The Dubai flagship has gained a second floor and expanded to a total of 7,560 square feet, featuring three VIP rooms on the second floor dedicated to couture and art de la table. The third is dedicated to bejewelled Peekaboo bags. Designed by Fendi's internal architecture department, the store hosts a striking round elevator, made of glass and gold specks. An opulent Yellow Diamond room on the upper level carries a golden display of exotic leather goods and Fendi fur pieces. From this area, visitors can access the three VIP rooms, each defined by a gem, a tailored fragrance and dedicated floral compositions.

As a homage to both the boutique reopening and the 25th anniversary of the Baguette bag, Fendi is launching a silver Baguette with matching Fendi First slingback heels, which are only available at The Dubai Mall.

Fendi has also opened a store in the new wing of the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, inspired by the brand's headquarters in Rome's Palazzo della Civiltà. There are currently 20 Fendi stores in the Middle East.

Fendi reopens boutique in the Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue

Fendi reopens boutique in the Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue ARTICLE

What: Valentino is unveiling a new global store concept in line with its client-centric approach by redesigning its locations and rebalancing retail and wholesale channels.

Why it is important: To achieve a great client-centric approach, Valentino will also revisit the company culture with redefined roles on the shop floor to meet client demand more efficiently and improve team morale.

Valentino seeks to raise retail to account for 80% of sales in the next three years while maintaining wholesale as a relevant channel for exchanging opinions with partners.

The new interior design aims to balance a comfortable home-like energy while being presented in a gallery setting so that locations can adapt to the art displayed. Special areas will be reserved for private appointments, to enhance the feeling of intimacy and exclusivity. The flagship in Jeddah at the Al Khayyat Center, along with several stores in Madrid and Venice, have opened with this new concept.

Approaching new markets, in mid-February a store will open in Geneve, a new market for Valentino.

Valentino's new store concept

Valentino's new store concept ARTICLE

What: The Kooples new Paris flagship includes a dedicated window and gallery-style space for winners of its new art prize.

Why it is important: Along with launching an art prize, the Kooples is taking over Lacoste's former space on the Champs-Élysées for its new flagship.

One of the two street-level windows will be the dedicated show space for each season's selected artists, while the second floor will house a gallery space with additional pieces from the prize winners. The interior décor stresses an ultra-urban atmosphere through black furniture, steel racks, grey concrete floors, raw walls, sheet metal and neon lights on the ceiling.

The Kooples opens Champs-Élysées flagship with art concept

What: After the building had been decommissioned and shut down in 1983, the station has been renovated to house 8,380 square feet of new retail and leisure offerings.

Why it is important: Shops will be housed in the power station's two restored Turbine Halls which reflect a glamourous Art Déco style of the 1930s contrasted by a more brutalist, industrial design due to additional construction in the 1950s. Former control rooms have been repurposed into event space with an all-day bar concept for visitors to access and interact with the original dials and controls of the power station.

Battersea Power Station reopens as mixed-use shopping centre

Battersea Power Station reopens as mixed-use shopping centre ARTICLE

What: The delivery app has partnered with Morrisons to open its first brick-and-mortar grocery store in the UK.

Why it is important: The Deliveroo Hop store will house 1,750 grocery items which include 'Ready to Eat' and 'The Best' ranges by Morrisons, as well as snacks, dinner ingredients and cupboard staples.

Shoppers can use the digital kiosks to order via the Deliveroo app to collect in-store items or deliver them.

Deliveroo opens physical location on Oxford Street

Deliveroo opens physical location on Oxford Street ARTICLE

What: Popular fitness DTC fitness brand, Gymshark, is officially opening its first-ever brick-and-mortar location on Regent Street in London on Saturday, 29 October.

Why it is important: As part of its first step into physical retail, Gymshark is aiming to be both a place to sell merchandise as well a location for community building through an in-store fitness studio with a rotating programme of classes and events.

Dubbed 'The Sweat Room', the space also doubles as a 'stage' for bigger events that the 18,000 square foot flagship store will host. The retailer states that 30 classes, five community sessions, four 'Open Gym' sessions and a Sunday brunch event with a guest professional will be offered each week. Clients can also book 25-minute appointments with in-store professionals to learn more about personal training, mindset or other disciplines.

