HELLO...

As we return from our sunny summer holidays in exotic locations all over the world, the minds of retailers turn to the autumn season, with bright summer-themed displays being replaced with promotions looking towards key events such as Halloween and, dare we even say, Christmas. Given the washout that has been the British summer this year, it almost feels as if we are further along on the calendar than we actually are. But fear not; there is still plenty of time to plan those all-important campaigns, as well as lots to look forward to in retail, before we reach the silly season.

As always, this edition of Retail Focus is packed with excellent examples of how retailers and brands are adapting their approaches to capture the attention of modern shoppers, as well as advice on what else retail businesses can do to stand out from the crowd.

Some of these forward-thinking companies will be celebrated at the 2023 Creative Retail Awards, which take place on September 21st at Proud Embankment in London. We are very much looking forward to an evening of festivities and the chance to pay tribute to some of the best work in retail over the past 12 months.

We also take a look at the first Adidas flagship store in Asia Pacific and the thinking behind its design, as well as the brand-new luxurious lingerie concept at Harrods, the first phase of a major redevelopment of womenswear at the worldfamous store. There is also an insight into EE’s innovative new studio store at Westfield London, which is now inviting visitors to relax, reconnect and experience what the network bills as the “future of retail”.

Feature-wise, we find out how to make the best use of surfaces in retail environments and consider some of the approaches retailers can take to improve their sustainability. There is also a special case study looking at GAIL’s Bakery and retail lighting specialist Spotlight, as well as a review of this year’s Visual Merchandising and Display Show.

With all this and so much more to enjoy, perhaps we could say that Christmas has come early this year?