Brick & Mortar: Best Shops of 2014

At the moment, there are an estimated 191 million digital shoppers in the US - a number that will surely continue its surge in 2015. While many expect their goods to be delivered straight to their door, some do not. The idea of walking into an actual brick & mortar shop to be engulfed in the full experience of the brand can never be replaced and is still vital to a significant number of consumers. So, what exactly is this retail experience? When done right, the experience of a brand’s store is effortless; transporting shoppers from the street to a fine-tuned, well-manipulated story of the brand’s built environment with ease. It’s about more than buying, it is a moment for consumers to capture the essence of the brand’s DNA. 2014 brought a wave of exceptionally crafted shops that inspired us to step away from the keyboard, get to the avenue and experience these individual stories for ourselves. Here are our faves!

Sumiyoshido Kampo Lounge by ID Inc., Aichi, Japan

Sumiyoshido Kampo Lounge by ID Inc., Aichi, Japan

Le MISTRAL by JP Architects, Tokyo, Japan

Le MISTRAL by JP Architects, Tokyo, Japan

Rachel Comey Opens Crosby Street Flagship Store, New York

Rachel Comey Opens Crosby Street Flagship Store, New York

House of Dagmar by Guise, Stockholm

House of Dagmar by Guise, Stockholm

In Mint Condition: Münze Österreich by BWM Architekten

In Mint Condition: Münze Österreich by BWM Architekten

Aēsop Store by Weiss Heiten, Berlin

Aēsop Store by Weiss Heiten, Berlin

Acne Studios Osaka Flagship

Acne Studios Osaka Flagship

Aesop store by Brooks + Scarpa, Los Angeles

Aesop store by Brooks + Scarpa, Los Angeles

EG10 Gallery at the Gran Palas Hotel

EG10 Gallery at the Gran Palas Hotel

Calvin Klein Store

Calvin Klein Store

 Aēsop Rundle Street Adelaide Store by Genesin Studio

 Aēsop Rundle Street Adelaide Store by Genesin Studio

Saraiva Bookstore by Arthur Casas, São Paulo, Brazil

Saraiva Bookstore by Arthur Casas, São Paulo, Brazil

Aesop Elements Shop, Hong Kong

Aesop Elements Shop, Hong Kong

Céline Sets Up Shop in Soho

Céline Sets Up Shop in Soho

Camper Retail Installation by ECAL, Milan

Camper Retail Installation by ECAL, Milan

Akin Creative Designs Dion Lee's First Melbourne Boutique

Akin Creative Designs Dion Lee's First Melbourne Boutique

MRQT Menswear Boutique by ROK

MRQT Menswear Boutique by ROK

Fragrance Lab by Campaign

Fragrance Lab by Campaign

Livaria Cultura at Iguatemi

Livaria Cultura at Iguatemi

Faraone Jewellery Shop by Iosa Ghini Associati, Milan

Faraone Jewellery Shop by Iosa Ghini Associati, Milan

Kloke Shop by Sibling

Kloke Shop by Sibling

 Alice McCall Store by Wonder, Melbourne

 Alice McCall Store by Wonder, Melbourne

Diamonds In Situ: Nirav Modi Flagship Boutique by Jamie Hayon

Diamonds In Situ: Nirav Modi Flagship Boutique by Jamie Hayon

Beauty School Knockout: Beauty EDU Opens in Melbourne

Beauty School Knockout: Beauty EDU Opens in Melbourne

 Red Light District XML Architects, Amsterdam

 Red Light District XML Architects, Amsterdam

Isabel Marant Bangkok Store by Ciguë

Isabel Marant Bangkok Store by Ciguë

Aesop Stuttgart Store by einszu33

Aesop Stuttgart Store by einszu33

Par La Roy's Nuevo Leon Pop-Up Shop

Par La Roy's Nuevo Leon Pop-Up Shop