'The Hub' section of the store will be dedicated to its community with the intention of hosting podcasts, panels, workshops, screenings, live streaming, Sunday Brunch Clubs and more.

Inside the first-ever Gymshark store

Inside the first-ever Gymshark store ARTICLE

What: Following three much-publicised ephemeral retail spaces in the fashion capitals of Paris, Milan and London, the brand opened a boutique on avenue Montaigne.

Why it is important: The store carries the brand's full range of women's and men's offerings, and will be operational until February of next year.

The store occupies 200 sqm. (2,153 sq.ft.) set across two floors. The premises are monochromatic and playful. The latter element is instantly obvious, given the sizable popcorn vending machine that marks the store façade. Flooring, walls, ceilings, in addition to all furnishings and fixtures are cream white. A VIP room is also available.

Jacquemus Paris store

Jacquemus Paris store

What: Shein opened the doors to its latest pop-up in London on September 16th as the fast-fashion company continues to expand brick-and-mortar.

Why it is important: The space features a manicure bar with a nail art machine that can print designs directly onto the nails.

Located in Noho Studios London, the pop-up features a colourful balloon display guiding visitors downstairs to the main shopping space. Pink and champagne colours give an autumnal feel which compliments the A/W collection pieces. Each piece features a SKU to enable customers to scan items and order online should their size be unavailable in-store.

Customers also have the opportunity to try out a 360° film machine that records a clip for them to post on social media. In addition, the upper level showcases a selection of pieces from Shein's collaborations with young and emerging designers as well as Shein X British designers to be represented in a fashion show in Paris this month.

Customers in the shop expressed their appreciation for the price-to-quality ratio of Shein and the ease of returns.

Shein London Pop-Up

Shein London pop-up ARTICLE

What: Foot Locker is taking the place of the former Gap flagship store on Avenue Champs Elysées.

Why it is important: The lower level of the store is a 'Home Court Floor' space offering a multi-brand selection dedicated to basketball.

The pace incorporates artwork from local artists inspired by Paris with each floor having a different interpretation of the themes of its respected assortment. On the ground floor, 392 square metres are dedicated to men while 310 square metres on the first floor are set aside for women's and children's apparel and shoes. The lower level is 184 square metres dedicated entirely to basketball culture.

The new Foot Locker concept highlights the digital experiences of the space through QR codes and LED screens giving customers the opportunity to play games and win prizes. The company aims to impact and involve the communities in which it is located to add value beyond a traditional retail experience.

Foot Locker's new concept on Champs Elysées

Foot Locker's new concept on Champs Elysées ARTICLE

What: Opening in a mall close to Paris, the new 300 sqm store dedicated to homeware and decoration, is considered a test.

Why it is important: While the number of planned openings has not been disclosed, the format is meant to be quickly scalable, profitable and able to develop under franchise agreements.

The home segment currently represents 8% of Monoprix's sales and attracts 80% of female customers, while fashion account for 15% of the turnover and is more profitable than home items. But the brand is now concentrating its efforts on the decoration niche as the market grew by 3% per year since 2018.

The product offer represents 2,700 references, designed in-house and ranging from bed linen to mirrors, tableware, candles, cushions, rugs, wallpaper... The store also offers a small selection of fashion echoing the lifestyle universe such as home wear and cashmere products.

In addition, Monoprix has set up a corner of second-hand objects, in partnership with Selency. The store also offers services, such as interior design advice (free monthly session), and two-hour delivery.

Monoprix achieves nearly EUR 5 billion in annual turnover.

Monoprix launches a new concept 'Monoprix Maison'

Monoprix launches a new concept 'Monoprix Maison'

What: Non-retailing companies are increasingly opening retail locations to face their customers directly and for brand-building purpose.

Why it is important: This particular example could be of a great value in a department store and would easily replace some shipping lounges which are getting tired in some of the stores we visited (Stockmann in Finland for instance).

German courier company has opened a first physical retail store in Berlin, which combines frictionless services for customers as well as brand-building.

In this concept store, shoppers can open their parcels, try-on directly the products and return them if needed. They can also recycle their packaging or get old ones for free if they want to make a shipment. The place also includes a coffee bar and lockers.

It is seen as an interesting example of customer-facing element built on top of a fulfillment centre, giving visibility and personality to something which would have been otherwise a "dark" location.

