John Ryan

Jan 23, 2025 | vmsd.com | John Ryan

It’s late January, and the retail circus that is NRF in New York’s Javits Center has come, been and gone, but what have the attendees at “Retail’s Big Show” learned from their Big Apple jaunt this past Jan. 12-14? As in most years, the faithful all turn up in search of a silver bullet that will lead inexorably to increased revenues, decreased stock losses and a generally rosier future. If this is indeed the intention, then many will have been disappointed.

Nov 27, 2024 | vmsd.com | John Ryan

For those who don’t know it (and you probably all do), Zara (Arteixo, Spain) is a fashion retailer that sells sleek men’s, women’s and childrenswear and has a home furnishings and homewares arm. It is highly successful, combining flair in product design with stores that make you stop and stare. And like others, in a few of its stores, there are places to get a hot beverage and perhaps a pastry (the Zara Home store, known as Bac 117, on Paris’ Rue du Bac, is a stunning case in point).

Oct 22, 2024 | vmsd.com | John Ryan

We are all familiar with pop-ups. Visit New York City’s SoHo and there seems to be a new one for every day of the week. Yet they are ephemeral things, and it’s reasonable to assume their existence is because a building or retail unit is between tenants. The moment a new permanent resident arrives, the pop-up will be no more. Across the pond in London, however, things may not be quite like this if the arrival of Future Stores on Oxford Street is anything to go by.

Oct 14, 2024 | vmsd.com | John Ryan

The main shopping drag in Frankfurt, Germany, is called Die Zeil. It’s a long thoroughfare that has is pedestrianized meaning that, in effect, this is an outdoor mall with many big names spread along its length. And since last week a new entrant is Snipes, a sneaker emporium. Snipes is a Cologne-based chain and is part of the footwear giant that is Deichmann, with stores across Europe.

Oct 8, 2024 | vmsd.com | Carly Hagedon |John Ryan

THE MANDARIN CAKE Shop is, as the name would suggest, part of the interior of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in the far southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou. It is designed as a destination within the building, as much as a retail option for those checking in to enjoy the five-star luxury on offer. Designed by Cheng Chung Design (CCD) from nearby Hong Kong, this is an interior that draws upon the heritage of drinking tea in this part of the world but also takes a broader, more international view.