The Future Laboratory

11 results

World Retail Congress 2026: The Art of Shopkeeping

At World Retail Congress 2026, retailers reframed the art of shopkeeping around participation and human connection, as localisation, experience and emotional engagement emerged as key drivers of long-term relevance.

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Food & Drink

A community-funded distillery arrives in Kingston-upon-Thames

Bone Idyll, an immersive distillery and bar has arrived in the English town as a result of investment from local communities.

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Retail

Nike Style courts South Korea’s local creators

Recognising the growing importance of localism and community-building in many global regions, sportswear giant Nike has unveiled a neighbourhood-retail concept in South Korea’s Hongdae region.

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Luxury

Hyper-local Italian furniture with global ambitions

Vero, an Italian furniture brand, is striving to put hyper-local production on the global map.

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Retail

Micro-mmunity Retail

Retail brands are swapping flagship and big-box store formats for downscaled neighbourhood shopfronts with services curated to the needs of local shoppers.

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Food & Drink

Thought-starter: What’s driving the trend for hyperlocal cocktails?

The Hide's co-founder Paul Mathew explains why this London bar no longer stocks international spirits and how provenance is changing for drinks.

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Signals

Thought-starter: How can luxury brands win local Chinese custom?

Chinese luxury consumers are swapping global names for regional nuances, giving brands a new, hyper-local challenge, says Nick Cakebread, founder of The Luxury Conversation.