Delivery company DPD opens a customer-oriented hub 

What: The eyewear brand is opening its largest flagship store with massive futuristic, dystopian sculptures across all three of its floors.

Why it is important: Gentle Monster is tackling its plans to expand throughout China with its most recent move being an experiential retail store three times the size of its previous flagship.

The space is theatrical and brings a multimedia approach to the eyewear segment with large-scale sculptures and installations. A moving eye sculpture and teddy bear body parts take up the first floor; a blinking giant space cowboy and its pet rhino, a giant spider called the "Probe" and a video artwork by Jonas Lindstroem occupy the second floor, and a giant insect holds court on the third floor. The first two levels are dedicated to sunglasses and collaborative projects, while the third level features all-optical items. The third level also features a repair service area, a first in the Northern China market.

The company plans to open more locations across China including moving into smaller markets such as Chongqing, Changsha, Wuhan and Hefei. New stores are soon-to-be-opened in Chengdu SKP and Taikoo Li Guangzhou.

Gentle Monster opens flagship in Beijing

Gentle Monster opens flagship in Beijing ARTICLE

What: Salvatore Ferragamo has opened a concept store in New York that includes an NFT creation booth.

Why it is important: Salvatore Ferragamo's modular concept store will hand-select 256 VIP shoppers who will be invited to make and mint their own free branded NFTs in the 2,600sqft store in Soho.

The interior of the store uses soft lighting and mirrored furniture to create a futuristic aesthetic. Shoes are displayed along the walls with holographic chrome fixtures. The NFT installation was created in collaboration with digital artist Shxpir who designed a variety of backgrounds that can be used in the mirrored NFT creation booth. Visitors can also add different stamps and effects by using a digital keypad to customize their creations. The NFT they are creating will be visible on a high-resolution screen as it is being generated.

Store staff are on standby to assist clients and educated them on the process of creating a digital wallet and downloading their NFT. Customers can also create a personalized version of the brand's unisex 6R3ENE sneaker and view a projection in real-time using 3D holographic technology.

Salvatore Ferragamo plans to attract and engage younger consumers by leveraging immersive technologies that create an irresistible in-store experience.

Ferragamo's NFT creation space

What: Dover Street Little Market is located inside of the 3537 space, a new hub in the Marais district.

Why it is important: Dover Street Markets ventures are always must-see concepts.

The listed landmark building, historically known as Hôtel de Coulanges, has already had its fair share of transformations this past year, and the arrival of Dover Street Little Market adds further to the brand's renowned zest for innovation and renewal in both fashion and retail. Occupying two floors in the building's East Wing, the store features a series of different settings created by Djeason Valerio and Louis Kotchine, both set designers at 3537. A backdrop of bare walls showing stains, discolorations, wires and utility pipes, a myriad of seemingly makeshift settings and paired with artistic decorations, have been created for Dover Street Little Market's tightly curated range of collections. Dover Street Little Market continues to stock young and forward brands. The brand list currently includes Рассвет, Liberal Youth Ministry, Nemeth, Honey Fucking Dijon, ERL, Weinsanto and Vaquera. Also to be found here is 1909, a quirky bookstore brimming with rare finds and cryptic books on art, politics, fashion, activism and what not.

Paris' Dover Street Little Market

What: Online streetwear guide Hypebeast plants a flagship in New York City with a seven-storey 2,323 sqm store in the heart of the Chinatown district.

Why it is important: HBX aims to be a hub for local streetwear aficionados. The configuration can be easily adjusted to accommodate parties, presentations and other gatherings. The store will accommodate not only its HBX store concept on the two lower floors, but also a Hypebeans café, event spaces and offices.

Designed by local architecture practice Food, the store sees a lofty and uncluttered ground floor with exposed red brick walls, large tiles of polished concrete and sleek floor-to-ceiling shelving and clothing racks crafted from shiny steel. Mind you, the custom columns, fixtures, floor, and ceiling grids were designed with significant retention of existing building materials for maximum flexibility and minimum waste.

The ground floor is home to Hypebeans, the company's very own coffee brand and coffee parlour chain. One floor up, the chosen aesthetic is similarly understated, featuring a backdrop of exposed concrete bricks, marble tiles, a metal grid ceiling, and matching custom-made furnishings and fixtures. Needless to say, the HBX store carries a curated and mixed range of brands that specifically targets the sensibilities of a young and savvy crowd. Ranging from streetwear to fashion's upper echelon, the current brand list includes Nike, Acronym, Raf Simons, Brain Dead, Stone Island, Needles, Mugler, ERL, Thom Browne, Reese Cooper and Dries Van Noten.

