by: Dominic Basulto
This month’s issue of Monocle magazine (a cross between the Economist and Wallpaper magazine) takes a closer look at the future of retail, focusing on the "smartest shopkeepers, best buyers, happiest consumers and sharpest ideas on the street, in the aisles and online." If you think the smartest ideas are coming out of the U.S. or Western Europe, think again.
Best shop designer: Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall
Best mix of fashion and function: Hirofumi Kiyonaga of Soph (Tokyo)
Most clever retail concept: Hankyu Department Store at Nishinomiya (Osaka)
Most innovative merchandiser: Hirofumi Kurino of United Arrows (Tokyo)
Best airport gift store: Tokyo’s Tokyo
Most innovative retailer: Tadashi Yanai of Fast Retailing
[Monocle cover: Sales Assistant at Soph)
Original Post: http://endlessinnovation.typepad.com/endless_innovation/2009/04/the-future-of-retail-meet-the-japanese-innovators.html
