Physical stores generate 75% of the revenue in the retail sector in Spain. Studies show that their spaces need to be redesigned to offer a better shopping experience to attract new customers and retain existing ones.
Retail interior design plays a fundamental role today as a brand communication tool. It designs and produces innovative commercial spaces to meet the expectations of highly demanding consumers.
Although products remain the main focus in retail, the image and shopping experience that customers perceive through store and local decorations are becoming increasingly important.
In this article, we will share the 7 most spectacular stores in the world. These flagship stores, as they are recognized globally, can teach us a lot about the relationship between aesthetics and commercial efficiency, as well as space management.
At Optima Retail, we stand out for providing comprehensive maintenance services for the retail sector, ensuring that facilities remain in perfect condition to meet our clients' needs.
1- Beautiful stores like Selexyz Dominicanen, Maastricht
The interior of the contemporary Selexyz Dominicanen bookstore was designed by architects Merkx and Girod in Maastricht (Netherlands) for the Dutch booksellers Selexyz Dominicanen. The booksellers commissioned the two architects to transform the interior of the former Dominican church into a modern bookstore.
Merkx and Girod had previously designed two bookstores in The Hague and Almere for the same client. However, the unique location in Maastricht required a very different approach. The store demanded 1,200 square meters of retail space where only 750 were available.
2- Stores around the world like Uniqlo, Tokyo
Uniqlo Tokyo, one of the largest flagship stores of the casual fashion brand Uniqlo in the world.
The 4-floor store focuses on the LifeWear line, offering functional, modern, and classic fashion items at affordable prices for men, women, children, and babies. This fashionable space was developed by creative director Kashiwa Sato and the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron.
In addition to the wide range of products, Uniqlo offers customization services such as UNIQLO suits (made-to-measure suits), MY UNIQLO, and UTme. Don’t miss the Uniqlo flower market installed outside the store, where you can get a bouquet of fresh flowers.
3- Apple Store, New York
The Apple Store is one of the most spectacular stores in the world. The second Apple Store in Manhattan was inaugurated by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and the structural engineering firm Eckersley O'Callaghan. It is located on Fifth Avenue, near FAO Schwarz and Bergdorf Goodman, with a view of Central Park. The store occupies the underground lobby of the General Motors building, accessible from the plaza level above.
4- Louis Vuitton store, Singapur
For a futuristic shopping experience, you must visit Louis Vuitton Island Maison in Marina Bay. This unique structure features underwater tunnels, bookstores, and art exhibitions. This flagship store is unlike any other. Visitors can access Island Maison via an outdoor bridge, by boat, or even through an ascending 'travelator' from the Marina Bay Sands mall.
5- Dior, Seúl
To be honest, the Dior boutique in Seoul, created by architect Christian de Portzamparc and Peter Marino, doesn't even look like a building. The exterior uses sculptural white fiberglass panels to represent the fluid movement of clothing created in Dior's Haute Couture Atelier in Paris.
In addition to the best in fashion, the building includes the Dior Café, which serves typical food. Peter Marino has made extensive use of mirrored walls and fabric-covered panels to complement the monochromatic tiled floors. The interiors are luxuriously bright thanks to glass inserts that help naturally illuminate the store floors. A VIP room and a gallery occupy the third floor.
6- M&M's, Londres
M&M’s in London is the largest chocolate store in the world, featuring four floors dedicated to enjoying chocolate and everything related to its characters. Located in Leicester Square, a central and touristy area, you're bound to pass by its entrance. Enjoy the amazing interior filled with giant M&M’s dispensing tubes, offering all imaginable flavors and colors.
But this store isn't just about chocolate. The world created around it is vast, especially in terms of merchandising, so you'll also find all sorts of items related to this chocolate. The best part of the store is undoubtedly its decoration.
7- Primark at Gran Vía, España
The spirit of what were once the Grandes Almacenes Madrid-París until 1934 was revived in 2016 when Primark Gran Vía opened. It has become the largest store dedicated to a single brand in Spain and the second largest in the world, only behind another gigantic Primark built in Manchester.
The Irish chain spreads its basic lines, which have been very successful among the public, across its 12,500 square meters, combining them with higher quality and slightly more expensive lines.
Primark is now considered a “destination store,” an establishment that generates excessive anticipation upon arriving in a city. A visit to the interior of the Primark on Gran Vía is worthwhile, to appreciate the spectacular central dome and the striking lighting of its central courtyard, and of course, to find clothes at very good prices.
At Optima Retail, we excel in providing comprehensive maintenance services for the retail sector, ensuring that facilities are kept in optimal condition to meet our clients' demands.