Hypebeast New York store

What: Destree has opened a boutique in a sculptural space created by Brooklyn-based ceramicist Simone Bodmer-Turner.

Why it is important: A must-see stop in Paris, the new freestanding boutique for Destree is the first of many the brand has planned as they embark on a global expansion backed by celebrity endorsement and serious investors.

The Paris boutique is an immersive and tactile space created by ceramicist Simone Bodmer-Turner. White curving walls with waving rails and shelves carved out in sand-rich clay align with the brand DNA of Destree. The effect of the fixtures, walls and furniture feel like a perfect match for the modern and contemporary artistic inspiration behind each product. The energy of soft lights emanating from behind mirrors or curves in the walls turns the space into a cosy-cave-like closet of jewellery and bags delicately arranged. The displays are reported to change daily, and monthly events are planned to further animate the space.

Located at 3 Rue du 29 Juillet, the 500-square-foot boutique draws in plenty of foot traffic with sales that caused the boutique to restock within opening week.

Destree opens their first Paris boutique

What: After closing its previous London store in 2018, Marc Jacobs returns to the city with a new flagship on Regent Street.

Why it is important: Marc Jacobs has returned to London with the opening of its largest boutique outside of the US on Regent Street in London.

The new 2,666 square foot flagship has been designed to be the "ultimate destination" to shop Marc Jacobs. The store interior is a simple design with soft grey rugs, white fixtures that use silver metal hardware and many small stage lights that line the ceiling. The brand's newest bags and shoes are merchandised together along the walls. The overall style is sharp and clean allowing the colourful designs to stand out.

In 2018, Marc Jacobs closed its last London store on Mount Street as part of an LVMH-organized rescue plan for the label. To celebrate the return of the brand to London, custom-wrapped taxis and double-decker buses are adorned in the Marc Jacobs monogram. In-store, for a limited time, visitors can also take a photo in a custom-built photobooth which is also wrapped in the brand's monogram print.

The store features Marc Jacobs' full line of small leather goods, jewellery, footwear and signature bag styles.

New Marc Jacobs flagship on Regent Street

What: Linehouse's Langham Beauty Galleria cosmetic retail space in Hong Kong uses natural shapes to create a tranquil, yet fantastical shopping experience.

Why it is important: The Langham Beauty Galleria located in the Langham Place shopping centre in Mongkok, Hong Kong is a must-see for architecture that aids in the beauty shopping experience.

Drawing on the shape of forests, the 2,000 sq-m beauty hall is lined with tree-like structures constructed out of oak and timber fins and panels laid in a radial pattern. The two-level multi-brand cosmetics retailer, designed by architecture firm Linehouse, hosts a variety of vendor, pop-up and event spaces. Upon entry, guests are greeted by a double-height atrium allowing plenty of natural light to filter in. The wood panels extend from the 'treetops' and run the length of the ceiling, creating the effect of a thick forest canopy. Meanwhile, the tree-inspired elements are set out in different heights, with back-lit trees used to line the lower circulation path to guide shoppers through the space.

By contrast, retail counters and displays are made of stainless steel and peach-hued glass, juxtaposing the natural appearance of the wood materials. The design of the space has been compared to biophilic design. The effect on customers can result in a reduction of stress from the association with nature. The fantastical size and surreal design of the 'treetops' allow customers to fantasize and embrace a dreamy beauty.

Linehouse's enchanding Langham Beauty Galleria

What: Nike's newest concept store in Seoul blurs digital and physical together in a style-led format delivering a genderless shopping experience that keeps creatives in-store.

Why it is important: Nike's digitally enhanced concept shop offers genderless zones for fleece, tops, footwear and accessories with big plans to take the new retail format worldwide.

The concept store is in the city's Hongdae neighbourhood, which is known for its art, music and fashion culture as well as its strong relationship with sneakerheads, making it perfect for Nike. The idea is to create "style-led" and locally curated collections. A key focus of the new Style store is how its design offers unique digital-physical spaces for consumers to express their personal style together. The store will feature a studio where local creatives, product experts and shoppers can create content on their own social media channels with customizable backdrops. QR codes throughout the store will offer augmented reality experiences related to product innovation and surrounding art installations.

The Nike Style concept is set to expand both regionally and internationally with a second Nike Style to open in Shanghai in fall 2022.

Nike concept shop in Seoul

What: Mango opens its first Teen store designed by architecture group Masquespacio in Spain.

Why it is important: The 150meter squared space creates an experiential and immersive location for younger shoppers aged 11-13.

The primary colours of the store are green and orange with rose gold accents and contrasting matte and glossy finishes. The colours were taken directly from past Mango pop-ups that tested the preferences of their target teen consumers.

The architects borrowed visual elements from life such as a laundry space, hotel lobby, and pool, with the goal of communicating a dreamlike interior. Described as 'incoherent elements', the odd mixture of structural styles and cues from daily life gives a surreal feeling that Mango believes is a defining part of this period in teens' lives.

The entrance to the store begins with a tunnel meant to symbolically transport visitors into a surreal intersection of male and female teen lifestyles. Customers have the opportunity to let their imagination flow in the Metaspace which is part of the fitting room area and includes mirrors that have optical effects, ring lights, and a place to attach a phone for hands-free filming or photography.

Each area has a connected function: the swimming pool is used as an exhibition element, the 'hotel reception' is the cash desk; the washing machine is a used-clothing drop-off point for future recycling. Shelves and racks vary in organic and rigid lines aspiring to create a 'gender-neutral' display style. Rounded archways and staircase shelves support the surreal and liminal energy of the store.

The Mango Teen store is designed to make shoppers have an unforgettable experience in a gender-neutral presentation.

First Mango Teen Store opens in Barcelona

What: Following the success of the new concept 'Nike Rise' in Guangzhou, China and in Seoul, South Korea, Nike is bringing the concept to London in a bid to get closer to the customer with a community focus and sports insights.

Why it is important: The Rise store, one of only 3 globally, is designed to be unique to each city they're in, using local sports like football and running in London, along with data on the city, brand and athletes to create tailored experiences, community events and insights for sports fanatics.

The two-storey, 17,000-square-foot store in the high-traffic Westfield shopping mall in West London is smaller than its flagships, but it differs in what it offers customers: tailored data and more top-end digital experiences like the Inside Track, an interactive RFID-enabled digital footwear table where shoppers can compare product benefits, footwear technology and online reviews.

The key is getting shoppers to sign up to be a member via one of the Nike apps: membership is a critical differentiator in driving growth as members who engage with two or more touch points across Nike's ecosystem have a higher lifetime value, according to the brand.

Nike Rise is one of four concepts in Nike's retail portfolio, which includes:

•    Nike House of Innovation: serves as a flagship in key cities (currently 3 cities: New York, Shanghai and Paris).

•    Nike Live: is more niche, unique to a specific neighbourhood, offering community events like running clubs and services such as digital return and scheduled visits in-store.

•    Nike Unite: an outlet space for the brand to liquidate and keep its marketplace clean.

•    Nike Rise: is more city-focused, and so far a small part of Nike's overall sales, but an important investment to increase brand loyalty and drive more shoppers to become members, meaning they've signed up for one of Nike's apps.

Inside London's Nike Rise: The new London store concept

What: Ethical sneaker brand VEJA continues its global expansion with a new and understated store in Berlin.

Why it is important: VEJA's newest store in its global expansion combines minimalistic design elements and renewable energy to bring its full range of merchandise to Berlin.

Located in the buzzing Mitte district with soft grey exposed concrete walls and ceilings, the store is relatively understated. The 100-square meter space was designed by Berlin-based architecture practice Gonzalez Haase to create a minimalistic style that matches the brand's environmental values. Tiered displays crafted from a mixture of concrete and soil by German artisan Frank Lennart, and elongated timber benches bring full focus to the shoes in the clean, uncluttered and light-filled space. In a separate section, encapsulated by slabs of mirror and mesh metal panelling, sits the sales counter, and right behind it, a workshop and storage space. LED linear lights optically widen the space as they run along the ceiling from the front to the back of the store.

The store's electricity is supplied by Bürgerewerke, a local energy company which only uses renewable energy sources such as sunlight, wind and water.

VEJA store opening in Berlin